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Mariah Carey & Nick Cannon Are Married, Bahamas Official Confirms

It appears the guessing game has finally been put to rest, as Access Hollywood has confirmed Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon are married.

“Mariah Carey got married on Wednesday at Windermere Island,” a Bahamian tourism official told Access Hollywood.

Windermere Island is a seven-mile long island in the Bahamas, just off the mainland of Eluethera.

It is home to the Windermere Island Club, where England’s royal family has used as a vacation spot.

Earlier this week, a source close to the music diva confirmed to Access the couple was indeed engaged.

This marks the second marriage for Mariah, 38, who was previously married to music exec Tommy Mottola.

It is the first marriage for 27-year-old Nick. When contacted by Access Hollywood, reps for both singers were unavailable for comment.

Usher Trashes Hollywood Baby Pimpers

Calling Brangelina, TomKat, X-Tina, Nicole, and Jarc Lopanthony!!! Usher thinks you and your million dollar baby photos are disgusting! He’s speaking out against all the celebs who accept cash from mags in exchange for baby pics, and he’s pissssssed. “In no way would I ever pimp out my child for money,” he growled to Page Six after rumors swelled that he too was selling pics of his newborn, Usher V. “I am livid that people talk about my child.”

He also ranted about the (mis)treatment of his wife Tameka, stating, “I stand by her as a man loving my wife and being there for my child . . . this is my wife and I would hope that [people] would respect my wife and my marriage and who I have chosen to spend my life with.” Certainly we respect Usher’s opinion (his wife is another story) and agree with his baby-pimpin’ stance. Still, we find it a little odd that he’d then pose with his son - for free - on the cover of the June issue of Essence magazine. Isn’t it possible to pimp even if no cash exchanges hands?

50 Cent Quashes Eminem Weight-Gain Rumors: 'He's Gonna Look Real Good When You See Him Return'

50 Cent wants you to know that despite what you may have heard, his good pal Eminem is not — as one tabloid so delicately put it — "starting to look like an M&M."

In a recent sit-down with MTV News' Tim Kash, 50 laughed off recent rumors that Em — who has all but disappeared from the public eye in recent years — has been packing on the pounds, and that as a result of his weight gain, has become a recluse, venturing out of his Detroit-area mansion only to gorge himself on meals from Taco Bell and Outback Steakhouse. The G-Unit captain insisted that fans are going to be seeing a slim-and-trim Eminem real soon.

"Em is in shape right now. He looks good. I seen him in Detroit. He's gonna look real good when you see him return," Fif laughed. "He's in shape right now."

The rapper has been on hiatus ever since releasing his official Shady Records mixtape, Eminem Presents the Re-Up, in December of 2006. In mid-2007, he called in to Angie Martinez's show on New York radio station Hot 97 to say he was "in limbo" and "debating" whether to release another album. Then, in January of this year, news broke that he had been rushed to a Detroit-area hospital for complications related to pneumonia, and in at least one of those reports, sources were quoted as saying his weight had exceeded 200 lbs.

Those rumors — coupled with a National Enquirer story that quoted an "insider" as saying that the rapper "[has] got a double chin, a potbelly and droopy man-breasts. And he's living a reclusive lifestyle in an attempt to hide his new body" — had fans worried about Eminem. But 50, who in recent weeks has battled rumors about his own weight thanks to online photos that show him looking extra gaunt, said that those worries are unfounded. According to him, Em's fine and in fighting shape (or at least, balling shape).

"The last time I seen him we played basketball together," 50 said. "He had a knee injury, so we chilled for a little bit."

Jay-Z And Beyonce Are Still Staying Quiet About Their Reported Wedding ... But Why?

Canceling the caterers, then hiring them back at the last minute. Confiscating guests' cell phones and cameras. Applying for a wedding license out in the 'burbs. Hell, not admitting that they've been dating for six years.

Plenty of celebrity couples try to keep their wedding days private by doing everything they can to throw the paparazzi and celebrity press off the scent in the hours and weeks leading up to their special day. Ever since paparazzi helicopters buzzed Madonna and Sean Penn's wedding in 1985, the cat-and-mouse game has become part of the story anytime a power couple make it official.

But Jay-Z and Beyoncé have taken the cone of silence to new heights by refusing to even confirm, even after the fact, that they're now man and wife — if they are.

"They are intensely private people," said Laura Schreffler, senior writer for OK! magazine. "It took them years to even admit they were a couple, and they say more about themselves as a couple in their music than they do out loud. I don't think they'll admit [to getting married] now, and I don't think they have to. They have no one to answer to." Schreffler said keeping their wedding a secret could be the couple's way of trying to have a semblance of normalcy in their otherwise closely watched lives.

So it's been left to fans and the paparazzi to gather the scraps of proof, though the newlyweds aren't making that easy either. Jay has yet to wear a wedding ring in public, either onstage the night after the intimate event at his posh New York apartment, or during a Houston Rockets game he attended on Friday with B, who covered up her hand so as not to give anyone a clear shot of her reportedly impressive wedding ring.

That was a sharp turnaround from the week before, when Beyoncé, 26, waved the rock around during Jay's April 8 show at Atlanta's Philips Arena during the line, "I got the hottest chick in the game wearing my chain," from Jigga's "PSA." Jay, 38, was not as forthcoming the night before that gig, reportedly saying, "I don't know what you're talking about," when patrons at his 40/40 club in Manhattan congratulated him on the blessed event.

This kind of secrecy is becoming more and more common among celebrity couples trying to hold on to their final bits of privacy in a 24/7 paparazzi world. From Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez pulling a bait-and-switch on their wedding guests by telling them they were attending a backyard awards ceremony to Ellen Pompeo keeping her secret wedding under wraps for weeks afterward, celebrities are getting better at throwing reporters off the scent — or at least keeping the photographers on the wrong side of the fence.

"Beyoncé and Jay-Z don't need any more press," Schreffler said, adding that it's also unlikely that the couple is holding out for a big magazine-cover payday for exclusive photos. "Jay-Z has more money than many people, so it's not about the money."

Jay may not be talking, but others certainly are. From tourmate Mary J. Blige offered congratulations the night after the wedding from the stage, to former Def Jam boss Russell Simmons telling reporter Chris Yandek last week that he was proud of his former protégé. "I know Jay-Z. We signed him at Def Jam many years ago," Simmons said. "I watched him grow as an individual, and I watched him become a great giver. Beyoncé supported us at the Hip-Hop Summit. ... They are two people I have a great deal of admiration and respect for. I love them both, and seeing them get married is a perfect order. I am very happy for them."

But even Blige was a bit vague about the wedding when she offered some praise from the stage the night after the event, saying, "Congratulations to my man, Jay-Z, and my girl B."

So for now, until they release their next album and offer us a musical update on the state of their union, that's probably as close as we're going to come to an official confirmation.

Watch Out Tameka! Chili Still Loves Usher

Oh man. Chili is seriously asking for an ass-whupping from Usher’s wife Tameka. The TLC singer recently revealed that of all the men she’s loved and lost - including Marlon Wayans - her ex Usher was the one she was meant to be with. Too bad he had all those “confessions” that prevented their relationship from really working out. Even Chili knows Tameka’s not gonna like what she has to say - let’s just hope she’s in hiding somewhere! Check out her revelation below. Think there’s a chance they’d ever get back together?

“Lord, Tameka gonna be trying to fight people. But honestly I will say, although Marlon is the one that got away, Usher is the one that I truly did love. Like that was truly my first adult love. I love him very much and I will always love him. I don’t know how you love someone that deeply and just stop loving them. I’m not in love with him anymore but I can’t say that I don’t love him anymore. And of course I do want him to be happy and all but me and him had what I never had in any of my other relationships, and that was chemistry. Even in that picture that you have up. Any picture that you see with the two of us, you see it. It’s just there! I could be standing next to him til this day and people will be like “Wow”. It’s not that you are wondering if we are back together again, it’s just that we look like we just go together.”

Jay-z And Beyonce Finally Tie The Knot

Earlier this week, Beyonce Knowles and longtime beau Jay-Z took out a marriage license in Scarsdale Village, N.Y. The license is good for 60 days, but it didn't take that long to be put to use.

On a rainy Friday in New York, Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z tied the knot in a small ceremony. PEOPLE reports that the couple, who have been together since 2002, took their vows after a lavish party at Jay-Z's Tribeca loft.

"It happened earlier this evening. Jay wanted it to be a really private affair -- close friends and family," a source tells the magazine.

Speculation started when large flower arrangements and a tent were delivered to Jay-Z's Tribeca apartment building Friday afternoon.

High-profile guests had also been arriving in New York. Destiny's Child singers Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland were in a hotel and even shot a YouTube video to flaunt it.

PerezHilton actually provided the downtown address where the wedding was to take place. See it here.

Jay-Z certainly had other reasons to celebrate with his impending $150 million deal with concert promoter Live Nation. There was speculation that the party at his loft was nothing more than a celebration of the blockbuster deal.

Ex Clubs 50 Cent with Lawsuit

Is 50 Cent trying to kick his baby mama to the curb?

Ex-girlfriend Shaniqua Tompkins, the mother of the rapper's 10-year-old son, Marquise, has sued Fiddy for breach of contract and unjust enrichment, claiming he's trying to evict them from their Long Island home.

In the single-page complaint filed Wednesday in New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan, Tompkins asks a judge to rule that she has a right to live in the residence, which 50 Cent bought for about $2.4 million. She contends that her former beau, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, promised her and their son a safe place to live. He also pays monthly child support. "This is somebody who was with him when he was shot and who nursed him back to health," Tompkins attorney, Paul Catsandonis, told the Associated Press. "I think what he's doing is horrible." The "In Da Club" MC's lawyer didn't immediately respond to a call for comment.

Marquise was born Oct. 13, 1997, and 50 Cent, who had spent time in jail for dealing cocaine, has credited his son's arrival for helping him get his life in gear—although it wasn't exactly smooth sailing from then on.

In 2000, Marquise was at Fiddy's grandmother's house in Queens when the rapper was shot nine times in the front yard. Although the attack kept the major labels away for a couple of years, 50 Cent eventually hooked up with Eminem and contributed tracks to the 8 Mile soundtrack before signing with Universal-owned Interscope Records. Then it was on to a better life for his son, whose name he has tattooed inside an ax on his right bicep. "The ax is 'cause I'm a warrior," Fiddy told Blender magazine in April 2005. "I don't want him to be one, though."

Bobby Writes Off Whitney

Bobby Brown was not the bad guy in his marriage to Whitney Houston. According to Bobby Brown.

In a new book, Brown, best known now for his frequent run-ins with the law rather than his onetime Grammy-winning music career, writes that Houston fueled his appetite for drugs and used him to tidy up her image.

Passages from Bobby Brown: The Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing But..., due out June 1, were leaked Thursday to the New York Post. The publisher, Down South Books, confirmed to E! News that the excerpts were legit.

In a statement from Houston's rep, the star was said to be "sad that Bobby feels the need to say such things, but she chooses to take the high road, and will not speak badly about the father of her child even if it's to set the record straight."

Brown has a different view on how to address the mother of his 15-year-old daughter, Bobbi.

"I never used cocaine until after I met Whitney," Brown writes. "Before then, I had experimented with other drugs, but marijuana was my drug of choice."

Brown married Houston in 1992. At the time, he was the ex-New Edition singer who'd made good as a solo act with three platinum albums; she was music's supreme diva about to score the biggest success of her career with The Bodyguard soundtrack.

If the pairing looked like the perfect match—the King of New Jack Swing meets the Queen of Ballads—Brown says the union was "doomed from the very beginning."

Houston, according to Brown, wanted to get married to deflect attention from rumors about her sexuality. While Houston was out to get married and get pregnant in order to "kill all speculation," Brown writes, he just wanted to be loved. Brown does tell tales on himself, as well, in the book.

According to the tome's blurb copy, it notes he dated Janet Jackson and Madonna, "sle[pt] with thousands of women," and nearly died from a drug overdose. For boy-band completists, it promises to reveal "the real reason he left New Edition." And for fans of author and music-video star Karrine "Superhead" Steffans, it offers this critique: "Yes, I've spent several nights at her house," Brown writes. "But she was only good for what her nickname stood for."

Brown, 39, and Houston, 44, formally ended their marriage last April after 15 years, several separations due to Brown's various incarcerations, numerous tabloid stories and one warts-and-all reality series, Being Bobby Brown.

Jay-Z And Beyonce Take Out Marriage License:

Reports'They were holding hands for a while. They looked really happy,' an eyewitness reportedly said. Beyoncé Knowles and Jay-Z have taken out a marriage license in Scarsdale, New York, a source reportedly told People.com. Beyoncé Knowles and Jay-Z have taken out a marriage license in Scarsdale, New York, a source reportedly told People.com.

The pair obtained the license, which is valid for 60 days in New York State, on Tuesday morning, according to the report.

"It was just the two of them," an eyewitness reportedly told the site. "They were very polite and smiling as they filled out the paperwork. They were holding hands for a while. They looked really happy."

At press time, reps for the artists had no comment or could not be reached.

A source reportedly told UsMagazine.com on Tuesday that the couple have told friends they would like to marry in May after Jay-Z's tour with Mary J. Blige ends. "Jay is trying to pull it together quickly and on the fly to keep it private," the source told the site. "They really wanted it to be private." However, that article had been removed from the magazine's Web site by Wednesday morning (April 2).

New York's Daily News reported this week that while Beyoncé was out of town filming for the Etta James biopic "Cadillac Records," Jay met with her younger sister, Solange, in Miami. Sources reportedly told the paper the two discussed Jay's proposing to Beyoncé and asking for her manager/father Mathew's consent.

Beyoncé, 26, and Jay-Z, 38, have been a couple since 2002, and marriage rumors have long been rampant. The couple rarely discuss their relationship publicly.

In September, Jay told reporters in Las Vegas during VMA Week that the couple will get married "one day soon — let's leave it at that."

In December 2006, Beyoncé said to InStyle, "You can't rush a man into anything — whether it's a relationship, marriage or having children." And in 2005, she downplayed marriage rumors in an interview with Vanity Fair.

Wendy Williams’ Sex Harassment Scandal

Popular radio DJ and VH1 star Wendy Williams is suddenly swirling in controversy after her talent booker recently came forward and filed a complaint against her husband, Kevin Hunter, accusing him of sexual harassment. Nicole Spence is alleging that Hunter propositioned her for sex on numerous occasions and also “created a hostile work environment by repeatedly beating up Williams.” Wendy is defending her man - who is ten years her junior and serves as her manager - and when interviewed by the NY Post snapped, “Her allegations are totally false. This b*tch is out of her mind.”

Surely this will all play out in court, but Spence’s attorney is already talking big. She tells SOHH that, “We have clear evidence and other witnesses at the company who will back it up, that Mr. Hunter engaged in blatant and open sexual harassment. He did this in the office, in front of other people. The company was aware of this, the head of Human Resources was aware [and] all of this supports her claims strongly.”

Usher’s Wife: Video Sabotage!

Uh oh - all was peaceful after their baby was born, but Mrs. Usher is back and churning up the drama all over again. Tameka Foster, who married Usher this fall, was allegedly very unhappy that her man handpicked singer/songwriter hottie Keri Hilson to play his love interest in the video for his new song “Love in the Club.” A spy on set revealed that “Tameka is very insecure. Even in rehearsals she was weird and clearly not happy that Keri is so gorgeous. Tameka threw a lot of attitude.”

She even went so far as to uglify Keri (and possibly risk the hotness of her hubby’s video) by dressing her down and not allowing her to bring her hairdresser on set. “The day of the shoot, Tameka dressed Keri very badly - she looked like an extra,” revealed the source. Tameka also apparently banned Usher’s longtime choreographer from the video set, and she’s had strained relations with his mom in the past as well. How long is it gonna take for Usher to notice that she might be, uh, isolating him out of her own insecurities?

First 2 Photos of G.I. Joe's Snake Eyes!

Paramount Pictures has released the first two photos of Ray Park as Snake Eyes in the Stephen Sommers-directed G.I. Joe, coming to theaters on August 7, 2009.

"He's the world's greatest ninja, but he's also next-generation. He's not afraid to use a sword one second, and a split-second later he's pulling out his Glock," Sommers told USA Today. "His chief nemesis is arguably the world's other great ninja, Storm Shadow. The two grew up together, were blood brothers and now are mortal enemies."

Sommers stressed that the movie is an origins story, so his challenge is to explain why the bad guy wears a metal mask, why Snake Eyes doesn't talk and other strange things kids took for granted. "For people who know nothing about it, it'll make sense," Sommers said. "And to people who love this stuff, it'll show where they all came from."

Adapted by Stuart Beattie, the action-adventure also stars Dennis Quaid, Channing Tatum, Sienna Miller, Rachel Nichols, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Said Taghmaoui, Marlon Wayans, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Arnold Vosloo and Christopher Eccleston.

Brooke Keeps Blabbin’ About Hulk’s Affair

..Sometimes we forget that Brooke Hogan is only like, 19 years old. She’s all tall and mature and she’s dresses just a wee bit older than her age, so sometimes we get confused. Our girl Brooke’s been through a lot this year - her bro’s car accident and legal troubles, her parents’ divorce, Hulk’s alleged romance with her BFF - and that’s got be rough for someone who is still technically a teen. But our heroine seems to be working through her ish on her MySpace blog, and her latest post proves that even at 19, one can approach life’s crap with a cool hand. Will she be this levelheaded on her new reality show? We’ll have to tune it to find out. In her latest blog post, she reveals that maybe the healing has begun.

well, I realized your mother is your mother. Your father is your father. Nothing is thicker than blood. No matter how angry, sad or depressed you are, your family will always love you no matter what. We are all human. Yes, I’m still hurting very deeply inside, but I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I’m not saying I will get over this in a week, month, year or ten years. I dont know when It will be. But you must always respect your father and your mother.

Always love them. My parents made me and my brother from pure love…thats all I need to know to live. Nothing will ever change how much I love my family. I just realized the longer you cease to forgive, the more you miss them, and the more it hurts you inside. I have a wonderful, angel of a brother…and I have two amazing parents. I mean AMAZING. I know mistakes have been made. And I have no doubt there is major guilt that carries with that… But no mistake ever made in a persons life changes real love. We may not be a perfect family, we may not be living in a house together, but I’m positive we will all love eachother till death. Thats all that matters to me. You can have money, fame, cars, clothes, but youre naked without the people that love you. I don’t know where this blog will go next. But I hope everyone sees it, maybe it will help someone else in need…

Brooke

The Notorious B.I.G. Yellow Jersey Exclusive

Notorious B.I.G. (aka Christopher G. Wallace) is an all-time great, an unparalleled storyteller, and a man whose talent can only be compared to the size of his legend. The Notorious B.I.G. action figure stands 9" tall and will captivate Biggie fans of all shapes and sizes. This exclusive version available at New York Comic Con features Biggie decked out in the outfit he rocked in his Juicy video.

It includes a removable towel, gold chain, sunglasses, and microphone. Only 2000 have been produced and will be available at the Mezco Toys Booth (1041) for $30.

Lindsay Lohan's Family Gets Reality Show

Troubled Star's Mom, Brothers & Sister To Appear In Series On E!

It sounds like the ultimate stage mother's dream: Lindsay Lohan's mom Dina gets to be the star of her own reality show.

"Livin' Lohan," which debuts this summer on E!, will follow Dina as she manages Lindsay's hectic schedule, while helping her other daughter, 14-year-old Ali, "jump start her music and acting career."

The network didn't say if Lindsay Lohan will be seen on the show, but in an announcement Tuesday said that her 11-year-old brother Cody and 20-year-old brother Michael will be featured."The Lohans are one of the most intriguing families in the entertainment industry today," said Lisa Berger, Executive Vice President, Original Programming and Series Development for E! "This is a family that knows how to roll with the punches and come out on top. Dina is an incredibly hard-working, passionate mom that I think our viewers will find both relatable and highly entertaining."

Dina Lohan is certainly entertaining to gossip bloggers who often bash her for seeming like a hanger-on rather than a strong maternal influence in her troubled daughter Lindsay's life.

The 45-year-old New York native was slammed for going to clubs with her then-underage daughter, telling Star magazine that Lindsay's friends call her "The White Oprah," and, according to the New York Post, lying about having once been a member of the Radio City Rockettes.

The Game Checks Into Jail

The Game began his 60-day jail sentence on Sunday night at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles, a label representative for the rapper confirmed Monday (March 3). The rapper (born Jayceon Taylor) pleaded no contest last month to a felony charge of possession of a firearm in a school zone.The sentence stems from an altercation Game allegedly got into last February during a pick-up basketball game at the Rita Walters Educational Learning Complex in South L.A., with prosecutors alleging that Taylor punched an opposing player and then pulled a gun from his car and threatened to shoot the man. He was arrested on the charge in May of 2007 and, following the plea deal cut last month, was sentenced to 60 days in jail, 150 hours of community service and three years' probation.

He had faced three counts of making criminal threats and possessing a firearm in a school zone, but two of the charges were dropped in the plea deal. According to reports, the rapper waited until just moments before midnight on March 3 — the deadline for him to check in to jail — to report to the facility.

In a recent interview with Monsta magazine, Game apparently proclaimed his innocence.

"The crazy part about this is that I've had guns before in my life," Game told the mag. "But this time, I didn't have a gun. And because one person said I had a gun and coaxed his homies into saying that I had a gun, I'm in a predicament where I'm asking, 'Do I want to spend another million dollars to fight this trial, so who knows what jury's gonna come in and say I'm guilty? Or do I want to save my money, go sit down for four months and accept this felony they're trying to give me for no reason.' "

Rapper Juvenile's Daughter Killed In Ga.

A 17-year-old boy has been charged with murder in the fatal shootings of his mother and her two little girls, one of whom was rap star Juvenile's 4-year-old daughter.

Anthony Tyrone Terrell Jr. was charged Friday in the deaths at the family home near Lawrenceville, where the bodies were found the night before, said police spokeswoman Illana Spellman.

She identified the victims as Gwinnett County Sheriff's Deputy Joy Deleston, 39, and her two daughters, Micaiah, 11, and Jelani, 4. The motive was still unclear.

Deleston brought a paternity lawsuit in 2004, claiming that the 32-year-old rap star Juvenile, whose real name is Terius Gray, was Jelani's father, Gwinnett County court records show.

Attorney Randy Kessler, who represented Juvenile in the proceedings, said the case was resolved peacefully by consent order in 2006. Both parties agreed Juvenile was the father.

Kessler said Saturday he had not talked with the rapper about the killings. "Anytime you have a situation like that, it's shocking," Kessler said.

Terrell was taken to jail in neighboring DeKalb County to avoid any potential conflict because Deleston worked for Gwinnett County, Spellman said. He is being held without bail.

Because of his age, prosecutors cannot seek the death penalty against Terrell. A preliminary hearing will be set next week in Gwinnett County Superior Court, said prosecutor Danny Porter.

Defense attorney Lyle Porter did not return a call Friday. An attempt to reach Juvenile at a listing for "T. Gray" in the New Orleans area, where he is based, was unsuccessful on Friday night.

Authorities on Friday found the gun used, going by information provided by Terrell. Spellman said she could not confirm whether Deleston's service weapon was used.

Deleston, a seven-year member of the department, had been assigned to the sex offender unit, police said.

Police had gone to the subdivision because a caller reported shots fired, Officer David Schiralli said earlier. They found a bullet hole in a house, then checked next door because they knew a deputy lived there.

They opened the door to announce themselves and discovered the bodies, Schiralli said. The 17-year-old son arrived at the house about 35 minutes later, he said.

Spellman said the boy was arrested after talking to investigators but didn't elaborate.

Neighbors said the family had moved in less than a year ago. They often saw Deleston in her squad car coming home from work and said having a deputy around was reassuring.

Jeff Beaird, who lives across the street, said he often saw Terrell in the driveway shooting hoops with his friends or washing his mother's patrol car but doesn't remember anything out of the ordinary.

"It's so shocking because you don't expect something like this to happen," Beaird said.

Juvenile has been arrested several times on charges ranging from failure to pay child support to resisting an officer in a scuffle at a Florida mall in 1999. Most of the charges have been dismissed.

Jamie Foxx is Mike Tyson?

So before anyone gets too excited, we should probably all take a step back and consider whether we should be really taking the word of Mike Tyson. The scandal plagued boxer recently told the sports paper Review-Journal that "Me and Jamie Foxx are going to do a collaboration. He's going to play me in my life story. We've talked about it many times." Tyson was giving a pep-talk to troubled youngsters in Las Vegas. Not to be sarcastic, but it must have been a community service deal, since Tyson isn't necessarily the best role model for staying out of trouble.

Jamie Foxx is rapidly becoming the go-to guy for real-life flicks. Foxx made a name for himself when he starred in the life story of famed gang leader (and peacemaker), Stan 'Tookie' Williams. Then, of course, was his Oscar-winning performance in Ray. Next up is another musical biopic, The Soloist with Catherine Keener, and then he has signed to play Earl Sanders in the real- life crime drama, The Zebra Murders.

One thing is for sure, there has been no shortage of drama in the life of the famed heavy weight, so there is plenty of material to work with. There have been accusations of spousal abuse, drug charges, assault charges, rape convictions, prison time, bankruptcy, and a conversion to Islam. Not to mention that whole ear-biting thing. So far there has been no word from Foxx about the project so only time will tell if this movie is anything more than wishful thinking on the part of Tyson. The only question is can Tyson handle airing his dirty laundry on the big screen?

Could you see Jamie Foxx as Mike Tyson?
Justin Timberlake To Induct Madonna Into Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame

Justin Timberlake will induct Madonna into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the organization's March 10 ceremony, a rep for the Hall confirmed to MTV News Tuesday (February 26).

Perhaps Timberlake is returning a favor from his 27th birthday last month, when Madonna presented him with a cupcake and champagne and sang him "Happy Birthday" on the set of the video for her song "4 Minutes to Save the World." The track features JT as well as Timbaland; the two collaborated on several songs for Madonna's forthcoming LP.

Other inductors include Tom Hanks (for '60s group the Dave Clark Five — appropriate because he played the manager of a similar group in the 1996 film "That Thing You Do"), Lou Reed (for folk legend Leonard Cohen), Billy Joel (for John Mellencamp), Ben Harper (for blues harmonica player Little Walter), Jerry Butler (for legendary soul producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff) and John Fogerty (for instrumental group the Ventures).

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony will take place at New York's Waldorf Astoria hotel on March 10.

Michael Jackson: Thanks for 'Thriller's' success

Michael Jackson appeared in a video to thank fans for the success of "Thriller," the landmark record the reclusive singer is marking with a 25th anniversary edition.

Jackson will release the new version of the blockbuster album Tuesday, featuring new collaborations with Kanye West, Akon, Fergie and will.i.am.

"It's hard to believe that 25 years ago Quincy Jones and I embarked on an album named 'Thriller,' " Jackson said in a video message to fans released Monday by his record company, Sony-BMG.

It was not immediately clear exactly when Jackson had made the video, or where it was recorded. He also hinted that he's not through recording music.

"There is still much for to come for Michael Jackson," he said. "My passion for music has never stopped. ... It's my hope that 'Thriller' continues to live on for each new generation to discover." Jackson, 49, soared to superstardom after releasing "Thriller" in November 1982. The instant classic spawned the hits "Billie Jean," "Beat It" and -- of course -- "Thriller," and introduced the moonwalk to legions of fans all around the world.

"To be able to say that 'Thriller' still holds the record as the biggest selling album of all time is just mind-blowing. I have you, my fans, throughout the world to thank for this achievement," said Jackson, who has sold more than 750 million albums worldwide.

Jackson -- whose previous disc, 2001's "Invincible," failed to produce any "Thriller"-level hits -- seemed poised for a career comeback after years of avoiding the spotlight (including a period of self-imposed exile in Bahrain following his acquittal in 2005 on child molestation charges.).

Jennifer Lopez gives birth to twins

Jennifer Lopez gave birth to twins -- a boy and a girl -- early on Friday in a New York hospital, her manager said.

The 38-year-old, who is married to singer Marc Anthony, delivered her first children just after midnight in a Long Island hospital, manager Simon Fields told Reuters.

"They are healthy, happy and thrilled," Fields said of the new family. The couple's 5.7 pound daughter was born first, followed by a 6.0 pound son. Both have yet to be named.

Lopez's efforts to have a child have filled tabloid pages in the past few years. Anthony, a 39-year-old salsa singer, has a daughter and two sons from two previous relationships.

Celebrity magazine People is reportedly offering upward of $6 million for the exclusive U.S. rights for the first photos of the babies, topping a reported $4 million the magazine paid for North American rights to pictures of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's baby daughter Shiloh.

New York-born Lopez, who has sold 17 million records worldwide and released six albums, married Anthony, who has sold more than 10 million records, in 2004. It is her third marriage. The couple starred together last year in "El Cantante," a film about salsa legend Hector Lavoe.

"DVD Debut: Denzel Washington and Harlem Heroin"

American Gangster

Denzel Washington plays Frank Lucas, a 1970s hood who bucked trends by smuggling heroin inside the corpses of American servicemen and running his crime empire like a business. Russell Crowe is the cop who starts sniffing around and discovers that nobody is an innocent. The Godfather it ain’t, but the two leads navigate around the mobster clichés with juicy performances.

Extras: The commentary on the two-disc edition gives insight into director Ridley Scott’s process, while a 78-minute documentary features Crowe and Washington’s real-life counterparts. Tons of extra footage.

Wayans Signs Up for "G.I. Joe"

Marlon Wayans is gearing up to star in "G.I. Joe," based on the American soldier action figure created by Hasbro.

Wayans will take on the role of Ripcord, the leader of the military unit. He joins co-stars Rachel Nichols, Sienna Miller, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Said Taghmaoui in the film. The war-themed story, set 10 years in the future, starts shooting next month in Los Angeles. Wayans, who most recently starred in "Little Man" and "Norbit," is developing a cop action spoof for Paramount alongside brothers Shawn and Keenen Ivory Wayans.

Look for "G.I. Joe" to hit the big screen in August 2009.
Usher Chalks Up Song Leaks To 'Internal Conspiracy' --

Usher is confused. Every so often, he looks up, and material from his new album is getting out there before it's supposed to. A few weeks ago, a song called "Crazy" hit the Internet. On it, R. Kelly references vocals from what was purported to be a new Usher recording. The lyrics revolved around having second thoughts about getting married, among other things.

Next there was a track named "Moving Mountains" (with Timbaland) and another record called "Dat Gurl Right There" (featuring Ludacris) that surfaced without being mastered or properly mixed. More recently, "Love in This Club" (with Young Jeezy) came out earlier than it was supposed to without Usher's knowing.

"It's internal conspiracy," he said Sunday night at the Grammys. "I don't know what's going on with all these records that have been leaked. It ain't been me, dog."

Thursday night, the culprit (at least behind the leak of "Love in This Club") revealed himself to MTV News: It was the track's producer, Polow Da Don.

"I actually leaked it. I'm the culprit," he said nonchalantly. "It's no secret. I told him when I saw him that I had to put my relationship on the line. 'If it fails, I know you probably gonna be mad at me. I know you probably won't f--- with me anymore.' I just felt like it was so much back-and-forth [between Usher and his record label]. I know this record is it! I'm out there, I know what it is. It got 600 spins in two days. That's great for a record label. Imagine how good that is for one person who leaked it? Radio stations were getting it off the Internet and playing it. Before I left Atlanta, they were playing it 10 times in a row.

"When I spoke to Usher, he was like, 'Maaaan, why'd you do it?' " Polow added. "He knew I leaked the record, he didn't have to ask. I was like, 'What?' He said, 'You know you leaked the record.' But he was getting good calls on it too. He wasn't mad, but he was like, 'Why'd you do that?' Because everything has to be set up on their end. A video should be in place with an artist like that as soon as it drops. Those are the things you risk, but it's working out beautifully. Flex is playing it, DJ Clue, DJ Khaled, Greg Street. Girls love it."

"I will tell you there is an overall rollout plan," Usher clarified. " 'Love in This Club' is a record you've been hearing at radio. I'm really excited about it. We're getting ready to shoot a video for it very soon."

Polow said he put the song out there because he was tired of waiting on label politics. He basically followed Lil Jon's blueprint. Jon leaked "Yeah!" in late 2003 before Usher's Confessions was released in early 2004.

"Same thing," Polow said unapologetically. "Usher has people around him like, 'He's Usher. He can't do a song like that. Blah, blah, blah.' Ain't really no young people around him besides his assistant and the guys he runs with. But as far as the corporate people, they not out here in the street. They don't know. I felt like me being best of both worlds — half-corporate, half-producer, all real n---a — I'm in touch with what people want."

Polow said he was inspired to make the beat for the song after spending the weekend in Las Vegas for the VMAs.

"If you listen to the beat, the synths and everything has a Vegas feel to it," Polow said. "Making love in the club, people in Vegas are kinda wild. Vegas had that 'I don't care, I'm living life' attitude. When I came back [from the awards], I was like, 'Man, clubs gotta be like that.' I wanted to bring that environment to the 'hood. It's like a Euro, worldly type of sound, but it blends with the 'hood sound. I was like, 'This is perfect for Usher.' I played it for Usher, told him my experiences, how girls feel about him now that he's married. This song helps him do what a few greats have been able to do. Denzel Washington, Brad Pitt. When they get married, they make the girls still want them."

The producer said he wanted to give Ush a little bit more swag in the eyes of the fans by taking him out to touch the town.

"We started hanging out in [Atlanta] clubs, 'cause I go from Magic City to the Opera," Polow said, name-checking a few ATL clubs. "The Atlanta party scene is back. I'm not married, I'm living the life. I had to get Usher out the house a couple of times to show him what it is to be out and about. It was right around the time he was having his newborn. We made the record trying to grab the moment, grab the people and shock people. The song is not really all about having sex in the club, it's about having that urge. It's about meeting somebody for the first time, and you kinda wish nobody was there. You're like, 'You're the one.' Lust at first sight."

"I will tell you, look out for this album," Usher said. "It's an evolution. There's a lot of growth in it. It starts in one place, then matures in another direction. As you know, this has been a very tumultuous year for me," added the singer, who got married and welcomed a baby boy in 2007. "So I have a lot of great stories to tell. But more than that, as far as music and the contribution I wanna make, I wanna make sure it's very wide. You're gonna get a great variety on this album, and I promise to make the wait worthwhile. I been looking around like, 'Man, I better get back on my A game.' "

Usher said he definitely misses performing. As the Grammy Awards were progressing Sunday, it was all he could do to not get up out his seat, and start singing and dancing on the stage.

"When I saw Morris Day and the Time, I wanted to jump up there with them, I'm not going to lie," he smiled. "That was really one of the highlights for me. I feel like Kanye killed it. His movement was crazy, and I can't wait to see him on tour. When you see something like he did tonight, it only makes you excited to see what he's going to do onstage."

Usher laughed off the comparisons that are being made between Kanye West losing Album of the Year to Herbie Hancock and Usher falling short in the same category in 2005 against Ray Charles' posthumous release Genius Loves Company.

"I really felt Herbie Hancock is a great musician, and for him to be recognized by the Academy is great. There's no losers. For us to be recognized for what we do is always great. But I know what it feels like, Kanye. I really do. I know what you feel like. I was proud of my man, though, the way he handled [losing]." Usher also praised his friend for his performances of "Stronger" and "Hey Mama." The latter was a touching tribute to Kanye's mother, Dr. Donda West, who passed away in November.

"Man, priceless," the singer marveled. "That was incredible, man. No one can truly understand the pain of what that is. I recently lost my father, so I could understand it from a different perspective. He had a really great relationship with his mother. I didn't have as much of a deep relationship with my father. But your mother is your mother, your father is your father. To lose a loved one is always very hard. For him to hold it together onstage and also be as vulnerable and allow people to see, that was great. It was greater than any dance movie or high-pitched note. To give people the truth is always great."

Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige Announce Tour; Hit Hollywood Bowl April 16

Back in 1996, Mary J. Blige provided vocals to the hook of "Can't Knock the Hustle," the second single off of Jay-Z's debut album, Reasonable Doubt. 12 years, 12 Grammys and 70 million records sold later, Jigga Man and MJB are back at it again, co-headlining 25 shows across North America.

Being billed as "The Heart of the City Tour," the former CEO of DefJam records and the Queen of Hip Hop Soul will hit up the Hollywood Bowl on April 16th. The tour kicks off March 22nd at Miami's American Airlines Arena.

Tickets go on sale next Friday, February 15th.

Timbaland working on exclusive mobile album for Verizon Wireless

Timbaland has announced a deal with Verizon Wireless to create the first "mobile album", which will be exclusively available for V Cast, Verizon's mobile entertainment service, according to Billboard.com.

Timbaland will produce 1 song per month for all of 2008, working with a different artist on each track while touring the country on the Verizon Mobile Recording Studio Bus.

"Every place don't get a CD [but] everybody has a mobile phone," explained Timbaland. "Just producing a mobile album has never been done. I'm the first to ever do it."

Each track recorded for the new album will be released just days after it is finished, and will be available as a full song, ringtone and ringback.

"How I prepare for [the new album] is, I just do it, like any other album," Timbaland says. "The only difference is it's immediate."

The first track from the venture will feature Keri Hilson, an artist from Timbaland's own Mosley Music imprint, and will be debuted today at a pre-Grammy party co-hosted by Verizon and People magazine.

Jay-Z and Steve Stoute form new advertising agency

While rumors of starting a new label fly, one thing is certain, Jay-Z is getting into Madison Avenue advertising. The New York Times reports Jay is joining forces with Steve Stoute to open Translation Advertising, an ad agency aiming to help marketers reach mulitcultural consumers. The agency will become a part of Translation Consultation and Brand Imaging, who's client list has included General Motors, Hewlett-Packard, McDonald’s and Reebok. “You know his story,” Mr. Stoute said of his new partner, who grew up in the Marcy Projects in Brooklyn. “He came from nothing and turned it into something before our eyes.” “As an artist, you make music,” Jay-Z said. “And if you see people who don’t know how to market your music, you get involved in it.” Jay-Z went on to ad that some companies just don't know how to target different cultures with their ads.

“There are people who don’t understand the culture,” Jay-Z said, citing as an example a commercial for a wireless carrier “that shows guys break-dancing in the phone store.” “It’s just not something we do,” he added.

“We go into the stores and want the same thing as everyone else,” Jay-Z said, adding: “We may care about the style of the phone a little bit more, but we want our phone to work. We care about the functionality.”

Heath Ledger Died Of Accidental Overdose: Medical Examiner's Report; Family Issues Statement

n Wednesday (February 6), the New York medical examiner's office released the official cause of actor Heath Ledger's death: acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam and doxylamine. The office concluded that the manner of death was accidental, resulting from the abuse of prescription medications. The drugs, according to the medical examiner, are the generic names for the painkiller OxyContin, the anti-anxiety drugs Valium and Xanax, and the sleep aids Restoril and Unisom. A representative for New York's Drug Enforcement Administration said the agency is working to determine how Ledger was able to obtain so many prescription drugs. "We are working with the NYPD to identify any illegally prescribed drugs that may have been prescribed to [Ledger]," spokesperson Erin Mulvey told People.com on Wednesday. Heath Ledger's father, Kim, released the below statement following the announcement of Heath's cause of death, according to People.com: "We remain humble as parents and a family, among millions of people worldwide who may have suffered the tragic loss of a child. Few can understand the hollow, wrenching and enduring agony parents silently suffer when a child predeceases them. Today's results put an end to speculation, but our son's beautiful spirit and enduring memory will forever remain in our hearts. "While no medications were taken in excess, we learned today the combination of doctor-prescribed drugs proved lethal for our boy. Heath's accidental death serves as a caution [of] the hidden dangers of combining prescription medication, even at low dosage. "Our family enjoyed an extremely happy two-week visit with Heath just prior to the New Year. Those recent precious days will stay with us forever. We as a family feel privileged to have some of his amazing magic moments captured in film. To most of the world, Heath was an actor of immeasurable talent and promise. To those who knew him personally, Heath was a consummate artist whose passions also included photography, music, chess and directing. We knew Heath as a loving father, as our devoted son, and as a loyal and generous brother and friend. "We treasure our beautiful granddaughter Matilda (to our dear Michelle), as well as an unbelievably wonderful network of close friends, forever, around the world. Families rarely experience the uplifting, warm and massive outpouring of grief and support as have we, from every corner of the planet. This has deeply and profoundly touched our hearts and lives. We are eternally grateful.

"At this moment we respectfully request the worldwide media allow us time to grieve privately, without the intrusions associated with press and photography." The 28-year-old actor's body was discovered inside a New York apartment on January 22. The initial autopsy report was inconclusive, and it took approximately two weeks for the medical examiner's office to conduct additional tests and to complete its investigation into the nature of Ledger's death. The results of toxicology screenings helped the office determine the specific cause of death. Soon after Ledger's death, New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly told reporters during a press conference the actor was found face down in a normal sleeping position, not at the end of a bed as had been rumored. Kelly also confirmed reports that crime-scene technicians had found a rolled-up $20 bill inside the apartment, which they collected for testing. The bill was rolled in a manner common among cocaine users, but police said no visible drug residue was found on it. Police told reporters that there were no illegal drugs recovered from the apartment, but they said six different prescription drugs were found in the apartment, including ones to treat insomnia and anxiety, along with an antihistamine. The actor had struggled with addiction to prescription medications. Ledger's housekeeper, Teresa Solomon, arrived at his apartment around 12:30 p.m., and police say that about a half-hour later, Solomon entered the bedroom, where she found the actor lying in bed, face down, with a sheet pulled up to his shoulders. Solomon claims she could hear Ledger snoring and left the room. Masseuse Diana Wolozin arrived just before 3 p.m. and called her client's cell phone. When Ledger failed to answer the call, both women entered the bedroom and attempted to stir the actor from his sleep. Ledger did not respond, prompting Solomon to call Mary-Kate Olsen, a friend of Ledger's, using his phone. The housekeeper called, seeking guidance, police said. She eventually called 911 just before 3:30 p.m. Memorial services for the actor have been held in New York and Los Angeles, and family and friends have arrived in Ledger's hometown of Perth, Australia, for his private funeral, which is expected to take place on Saturday. For more on Heath Ledger's tragic passing, read reactions from his peers and other admirers, as well as casting directors he worked with. Also, watch Ledger talk about his evolution as an actor in a 2005 interview with MTV News.

Britney Spears Released From Hospital Psychiatric Ward

Britney Spears was released from a psychiatric ward on Wednesday (February 6) after almost a week of treatment at Los Angeles' UCLA Medical Center. The troubled singer had been hospitalized there last week, and she was released Wednesday despite her hold having been extended to 14 days on Sunday, as People.com reported over the weekend. According to California law, the only way someone on an involuntary hold can be released is if they've been assessed by their psychiatrist as no longer a danger to themselves or others, and according to TMZ.com, doctors determined that Spears did not pose such a threat."[Spears' release] occurred without any law enforcement intervention, and for the public that's a good thing," Captain Sharyn Buck, commander of the North Hollywood police station, which covers the area of Spears' home, told CNN. Unlike other recent situations involving Spears, she was not mobbed by paparazzi upon her exit from the hospital -- she left without much notice, according to the Times. She was escorted by a private-security detail. Spears was photographed and videotaped driving around Los Angeles later Wednesday afternoon; sources told the Times that she would be getting additional treatment. While the singer was placed under a 14-day hold on Sunday, People.com reported that only her psychiatrist would have had the authority to request the involuntary stay, noting that she could have been released earlier if she legally demanded it or her doctor deemed her well enough for outpatient treatment. According to TMZ.com, a law-enforcement official said the hospital released her because she was no longer required to stay there after 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. The conservatorship — which Britney's parents wanted to establish while she was in the hospital so that she would return home in a controlled environment — is still in place. Early Thursday morning, Spears was rushed to the hospital by ambulance for the second time in a month. According to reports in the Los Angeles Times, Spears was physically removed from her home by police and put into an ambulance at around 1 a.m. PT, then escorted to the UCLA Medical Center by a phalanx of more than a dozen motorcycle officers, two police cruisers and two police helicopters. Spears was taken to the hospital to "get help," a Los Angeles police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity told The Associated Press. On January 3, Spears was placed on a 72-hour mental-health evaluation hold when police were called to her house after she would not give up custody of her two children to a representative for ex-husband Kevin Federline, who had come to pick them up. She was released two days later.

Kanye West Offers Samples Of Zen-Like Wisdom From His Upcoming Book

'When you're so focused on what you don't have, you won't have,' rapper writes in 'Thank You and You're Welcome,' previewed on his blog.Get ready for the wit and wisdom of Kanye: The MC posted three teaser pages from his upcoming book, "Thank You and You're Welcome," on his kanyeuniversecity.com blog on Monday. The book, which can be pre-ordered on West's Web site for $10, was co-authored by J. Sakiya Sandifer, who wrote "Think Think Think and Think Again: The Power of Ideas Designed to Spark Change." (Kanye also announced his North American tour plans last week.)

Among the Kanye-isms offered in the book? On the "Get Use to Getting Used" [sic] page: "To most people, the saying 'to use someone' carries a negative connotation. But I don't see it that way. To 'mis,' 'over' or 'ab'-use someone is negative. To use is necessary. And if you can't be used, you're useless." When it was announced last year, West's literary debut was described as including "the creative, humorous and insightful philosophies and anecdotes used in creating his path to success. It captures the same wit, playful irony and piercing insight found abundant in his lyrics." The first 500 books sold will be autographed by Sandifer and West, who promised that the book will be "uncensored, without any five-second delay or media distortion." Among the other Zen-like motivational pages previewed on the site is "The Missing Banister Theory," which, like the other preview pages, consists of the title in big, blocky letters on the left-hand page and a poetic affirmation on the right. In this case, the affirmation reads: "When walking down the street, you can walk in one line perfectly without ever falling over. Now take that same city block, make it a foot wider and then put it a hundred stories high. You're going to be so focused on the fact that you don't have a banister that you're more likely to fall because of it. When you're so focused on what you don't have ... you won't have." Perhaps the quintessential excerpt from the book by the jet-setting 'Ye is the all-important "Be Leery of the Free Gift Bag!" page. In it, West warns that there are people who try to put themselves into a position where you'll owe them something. As an example, he writes, "I asked someone to do a part on my album. He agreed and said, 'I'm not even going to charge you,' as if he was doing me a favor. 'But when I'm working on my album, I want you to do a verse for me.' I responded with, 'No! I want to pay you for what I asked you to do and we'll talk about that verse when the time comes. Thank you and you're welcome.


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