Losing 50-plus pounds was a complicated process for 50 Cent - but not an entirely new one.
The rapper, who plays a football player with cancer in the upcoming film "Things Fall Apart," dropped from 214 pounds to 160 in nine weeks after liquid dieting and running on a treadmill three hours a day.
But the 33-year-old said that when he was shot in the jaw in 2000, he could drink only liquids and his weight dropped to 157.
"This time it was a lot tougher for me," the 6-foot-tall rapper said in an interview Friday with the Associated Press.
"I had to discipline myself not ... to actually have myself be in the physical state to convey the energy I felt. It's a passion project for me," said 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson.
The film is about a childhood friend of the rapper who died of cancer, and is in production.
Actors including Robert De Niro, Christian Bale, Tom Hanks and Renee Zellweger are known for adjusting their weight in movies, and 50 said he did research when keeping the weight off got hard.
"I actually got on the computer," he said. "When it started getting difficult, I was looking to see what their experience was like and I got a chance to see all of the interviews they had at different time periods when they were doing promotion for the projects."
50 has been gaining the lost weight back, though, and said he currently weighs 198 pounds.
He said he doesn't anticipate winning awards for his acting role.
"Well, you know, I haven't received accolades that comes with the success that I've had in music," he said. "It would be a surprise" to win any acting awards, he said, noting that it's already a reward to have people aware of the role."
He released his fourth album, the gold-selling "Before I Self Destruct," in November. He kicks off his NorthAmerican tour Saturday in Detroit.
PROVO, Utah (AP) -- Gary Coleman, the child star of the smash 1970s TV sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes" whose later career was marred by medical and legal problems, has died after suffering an intercranial hemorrhage. He was 42.
Utah Valley Regional Medical Center spokeswoman Janet Frank says life support was terminated and Coleman died at 12:05 p.m. MDT.
Coleman, with his sparkling eyes and perfect comic timing, became a star after "Diff'rent Strokes" debuted in 1978. He played the younger brother in a pair of African-American siblings adopted by a wealthy white man.
His popularity faded when the show ended after six seasons on NBC and two on ABC.
He suffered continuing ill health from the kidney disease that stunted his growth and had a host of legal problems in recent years.
That wave Max-B has been riding just turned into a tsunami.
The incarcerated rapper received some much needed good news on Wednesday (May 26) as a judge ruled Jim Jones no longer has control of his publishing or recording rights.
XXL is reporting that the judge ruled Max has completed obligations under both his 2005 recording contract and 2007 publishing deals. Max was once a part of Jones' Byrd Gang before the two had a falling out.
Now Max can finally release his debut album 'Vigilante Season'.
Amalgam Digital will be putting the album out on it's indie label although the release date has not been set.
Max also got good news recently regarding his prison sentence for his role in a 2005 robbery that left one man dead. He was granted an appeal in the case and is waiting a trial date.
Philadelphia rapper Freeway, known for his unique flow and association with Jay-Z, sat down with Hard Knock TV to talk about what he's been up to recently.
With a new label situation at Rhyme Sayers, Freezer compares being there to his days at Roc-A-Fella Records.
"At the Roc, just like Rhyme Sayers we had creative control of our project. Both of my albums at Roc-A-Fella I just went in did what I did and turned the albums in, it's the same way with Rhyme Sayers. Towards the end of my career with Roc-a-Fella when everything was falling apart. The attention shifted from us [the artists] to what was going on with Jay and Dame and all that. And they wasn't concentrating on our projects as much as they should have."
Freeway has watched as the Roc dynasty crumbled. Being a part of State Property with Beanie Sigel, Peedi Crakk, Young Gunz and Oschino & Sparks has put Freezer in an uneasy position.
For the most part he's been quiet and not taken sides as Beanie has taken his beef with Jay-Z public, but he understands the situation.
"Sh*t is f*cked up man, me being a part of it I just wish sh*t was how it was. I know Jay love Beans, I know Beans love Jay. Communication is the key, if you don't know what's on that man's mind and you aint talked to him in months you liable to think anything."
As bad as things seem now, Freeway wouldn't rule out a Roc reunion.
"If Jay and Nas can do some sh*t together. Communication is the key, if we can communicate now maybe we can get it done, If not f*ck it."
T.I. said he isn't dissing mixtape DJs or making a disparaging statement about the mixtape circuit by naming his new street project F--- a Mixtape. Rather, the King of the South said, he's actually going up against people who tried to discourage him from making a mixtape at this point in his multiplatinum, Grammy-winning career.
"F--- a mixtape" was a common response T.I. got when he started telling people that he was, in fact, going to drop a mixtape before he put out his King Uncaged LP, due in August. Some felt Tip should just focus on the album, while others thought he should do a film. Nah. Tip wanted to give back to the streets.
"There's so many songs I have recorded [for King Uncaged]," he told Mixtape Daily earlier this week in NYC. "I already have 60, 70 songs. A lot of these songs are period pieces that speak volumes to what's going on right now. If I hold onto them next year or the year after, they'll be dated, because my life will be in another direction. If I'm not gonna put it on the album — and they all can't make the album — then they might as well have another platform to present it to the world. Me, myself, personally, I feel that although I haven't done mixtapes, it's not 'cause I can't. It's 'cause I have so many other pressing issues that are on my plate, I have chose to work on that.
"F--- a Mixtape, that's in no way a direct shot to a DJ. 'Cause for other people, [a mixtape] works wonders. It do what it's supposed to do," he added. "For me, I do what I need to do. That's a common knowledge around the industry. I got enough music to go around. I can drop a song a day three or five years straight and still be cool. But F--- a Mixtape, it got the response it was supposed to get. It got people thinking, it got people talking, and it generated a demand."
F--- a Mixtape is co-hosted by DJ Drama and DJ MLK and features guest appearances from Lil Wayne, Mike Bigga, Young Jeezy, MacBoney and Tip's cousin Rich Kid Rashad. Jamie Foxx appears on the tape's intro, and Lil Duval and Kevin Hart do skits and interludes. Meanwhile, Swizz Beatz, Lil C, Smash Factory and DJ Toomp are among the producers. F--- a Mixtape drops Thursday night (May 27) via LiveMixtapes.com.
F--- a Mixtape's track list, according to DJ Drama:
1. "Intro" (Jamie Foxx)
2. "Welcome Back to the Trap" (produced by Smash Factory)
3. "Spazz Out" (produced by Swizz Beatz)
4. "Whatcha Saying Tip" (produced by Chuck Diesel)
5. "Yeah" (featuring Lil Wayne and produced by Lil C)
6. "Yeah Ya Know" (produced by DJ Toomp and Lil C)
7. "Once Upon a Time"
8. "Here We Go Again" (produced by Timbaland)
9. "Get Yo Girl (featuring Rich Kid Rashad and produced by Jim Jonsin)
10. "Like So" (produced by Lil C)
11. "Gettin' Paid" (produced by Track Slayers)
12. "F--- a Mixtape N---a!!!" (Lil Duval)
13. "Really Livin' Like That" (produced by DJ Toomp)
14. "Whether You Like It or Not" (produced by Amadeus)
15. "Shooting Range" (Jamie Foxx)
16. "No Competition" (featuring Young Jeezy and produced by Black Mob)
17. "Bi--- Who" (featuring MacBoney and produced by Lil C)
18. "Ready Set Go" (featuring Mike Bigga and produced by No I.D.)
19. "F--- a Mixtape" (Kevin Hart)
20. "Outro"
21. "Celebration" (produced by J-Rock)
Bonus track: "Got Your Back" (featuring Keri Hilson and produced by DJ Toomp)
Looks like the music world has a new power couple.
Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz are officialy engaged and expecting their first child according to CNN.
The news was confirmed by Alicia's publicist today. Internet rumors had begun to circulate that Keys was pregnant due to her noticeably fuller stomach in recent weeks.
Alicia, 29 and Swizz, 31 plan to marry later this year in a private ceremony.
"They're very happy," a source close to the couple said.
1. Jamie Foxx – Intro 2. Welcome Back To The Trap (prod. Smash Factory) 3. Spazz Out (prod. Swizz Beatz) 4. Whatcha Saying Tip (prod. Chuck Diesel) 5. Yeah f. Lil Wayne (Produced by Lil C) 6. Yeah Ya Know (prod. DJ Toomp & Lil C) 7. Once Upon A Time 8. Here We Go Again (prod. Timbaland) 9. Get Yo Girl f. Rich Kid Rashad (prod. Jim Jonsin) 10. Like So (prod. Lil C) 11. Gettin Paid (prod. Track Slayers) 12. Lil Duval – Fuck A Mixtape Nigga! 13. Really Livin Like That (prod. DJ Toomp) 14. Whether You Like It Or Not (prod. Amadeus) 15. Jamie Foxx – Shooting Range 16. No Competition f. Young Jeezy (prod. Black Mob) 17. Bitch Who f. Macboney (prod. Lil C) 18. Ready Set Go f. Killer Mike (prod. No I.D.) 19. Kevin Hart – Fuck A Mixtape 20. Outro 21. Celebration (prod. J-Rock) 22. Got Your Back f. Keri Hilson (prod. DJ Toomp)
**UPDATE** Gary Coleman's family is reporting today (May 28) that he is on life support and unconscious with an intracranial hemorrhage according to the New York Post. They are also reporting that he has not yet undergone surgery as previous reports had indicated because of his grave condition
The 42-year-old former child actor was taken to the hospital after suffering a head injury during a fall. The actor's brother-in-law told TMZ that Coleman is listed in critical condition, saying he was taken from his home in Utah to the hospital around 12:50 p.m. Wednesday.
TMZ also reported that Coleman had what was thought to be a seizure while doing a TV interview in February for "The Insider." At the time, sources on set told the website that Dr. Drew was with the actor as part of a panel and helped Coleman until paramedics showed up on the scene. The site also reported that Coleman was hospitalized in January for what might have been a seizure.
Coleman's manager told E! News that "we're just getting bits and pieces right now, so there's really nothing to report. If there's anything to announce, we'll let you know."
Coleman, who first became famous for playing Arnold Drummond on the TV series "Diff'rent Strokes," also has a congenital kidney disease and receives frequent dialysis. Coleman had heart surgery last fall that became complicated by pneumonia, his attorney Randy Kester told The Associated Press.
The AP also reports that Coleman has lived in Utah since 2005, when he moved there to star in a comic film called "Church Ball," which is based on the basketball leagues formed by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Coleman and his wife, Shannon Price, met on the set of the film and married in 2007.
Fox News thrives on being outrageous and at times ridiculous. The network that calls itself "fair and balanced" is usually anything but.
Glenn Beck and fellow republican pundit Bill O'Reilly are so often offensive it barely registers a blip on the radar anymore.
But on occasion, like yesterday (May 26), one of them says something that makes you just shake your head.
Bill's guest on the O'Reilly Factor was liberal African American, Columbia University professor Mark LamontHill. The two of them were discussing Obama's plan to send 1200 troops to the Mexican border to help protect against illegal aliens.
For some reason Bill decides to tell Hill he looks like a drug dealer.
"Say you're a cocaine dealer—and you kind of look like one a little bit," Bill said
Without hesitation, Hill replied "As do you... you know, you actually look like a cocaine user."
Perfect comeback to an offensive, racist remark, but it still amazes me O'Reilly can get away with saying almost anything he wants.
Ondre Moore, a rapper known as Swifty McVay and member of Eminem's group D12, owes almost $254,000 in delinquent state and federal taxes, according to public records.
Moore, 35, drew notoriety four years ago when he bailed on a court hearing on an alleged probation violation. He skipped court to serve as an honorary pallbearer at the funeral of fellow D12 member Proof, who was killed at an after-hours club.
He is the third member of the multi-platinum group to face tax problems. Members Denaun Porter, a celebrated rapper who goes by Kon Artis, and Von Carlisle, a lyricist known as Kuniva, owed more than $215,000 last year and were subjects of an earlier Tax Watchdog column.
What's owed $253,984
The IRS filed a $224,749 lien against Moore on March 31 with the Los Angeles County Recorder of Deeds.
The IRS filed a $22,036 lien against Moore and his wife March 31 in Los Angeles.
The state of Michigan filed a $7,199 lien against the couple Nov. 4, 2009, with the Ingham County Register of Deeds.
Their side
Moore is negotiating a payment plan with the state and IRS, said Jeffrey Freeman, his Birmingham-based tax lawyer.
"Mr. Moore takes full responsibility for his debt to the IRS and the state and is working with the government in resolving his outstanding tax liability," Freeman said. "He has rejoined with his prior manager, and his current business and tax matters are now being properly handled."
Freeman said he hopes to resolve the tax issues in the next several months.
Arizona's controversial new anti-immigration law SB 1070 continues to draw boycotts and protests.
Kanye West has joined a protest being organized by Zach de la Rocha of Rage Against The Machine dubbed "The Sound Strike".
The protest movement is growing larger as artists refuse to perform in Arizona as long as the law is in place. Singer Shakira was recently in Phoenix speaking with Mayor Phil Gordon and other government officials to discuss the controversial legislation.
Pitbull and Cypress Hill recently canceled shows there and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Disturbing ThaPeace artist Willy Northpole just released a new video "Back To Mexico" as a show of solidarity between blacks and mexicans.
Sonic Youth, Joe Satriani, Massive Attack, Tenacious D, film maker Michael Moore and many others are participating.
De la Rocha sent out a press release on Tuesday (May 25) that read in part.
"Fans of our music, our stories, our films and our words can be pulled over and harassed every day because they are brown or black, or for the way they speak, or for the music they listen to. People who are poor like some of us used to be could be forced to live in a constant state of fear while just doing what they can to find work and survive. This law opens the door for them to be shaked down, or even worse, detained and deported while just trying to travel home from school, from home to work, or when they just roll out with their friends.
Some of us grew up dealing with racial profiling, but this law (SB 1070) takes it to a whole new low. If other states follow the direction of the Arizona government, we could be headed towards a pre-civil rights era reality. This unjust law was set into motion by the same Arizona government that refused to acknowledge Martin Luther King Jr. day as a national holiday."
SB 1070 allows police officers to stop and question people they "reasonably suspect" of being in the UnitedStates illegally.
To read more on the protest and see the full list of artists participating and sign the petition go to www.thesoundstrike.net.
They tell boxers to "protect themselves at all times" when in the ring. One dude in South Central, Los Angeles found out the hard way the same rules apply to the streets.
After a brief confrontation, one L.A, man knocks out another out cold. Then robs him in broad day light and walks away.
A few kids kids standing right next to the action were watching and chilled like "this aint nothing new".
Paramount and director Michael Bay have apparently found the woman they want to play opposite star Shia LaBeouf in the movie 'Transformers 3'.
Victoria's Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley who has no previous acting experience has beaten out swimsuit model Brooklyn Decker and Sarah White for the role according to Deadline.com.
Whiteley replaces Megan Fox who was either fired or quit depending on whose story you believe as LaBeouf's love interest.
Paramount was under pressure to find a replacement quickly for the role because production is about to start on the film which is expected to premier in the summer of 2011.
Bay still has a week to finalize the decision, but barring anything unforeseeable happening between now and then, Whiteley will be the selection.
As one of the pioneers of West Coast hip hop and a real living hip hop legend, Ice Cube could just kick back and rest on his laurels, but he's still just as hungry as ever.
During his interview on 106 & Park he talked about what still motivates him.
"I got a hunger for the music. I got a passion for doing films. I love to create, that's what I get off on," he said
He stressed that he still feels like he has something to prove when he steps in the booth.
"Anytime you get on the mic I got something to prove. You better have something to prove, or you need to get out the game."
Longevity in the business is hard to maintain, Cube said for artists like himself and Dr Dre it's all about quality over quantity.
When asked about younger artists in the business he respects and admires he mentioned 50 Cent.
"Everybody gotta like how 50 doing it, Kanye (West), these dudes are dope".
Ice Cube's new album 'I Am The West' hits stores July 13.
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