BBC Reports
Police have arrested a man over an alleged assault on former X Factor winner Leona Lewis at a book signing.
A Scotland Yard spokesman confirmed police were called to Waterstones book store at Piccadilly in London but she "did not require hospital treatment".
Lewis's spokesman said the singer was "understandably badly shaken".
In a statement, Waterstones said: "There was an incident at our Leona Lewis signing this afternoon and the event was immediately stopped."
"We are now doing everything we can to support the police in their enquiries.
Lewis, who won the X Factor in 2006, was signing copies of her new autobiography, Dreams, which is due to be released next month.
Unprovoked attack
One fan at the scene told the BBC: "My brother saw the whole incident. He [the attacker] walked up there with the book, she signed it and, as she looked up, he just punched her.
"He [my brother] actually heard the impact."
Another eyewitness added: "She was running out with her hand over her eye and I just saw a man on the floor.
"Suddenly the security all jumped on him and they were trying to pull him out and he was just laughing, he thought it was funny."
Lewis's spokesman said: "Leona was a victim of an unprovoked attack this afternoon at her book singing.
"The police were called immediately and medical attention has been sought.
"Leona's understandably badly shaken and apologises to the fans she was unable to meet and complete signings for."
Waterstones added: "We take security at our book signings extremely seriously and this is the first time anything of this nature has happened.
"We would like to thank Leona for her professionalism and we are extremely sad that this event was ruined for her, and her fans, many of whom queued from the early hours of the morning to meet her."
Lewis had been scheduled to appear on the BBC's The One Show on Wednesday night, however a spokesperson confirmed she had pulled out.
BBC sports presenter Gabby Logan has been bought in to replace her.
Lewis's second album, Echo, is scheduled for release in November.
The three-time Grammy Award nominee, released her debut single A Moment Like This, shortly after winning the ITV1 show.
She is due to play a gig in her native Hackney in east London on 2 November.
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In a story originally broken by ChasinDatPaper, rapper L.A. talks about how Rick Ross and Flo Rida stole his record. Check out my original story hereRead more…
XXL Reports
Several independent releases debuted on the Billboard 200 sales chart this week, including new discs by Fat Joe and Saigon.
Joey Crack’s ninth solo album, J.O.S.E. 2, landed at the no. 73 spot in his first week. The LP, which faced several pushbacks due to sample clearances and lack of promotion, features appearances by Lil Wayne, T-Pain, Akon, Lil Kim, Raekwon, Swizz Beatz, Ron Browz, and Pleasure P among others. Overal the CD sold 8,300 copies since hitting shelves last Tuesday (October 6).
Fellow NY rapper, Saigitty, landed almost 100 spots down at no. 170. Fans of the former Entourage star only picked up 3,100 units of his new street CD, Warning Shots 2.
The collaborative project between Harlemites Jim Jones and Webstar failed to crack the top 200 in their debut week. The duo, known for their hit “Dancing on Me” sold about 2,400 copies of The Rooftop this sales cycle.
Meanwhile, Jay-Z continues his reign at the top of the charts. The Brooklyn legend sold an additional 64,800 units this week, which earned The Blueprint 3 a no. 5 spot. After five weeks the disc has finally gone platinum, with his official stats standing at 1,061,600.
The Black Eyed Peas stay strong at no. 23 this week. The group, who have been on the charts for 18 weeks, sold 25,500 copies of The E.N.D. this go-round. The CD has a tally to 1,195.00.
Five slots down at no. 28 is T.Dot rep Drake. The Young Money rapper’s So Far Gone EP moved an additional 21,100 units this week, bringing Drizzy’s total to 162,300.
Next week, look for Snoop Dogg’s Lost Sessions LP and Mario’s new CD to appear on the Billboard 200
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New York Daily News Reports
Watch out, "Saturday Night Live" cast members: Tracy Morgan has a new tell-all, and he's not afraid to use it.
In "I Am the New Black" - out from Random House next Tuesday - the funnyguy slams some of his former "SNL" co-stars, writing of his 10-year stint on the show: "I had my finger on the pulse of urban comedy, but when I brought my act to 'SNL,' those mother--------- just felt bad for me. None of the cast I came up with saw this future for me. No, sir. All I have to say about that is, where's Chris Kattan now? Where's Cheri Oteri now? That b---- can't even get arrested."
But Morgan does have some love for a few of his past "SNL" cohorts, including his current "30 Rock" boss, Tina Fey. "Tina wasn't scared to come into my world and find the funny up in there. She's that kind of cool," he writes.
Tina Fey
The two get along so well, in fact, that Fey even used one of her more bizarre nights during her 'SNL" stint with Morgan as the inspiration for a famous "30 Rock" episode in which she accompanies Tracy to an "after-after-after-after party."
"I wasn't really friends with many of my castmates at 'SNL,' but that doesn't mean I didn't roll up into 'SNL' and all those after parties with my own friends," the comedian explains. "Friends of mine were running an illegal strip club they called the Loft. It was in an office space they'd rented and converted into an after-the-after-party spot. They put a stage in it, they put a few futons all around, and they'd get strippers and girls to come and do shows."
(And a few, er, other things, which Morgan details in the tome - but it's a tad too racy to detail here.)
"I invited everyone to go down there one week. And Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch and a few others came along. I didn't tell any of them what they were in for, so it was all cool when we got there. At first ... they thought it was just a private party. Then these two girls came out onstage and started [engaging in sex acts], and that just shut it down. All the grips and crew guys from 'SNL' were standing around and loving it, but my castmates took one look at that, turned right around and rushed out of there."
But even Tracy knows that if he's anything, he's memorable. "They might have left," he says, "but it was all that anybody talked about around the show for the next week."
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Video After The JumpIron Mike Tyson appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show Monday (October 12th) and was very candid and open about his life. Jimmy Kimmel was so impressed with the interview he decided to show a couple of clips from it. This is mad funny !
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RAP-UP REPORTS
Universal Music Group is serving up a plentiful feast for Thanksgiving week. Some of the biggest names in music will all release their high-profile albums on the Monday before the holiday.
The recording giant has moved up the majority of its November 24 releases by one day to Monday, November 23, a day before the traditional Tuesday release. The shift extends across the Universal umbrella, including Interscope GeffenA&M, Universal Motown/Republic, and Island Def Jam. The new date will take advantage of the start of the holiday shopping season when customers flock to stores to stock up on gifts.
Rap-Up.com is first to reveal six of the albums that have been affected by the date change, making your purchasing decision even tougher.
50 Cent – Before I Self Destruct
Rihanna – TBD
Timbaland – Shock Value 2
Lady Gaga – The Fame Monster
Jay Sean – All or Nothing
Birdman – Pricele$$
Which album(s) will you be buying on Super Monday?
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Videos After The JumpJamie Foxx appeared on The Tonight Show With Conan and had a lot to talk about. Topics range from his hilarious 1st meeting with Iron Mike Tyson, the nude photo of him that leaked to the internet and Kirstie Alley tweeting about wanting to have a booty call with him. Jamie's new movie 'Law Abiding Citizen' opens this friday.
Part OnePart TwoRead more…
MTV Reports
We're fresh off the plane, mane! The Mixtape Daily family was in ATL for the BET Hip-Hop Awards last weekend. We must have about 3,000 mixtapes in our bags from everybody out in the streets giving away music, trying to get their buzz going. We got tons of info from our trip, so stay locked here all week. Our first offering is all about Gucci Mane: He dropped a tape with DJ Drama over the weekend and has one more coming in a couple of weeks.
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Video After The JumpCollege Humor Originals "Retarded Test" only requires you to answer a few simple questions to determine whether or not you are mentally challenged. Watch this video and answer the questions to the test in the order they are given, then leave a comment and let us know how you did.
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Young Jeezy aka The Snowman is back gearing up for his new album "Thug Motivation 103". On this joint he's joined by CTE(Corporate Thug Entertainment) members 211 and Boo. I'm feeling this one, Jeezy sounds hungry.
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London Times Online Reports
Michael Jackson's estate has agreed to give the veteran singer-songwriter Paul Anka half the rights to the posthumously released single This Is It after he claimed that studio tapes had been stolen by the star.
Anka claimed that the song was originally called I Never Heard and had been co-written with Jackson in 1983 for his own album, Walk a Fine Line.
It was recorded in Anka's studio in Carmel, California, and Anka later took the tapes to a studio in Hollywood to make some finishing touches. While this was being done, he said, Jackson – then enjoying success with his song Thriller – removed the tapes.
Anka, who became a star in the late 1950s with the song Diana and also wrote the Tom Jones hit She's a Lady as well as the lyrics for the Frank Sinatra classic My Way, claimed that the two singers had written the lyrics together.
Anka said that Jackson returned the tapes after he threatened the star with legal action, but, he claimed, Jackson made a copy and used the track with his voice from I Never Heard, re-titling it This Is It.
I Never Heard was eventually released in 1991 after Anka placed it with an unknown singer named Safire.
Hours after Anka made his claim on the showbusiness website TMZ, administrators for Jackson's estate made him a 50 per cent partner in the publishing rights to the song.
I Never Heard and This Is It share the same vocal and piano line, although the latter track includes new over-dubs by Jackson's brothers.
This Is It had been promoted as a new Jackson recording, one of a number of unreleased tracks likely to come out in the next few years.
It was released online yesterday, four months after Jackson's death. When he heard it, Anka contacted the administrators of Jackson's estate who, he said, apologised for "ripping off my song" and offered "anything you want" to compensate.
"They've realised it's a mistake," he told TMZ. "They've realised it's my song. I'm getting 50 per cent of the whole project, which is fair."
John Branca, special administrator for Jackson's estate, said: "We acknowledge that Michael and Paul wrote this song together."
A spokesman for the estate said: "The song was picked because the lyrics were appropriate because of the name Michael gave his tour.The song was co-written by the legendary Anka."
A spokeswoman for Sony Music declined to comment.
"I Never Heard" by Safire"This Is It" by Michael JacksonRead more…
HipHopWired Reports
From the looks of it, Curtis “50 Cent" Jackson will finally unveil his fourth album Before I Self Destruct on Monday, November 23, 2009, one day early before the typical new release Tuesdays. The long awaited album will also include a free DVD of a full-length original movie entitled Before I Self Destruct.
Written, directed and starring 50, the film is a coming of age story about an inner city youth raised by a hardworking single mother. When his dream of becoming a basketball player fails to materialize, he finds himself employed in a supermarket. After his mother is tragically gunned down, Clarence (played by 50) is consumed by revenge and takes up a life of crime in order to support his younger brother.
But that's not all, giving consumers a bang for their buck, 50 is also offering even more for Hip-Hop fans with Before I Self Destruct. For a limited time, the package will also include a second DVD featuring "Two Turntables And A Microphone: The Life And Death Of Jam Master Jay," a documentary about 50 Cent's late mentor and friend.
Hip-Hop pioneer Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC gave 50 Cent his first big break in music by signing him to JMJ Records in the late 1990s. In fact, 50's first official recording was an appearance on a 1998 JMJ-produced Onyx album and Jay produced 50 Cent's first, though unreleased, album.
50 Cent executive produced the documentary and appears in the 85-minute film, along with Rev Run, Russell Simmons, Jay-Z, and others.
Before I Self Destruct, the album, will feature Dr. Dre and Eminem as he did on Get Rich Or Die Tryin', his first official album. With Dr. Dre and Eminem producing and guesting, Before I Self Destruct is said to be darker and harder than 2007's Curtis, as shown by the grimy single and video to "OK, You're Right" (produced by Dr. Dre), which was released earlier this year.
50 also dropped his new book last month, “The 50th Law,” which now sits atop the “Best Sellers List.” Co-written by author Robert Greene (“The 48 Laws Of Power”), the book is meant to serve as a blueprint and motivational guide for success.
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Video After The Jump
Comedian/Actress Luenell best known for her role as a prostitute in Sacha Baron Cohen's movie "Borat" . Recently took a minute out to give her take on Lamar Odom and the Kardashian sisters man snaring coochies. Haha this chick is pretty funny.
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Former heavyweight boxing champ Mike Tyson holds his youngest daughter Milan.
NY Daily News Reports
Mike Tyson doesn't want to know how his little "angel" died.
The former heavyweight champ said "my first instinct was a lot of rage" after his 4-year-old daughter Exodus was killed in a freak accident.
"If I know, then there might be a blame for it," Tyson said Monday in an emotional interview on "The Oprah Winfrey Show." "If somebody's to blame for it, there will be a problem."
Tyson said he's tried to not dwell on the bizarre circumstances of Exodus' death last May and is focusing on making sure the rest of his brood is happy.
"I was so happy that I had the tools in life, you know, to not go in that direction," he told the talk show queen.
"Because I've been that direction. I know where that's gonna lead me. I know I'm not gonna win."
Exodus was strangled after her neck was caught in the cord of a treadmill in the exercise room of her mother's house in Phoenix. Her 7-year-old brother Miguel found her hanging from the power cable.
The 911 tapes revealed the girl's frantic mother, Sol Xochitl, told the emergency dispatcher, "My baby! She's choked!"
Xochitl also tried to revive the doomed child until the paramedics arrived and took over.
Phoenix police called the incident a "tragic accident."
Iron Mike, who married girlfriend Lakiha (Kiki) Spicer two weeks after the tragedy, said he doesn't blame anybody or harbor any anger against anyone about the death of Exodus. He called his family "my biggest asset."
The Brooklyn-born ex-boxer said his children are "the only thing that matters to me now."
Tyson, who at age 20 became the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history, has spent a lifetime trying to learn to keep his terrible temper in check.
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Videos After The JumpAlicia Keys stopped by The Regis And Kelly Show Monday (Oct.12th) to perform her new single "Doesn't Mean Anything from her upcoming album. She also talks about her Charity "Keep A Child Alive" benefitting children and famililes stricken with Aids who can't afford medical help. Alicia's new cd "The Element Of Freedom" will be in stores December 1st.
Live Performance Of "Doesn't Mean Anything"Alicia interview talking about her charity "Keep A Child Alive"Read more…
Video And More Pics After The Jump
Incarcerated rapper T.I. was honored with two BET Hip-Hop Awards while Jay-Z was named "MVP of the Year" and Drake "Rookie of the Year" at Saturday's ceremony in the A-T-L, according to MTV.com.
Ice Cube was presented with the "I Am Hip-Hop" icon award. Kanye West, who led the rap pack with nine nods, was a no-show -- no doubt still reeling from the public backlash after the MTV Video Music Awards fiasco in which he ripped the mic out of Taylor Swift's sweet hands during her acceptance speech and the subsequent cancellation of his tour with Lady Gaga.
Hosted by Mike Epps, the awards show will air on BET on Oct. 27.
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