In an interview set to air Sunday on CBS, imprisoned Plaxico Burress vows to play in the NFL again and said he apologized to the Giants for tarnishing the organization.
"I will play again," Burress said in the interview with his former Steelers coach Bill Cowher scheduled to air on CBS' "NFL Today", which was conducted from the upstate New York prison where the receiver is currently incarcerated.
Burress said he works out about four times a week in the prison to keep in shape for a possible comeback.
"It's not LA Fitness or Bally's, but I do push-ups, sit-ups," Burress said in the interview. "I make do."
Burress is serving a two-year prison sentence for violating New York's stringent gun laws
Burress said he wrote a letter to the Giants owners John Mara and Steve Tisch, apologizing for his actions.
"I told them how sorry I was about bringing all this bad publicity to such a stand-up organization," Burress said in the interview.
Burress, then a Giants receiver, was at the Latin Quarter nightclub in November 2008 with a .40-caliber gun tucked into the waistband of his track pants. He later said he was concerned for his safety because a teammate had been held up at gunpoint days before. The weapon slipped down Burress' leg and fired, injuring his right thigh.
The gun wasn't licensed in New York or New Jersey, where Burress lived, and his Floridaconcealed-weapons permit had expired. He also failed to report the incident to authorities.
Prosecutors argued the bullet narrowly missed a security guard.
Cowher, who was Burress' coach for five years in Pittsburgh, told the New York Post that he believed the receiver was being sincere in the interview.
"He looked me in the eye. I believe he was sincere," Cowher told the newspaper. "I think I know him well enough to know that ...
"He admittedly blames no one except himself. He's had a lot of time to reflect. He's had great, unwavering support from his wife. ... It's been an eye-awakening situation for him. He had a daughter born when he was in prison. It's very sobering to be in there. When you walk through the door, and you listen to him talk, you can see it's very genuine."
A work-release application for the ex-Giants star was denied by the New York Department of Correctional Services last month because of the nature of his crime. He is expected to be released from prison in July 2011.
Burress became a Super Bowl hero when he caught the winning touchdown pass in the last minute of the Giants' 17-14 upset win over the previously unbeaten Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.
The Giants released him last April.
ESPN
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Janet Jackson has reached out to ex boyfriend and super producer Jermaine Dupri for help on her new album reportsRap-Up.
According to the report producer and songwriter Bryan-Michael Cox is quoted as saying “I’m producing Janet’s album with Jermaine and it’s going to be hot,"
The new album is a follow up to 2008's 'Discipline'. An album that made it's debut at number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart but failed to reach Gold status which led to her departure from Island Def Jam.
The new album will be released on A&M Records.
No word yet on it's title or release date.
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The 'Russian Roulette' singer – who was spotted recently on a number of dates with Los Angeles Dodger baseball player Matt Kemp, 25 – has dismissed claims she's in a relationship but is hoping to find true love by the time she’s 30.
The 21-year-old pop beauty – who attended the Grammy Awards on Sunday night (31.01.10) alone - said: 'I’m not dating anyone – I’m single. I’m hoping to find love before I’m 30, which is almost a decade away. Even when I was in a relationship, I always have gone alone."
Although she didn’t officially attend the prestigious ceremony with Matt, Rihanna was later spotted sneaking the baseball player into an after-party via a back entrance.
It was rumoured she had flown Matt to Abu Dhabi for her New Year’s Eve performance (31.12.09) at the Emirates Palace, and the pair were also seen holidaying together in Mexico.
It was after attending a pre-Grammy Awards party in 2009 that Rihanna was left battered and bruised by her then-boyfriend Chris Brown when he assaulted her in his car.
Music-News Underground
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Video After The JumpYou could just imagine the merch being sold on 50 Cent's Web site, emblazoned with the slogan "What Would 50 Do?" Tony Yayo said he was inspired by the G-Unit General to put his new mixtape up for sale on the Internet.
"It's [coming out] now, available on Amazon, iTunes and all these other places — we're rushing to put it out because of the reaction I got to my new video 'Bullets Whistle.' Shout-out to ThisIs50.com. Gunpowder Guru is out in the next 48 hours"
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Sade is looked up to as an icon by many of her younger peers, but they may be surprised to hear that she listens to their music too.
The 51-year-old singer shared her musical preferences on Monday’s “Tom Joyner Morning Show.” “Obviously I listen to all the young girls out there,” she said. “I’ve got a family who brings music into the house as well.”
Some of her favorites include today’s biggest pop stars. “I love Alicia Keys and I like some of the tracks off Rihanna’s new album [Rated R].”
In addition to R&B, Sade is also a hip-hop fan. “I like songs with sort of more heavy rap. I like Raekwon’s album [Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II], you know from the Wu-Tang Clan,” she revealed. “I listen to just about anything that speaks to me and anything that’s sort of got a bit of soul and a bit of real feeling in it.”
Sade’s first studio album in a decade Soldier of Love makes its way into stores on Tuesday, February 9.
Rap-Up
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Aides to Jennifer Lopez's ex-husband, Ojani Noa, say they want to quiz Sean "Puffy" Combs in open court on whether he filmed a sex tape with the singer.
Ed Meyer, Noa's business manager, told us he was ready to call Combs as a witness in court proceedings and quiz him on the possible existence of an alleged sex tape of the pair, who dated for over two years until 2001.
Meyer also said he intended to put J.Lo on the witness stand and ask her about her sexuality since she was allegedly seen kissing a woman in another video filmed more than a decade ago.
The move is part of a legal battle over Noa's attempt to release a video he shot of J.Lo when they were married for a year in 1997. J.Lo's lawyers have gotten an injunction blocking the release on the basis that the video is private and personal. Meyer insists the footage is not overtly sexual, containing nothing more than images of the star kissing a woman and performing a lap dance.
Meyer told Page Six, "Ojani's footage is not a sex tape. In addition to kissing women, there are points where she's lap dancing Ojani [and others]. All with her clothes on. We're trying to establish that it's not a sex tape and therefore usable in Ojani's movie."
Meyer says he wants to call Combs to attempt to illustrate any differences between videos he and Lopez may have made and the one Noa possesses. Meyer said, "We will ask: Is there a sex tape between [him] and Lopez, and what does it involve?"
There is no proof the rumored J.Lo and Puffy sex tape exists.
Jay Lavely, Lopez's lawyer, said, "Ed Meyer's comments are false and ridiculous. Ms. Lopez will be completely vindicated on her claims in this matter."
On Friday, Lopez lost a motion to have the case with Noa settled in arbitration, and another court date was scheduled for March 4.
A source close to J.Lo said, "Meyer will say anything for publicity."
NY Post
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Video After The JumpLos Angeles, California (CNN) -- Actress Mackenzie Phillips says she wants to "reframe" how she describes her sexual relationship with her famous father.
Phillips, in an interview to air Tuesday evening on HLN's "The Joy Behar Show," talked about revelations in her tell-all memoir published last year that she had a long-term incestuous relationship with musician John Philips that became consensual.
"I'd like to reframe my word, 'consensual,' " Phillips told Behar.
"As I was writing the book, I thought, this word, it kept sitting wrong with me, but I used it for lack of a better word, and since then I've been schooled by thousands of incest survivors all across the world that there really is no such thing as consensual incest due to the inherent power a parent has over a child," she said.
"So, I wouldn't necessarily call it a consensual relationship at this time."
The Joy Behar Show airs at 9 p.m. ET on HLN, a CNN sister network.
Phillips, the 49-year-old former child star and daughter of the Mamas and the Papas founder, wrote in her book that she had sex with her father the night before she was to marry Jeff Sessler, a member of the Rolling Stones entourage, in 1979.
"On the eve of my wedding, my father showed up, determined to stop it," wrote Phillips, who was 19 at the time and a heavy drug user. "I had tons of pills, and Dad had tons of everything too. Eventually I passed out on Dad's bed."
Phillips, best known as Julie Cooper on the sitcom "One Day at a Time," wrote that the sexual relationship became consensual as her life began to spiral out of control.
During her time on the hit CBS comedy, which ran from 1975 to 1984, she battled drug addiction and underwent drug rehabilitation. She was fired from the show in 1980 because of her drug abuse.
Eventually, she and her father went to rehab together, and she later toured with him in a band called the New Mamas and the Papas.
"I was a fragment of a person, and my secret isolated me," she wrote. "One night Dad said, 'We could just run away to a country where no one would look down on us. There are countries where this is an accepted practice. Maybe Fiji.' "
Phillips has led a troubled life that has included substance abuse and a 2008 arrest at Los Angeles International Airport on suspicion of cocaine and heroin possession.
She later pleaded guilty to one count of cocaine possession and was ordered to a drug rehab program.
Phillips' career as an actress took off when, as a teen, she performed the role of Carol Morrison in the 1973 film "American Graffiti."
In the late 1990s, her career experienced a revival when she began co-starring on "So Weird," a Disney Channel program.
CNN
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Let it not be said that the stars of HIp Hop and R&B aren't doing their part to pitch in and help the people of Haiti in their time of need.BET will broadcast a special benefit concert on Friday.
S.O.S.: Saving Ourselves: Help For Haiti will be hosted by P.Diddy, Pharrell Williams and Queen Latifah.
The show will feature some of the biggest names in hip hop and R&B.
XXL is reporting that Chris Brown, Nas, Akon Drake, Lil Wayne, Busta Ryhmes, Ludacris and Mary J. Blige will all perform. A special tribute by Wyclef Jean will take place as well.
Proceeds will go to Wyclef’s Yele Hait Foundation, CARE, Project Mediashare and Childrens Safe Drinking Water.
Concert to Air Live Friday, February 5, 2010 at 8 PM/ 7 C from the American Airlines Arena in Miami on BET, Centric, MTV and VH1.
Tickets are available for purchase through Ticketmaster
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(AllHipHop News) Sean "Diddy" Combs appeared on Anderson Cooper's popular CNN show AC360 last night (February 1) where the mogul revealed future plans to start a business academy.
Combs was the featured guest on the show, which was hosted by Wolf Blitzer, who was filling in for Anderson Cooper.
The topic of this segment was Diddy's image and whether or not he was a positive role model.
According to Combs, he is shedding his bad boy image to showcase his business acumen.
“I want to take on more responsibility,” Combs said during the interview. “I’m still honestly in search of how I can have the most positive effect that I can have.”
According to Combs, he is planning to open a school of business to teach budding entrepreneurs the keys to success.
The school will be located in the New York area, most likely Harlem, Combs stated. Combs has multiple run-in’s with the law over the past 20 years.
In the late 1990’s, he was involved in two high profile shootings.
In March of 1997, Combs’ star artist on his label Bad Boy Entertainment was Christopher “The Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace, who was shot dead by an assassin after he attended a party with Combs at the Petersen Auto Museum in Los Angeles.
Just two years later, Combs name was splashed in the headlines when he was involved in a shootout inside a Manhattan nightclub along with his artist Shyne and then girlfriend Jennifer Lopez.
Shyne did eight years in prison for his role in the shooting, while Combs was acquitted in 2001 during a high profile trial in which he was defended by legendary lawyer, Johnny Cochran.
Since then, the mogul has avoided major controversy and has built a billion dollar business empire that includes fashion (Sean John Clothing), liquor (Ciroc Vodka) TV (I Want To Work for Diddy, Making The Band), film, and records.
"It’s more than just about business,” Combs stated. “There’s more than I’m supposed to do, there’s more that I’m gonna do. I want to have an academy that’s known for building leaders. I feel that’s one of the things I can have an impact on.”
No further information was available about Combs’ proposed business academy.
AllHipHop
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Michael Jackson’s family are furious after being snubbed by the Grammy Awards.
The late 'Thriller’ star – who died from an acute Propofol intoxication last June – was honoured with a special musical tribute to mark being given a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award but organisers failed to invite his siblings, including those who performed in The Jackson 5 with him, to the star-studded music awards show in Los Angeles on Sunday (31.01.10).
His brother and former bandmate Randy tweeted: "So proud, my brother being honoured tonight with the Lifetime Achievement Award. My family would love to be there but, truth is, we weren't invited.
"Do you want more truth? Let me be clear. When I said 'my family' I meant my brothers, sisters and parents."
Michael’s three children, Paris, 11, Prince Michael I, 12, and seven-year-old Prince Michael II – aka Blanket – were there to honour their father but Randy is convinced the children were only invited as an afterthought.
A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Randy was incandescent. He believed the Grammys only thought of including Michael's children at the 11th hour as dad Joe Jackson complained there was no family representation.
"The brothers were hoping to attend and wear their silver gloves and matching suits to honour their brother. They feel insulted and hurt that they have been snubbed in this way. Michael would've wanted them there.
"The Jackson 5 was where the magic began. They're a huge part of his story and felt they had been horribly overlooked."
The eldest children took to the stage wearing black suits with red armbands to accept the late 'Thriller’ singer’s award – which he was given for his contribution to the music industry, while Blanket remained backstage with his grandmother Katherine Jackson.
A source said: 'Michael’s children themselves decided just Prince Michael I and Paris would speak on stage and accept the award on behalf of their dad.'
Meanwhile, Michael’s older brother Tito – who along with the 'Billie Jean’ star, Randy, and siblings Jermaine, Jackie, and Marlon had performed with The Jacksons - is being sued after allegedly failing to perform at a tribute show for his brother in the US.
Promoter Roy Isaac has told Tito to repay the £4,700 he was paid for the concert within 30 days or he could face legal action.
Music-News Underground
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NEW YORK – No Valentine's Day date this year? How about spending the evening with Usher, Alicia Keys and Shakira?
The Grammy winners are all set to perform during the NBA All-Star game on Feb. 14. The game will air live at 8 p.m. EST on TNT. Shakira will perform two songs from her latest CD, "She Wolf"; Keys will perform new and old hits. The divas will go on during the halftime show.
Usher will sing a new song, the dance jam "More," during the introductions of the NBA all-stars. The tune is from his upcoming album, "Raymond v. Raymond." The game, which will take place at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, will go on before the largest crowd ever to attend a basketball game, according to a statement from the NBA.
AP
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Prince Michael and Paris JacksonLOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A popular and eye-popping mix of stars like Beyonce, Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga drew a TV audience of 25.8 million Americans to the Grammy Awards -- the biggest TV audience for the telecast in six years, according to preliminary television ratings on Monday.
The 3-1/2 hour music awards show on CBS on Sunday enjoyed a 35 percent increase on last year and was the most-watched Grammy telecast since 2004, according to early date from Nielsen.
Last year, 19.05 million Americans watched the performance and awards show from Los Angeles.
Sunday's show saw R&B singer Beyonce take home six Grammys while 20-year-old country sensation Taylor Swift -- whose "Fearless" was the biggest-selling album of 2009 -- won four and became the youngest artist to win the coveted Grammy for album of the year.
In a televised ceremony heavier on performances than award handouts, outlandish newcomer Lady Gaga paired up with equally flamboyant pop veteran Elton John, while Michael Jackson's children Prince Michael, 12, and Paris, 11, made a rare public appearance to accept a lifetime achievement award for the "Thriller" singer who died in June.
The big TV ratings brought some cheer to the recording industry which is fighting a losing battle to maintain traditional sales in an era of legal and illegal downloads and the rival attractions of video games and social networking.
Jon Pareles of The New York Times said the Grammy's "got lucky" this year with a range of top nominees "who barnstormed arenas last year."
"The Grammys have found the right balance of performance and award, which is to say, the awards are strictly a sideshow. A recording business desperate for sales wants to expose as many items as possible, and most performers were introduced along with their song titles in case anybody wanted to download them immediately," Pareles wrote.
Yahoo
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Last week rumors swirled about Alicia Keys being secretly engaged to producer Swizz Beatz.
Sources told US Magazine that Swizzy surprised Keys with a 7-carat rock while they were in Hawaii celebrating the singer's birthday.
Now, the newest rumor is that the couple have purchased a penthouse apartment together to celebrate.
According to the NY Post, Keys and Swizzy purchased the New York penthouse from Lenny Kravitz for a reported $14.5 million.
A source close to Kravitz confirmed the sale of the huge duplex apartment in Manhattan, which was previously rented from Kravitz by Nicole Kidman and Denzel Washington.
It has been on the market for eight years. The building also boasts celebrity tenants Courtney Love and Liv Tyler.
The couple's rep told the paper, however, that the rumors are not true.
Keys and the producer have been linked together for well over a year. While neither has confirmed that there is a relationship, Swizzy's soon-to-be-ex, Mashonda, has stated publicly that Keys was one of the main reasons for the split between her and Swizz .
Stay tuned...
BallerStatus
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Video After The JumpOn Sunday night, millions tuned in to watch Lil Wayne go to work. Weezy, Eminem and Drake illuminated the 52nd annual Grammy Awards with "Drop the World" and "Forever." While he knows how to ignite the stage, Wayne's favorite workplace is still the studio.
Mixtape Daily debuted an exclusive clip last month that showed Weezy F. Baby recording his "Banned From TV" freestyle from the No Ceilings mixtape. Wayne laughs uncontrollably in the clip as he lays lines to the underground gem. In a new exclusive clip, he even does a little dance as he composes lyrics in his head, messes up and regroups. The New Orleans native loves his work.
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Video After The JumpRihanna hit up the New Music Show with DJ Skee to discuss her upcoming tour and fashion line along with making her Super Bowl pick.
When asked by DJ Skee who was the better rapper Jay-Z or Kanye West, she of course picked Jigga.
Check out the full interview below.
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As television shows become more and more accessible, more and more celebrities are signing on to take the reins.
Now the latest to express interest in television is Nelly who's revealing aspirations to host a television show.
According to Nelly, he and his Ocean's 7 mega group would host a talk-show similar to the popular ABC daytime show “The View.”
Speaking on Ocean's 7 he confirms the rumors of an upcoming show to Black Voices Buzz saying,
“Not sure if you're familiar with the Ocean's 7 Crew. It's me, Jermaine Dupri, Trey Songz, Johnta Austin, Bryan Michael Cox and Tyrone "International" Davis. We're working on kind of like the male version of '"The View." We're working on that..."
Speaking on the concept of the show, Nelly compares it to a popular movie saying that it will have a similar concept.
“You ever seen that movie called 'The Ugly Truth?' You know how the guy had his show; well we're working on that.”
HipHopWired
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(AllHipHop News) Lil Wayne’s highly anticipated album Rebirth is finally due in stores tomorrow (February 2) after months of delays and shuffled release dates.
The album’s first single is “On Fire,” which has been enjoying regular rotation on video and radio outlets nationwide.
The track samples a portion of Amy Holland’s track “She’s On Fire,” which was originally featured in the Brian DePalma’s classic 1983 gangster flick, Scarface.
Cool & Dre discussed the album, which contains five productions from their production company Record Room Productions.
"One night I was watching Scarface and I woke up in the morning with Holland’s 'She’s On Fire' in my head, “ Andre “Dre” Lyon said of the track’s origins. “I called up Cool and told him that we should transform the song using the guitars in the song and work with this song with Wayne,” Dre continued. “We redid the whole beat and kept the 'She’s on Fire' vocal sample. We gave it to Wayne and he did what only Wayne can do and killed it with his guitar playing spitting and singing. I knew our collaboration would take this track to the level."
The pair also produced Rebirth’s second single “Da Da Da” features a bass playing Lil Wayne, over a mash-up of Pop, Rock, R&B and Hip-Hop.
“It’s something Rick James would bug out on. It’s Cool & Dre hot,” added Marcello “Cool” Valenzano, who with partner Dre also created the tracks for "I Die," "Paradise" and "Get A Life."
Dre predicted that Lil Wayne’s latest album would open doors for many upcoming urban artists across the country with its diverse sounds.
“There are so many artists who create music outside of R&B and Hip-Hop that we believe Rebirth will help open avenues and create a lane for these type of artists,” Dre said. “I remember a time where Prince and The Revolution ruled the charts. I'd love to see music become diverse again. Wayne is more than just a Hip-Hop artist, he's quickly becoming the face of a generation. We're proud to have been given this tremendous opportunity.”
Cool & Dre are working on the new records with Young Jeezy, Wale, Young Money, Travie of Gym Class Heroes, Bow Wow’s Cash Money Records’ debut, “Every Other” and The Game’s single “Big Money.”
Additionally, their production company has been tapped to work with Birdman and Lil Wayne’s Like Father Like Son Part 2 and The Carter 4.
AllHipHop
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50 Cent has done it again people. He's created his own lane to put out quality music from his G-Unit roster without major label politics. This will give him more creative control over content and also allow him to give the fans music at a great price without so many delays.
G Unit Records, Inc. is now up and running.
While news had already leaked that R&B singer Governor Washington who is featured on the "Do You Think About Me" single on 50's 'Before I Self Destruct' LP would be the first artist signed to the label. The first project is actually from G-Unit veteran Tony Yayo with his new LP Prequel "GunPowder Guru".
The album was released today for download via Amazon.com for $7.99 one week ahead of iTunes and other online retailers. The U.S. link to purchase is HERE, UK link is HERE.
50 Cent, Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo have given us fans many albums worth of material free via Thisis50.com the last couple of years. Let's support G-Unit and legally purchase the new Yayo album and all upcoming releases on G Unit Records, Inc.
More big announcements to come so stay tuned to Thisis50.com to find everything out 1st!
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Video After The JumpHard Knock TV cameras caught a rare acoustic performance of "The Light" by Common featuring Grammy Award Winners Zac Brown on guitar and Colbie Caillat on vocals.
Common also spoke on his upcoming cd titled 'The Believer' which features production from NO I.D., Kanye West and Twilight Tone.
He said he expects the new album will be released this fall.
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}