Saturdays singer Mollie King has always wanted to get married

The Saturdays singer - who has been in a relationship with Andy Brown for a year-and-a-half - is a "hopeless romantic" and always does what she can to please her man.

She said: "I always try to be thoughtful and romantic. I'm a hopeless romantic at heart. I've been dreaming about my wedding since I was five."

The 'Ego' hitmaker also revealed she and Andy love having date nights, where they make a special effort for one another.

She added: "It's important to make an effort for each other. I'm quite bad at slouching around in a tracksuit, so when we go on a date together, I make an effort to do my make-up and hair. He's a legs man and loves mine, so I'll wear a nice little dress."

Elvis Presley reportedly had a life-long belief in extraterrestrials

The 'Suspicious Minds' singer is said to have made several sightings of UFOs during his life, with his interest sparked by an unusual sighting made by his father, Vernon, on the day he was born, January 8, 1935.

The singer's hairstylist and friend, Larry Geller, explained: 'His father told us he'd gone out to have a cigarette at 2am during the delivery and when he looked up into the skies above their little shack, he saw the strangest blue light. He knew right then and there that something special was happening.'

Author Michael C. Luckman - who wrote a book, 'Alien Rock: The Rock 'N' Roll Extraterrestrial Connection', about musicians who have had contact with otherworldly beings ' believes Elvis was later visited by aliens when he was a child.

He claims the singer was 'contacted telepathically by two alien beings when he was eight years old,' who gave him a glimpse into his famous future, although he "had no idea what it all meant at the time".

Larry ' who eventually became Elvis' 'spiritual mentor' - confirmed he had extraterrestrial experiences while he was with the singer, who was dubbed the King of Rock N Roll.

Recounting a time they had been driving through the desert and saw unusual lights, he told AOL News: 'They were moving far too quickly to be airplanes, so we just chalked it up to UFOs.

"Another time, we were walking through his Graceland home and noticed odd lights in a field moving back and forth.

'Elvis was a deeply spiritual person and was very interested in the metaphysical. He had an eclectic outlook on things. Although he never had any major alien experiences, he was certainly a believer

'He had his feet on the ground, but his head in the heavens."

Elvis died 33 years ago today (16.08.1977).

Tom Gray, Gomez

Before, I imagine if you were invited to party in Bathgate you’d turn it down? All is changing however as new venue ‘The Attic’ brings the best new bands and big names in music into the limelight. Playing this sunny Sunday evening is Gomez’s Tom Gray as he embarks on a solo acoustic tour: support comes from The Stagger Rats, The Hardcore Wednesdays and Kerrie Lynch.

First up is the very apt and fellow acoustic performer Kerrie Lynch. Kerrie begins her set with no stage lights on, but makes brightness through the power of her songs. Kerrie’s voice is very beautiful: laced with meaning, strength and grace Kerrie’s vocals showcase all that is good about a solo performance. Kerrie’s style of song writing is clearly very personal, a passionate round up of her own life: with great songs and great talent, Kerrie’s set in The Attic this evening is extremely well-played.

Unlike Tom Gray and Kerrie Lynch, The Stagger Rats don’t do acoustic, The Stagger Rats do loud! The Stagger Rats are a band I currently can’t get enough of: funky, cool and brilliantly unique, these boys are officially one of Scotland’s best unsigned bands. The Stagger Rats combine a modern pop-rock style with a glamorous antique feel of T Rex and Alex Harvey, with vocals so intriguing each song feels like a brand new chapter in the set.

Because there is no green room or back stage in our cosy hosting venue, Tom Gray appears on stage straight from behind the sound desk. Everyone by this point is very rowdy, and despite many humorous attempts, Tom fails to quieten the audience for his acoustic set. Tom Gray plays Gomez tracks without the rest of his band, but lacking nothing for it: full-bodied and intense, the set captures every gorgeous moment from Gomez’s decades of success.

Tom Gray is just one of many big and brilliant acts The Attic in Bathgate have lined up. With many more to be announced, Bathgate will soon be a town for Scottish music lovers to embrace. For full listings and details, visit www.facebook.com/atticbathgate.

Lindsay Lohan could be released from rehab in the next 10 days

The actress' attorney Shawn Chapman Holley is to attend a probation modification hearing on Wednesday (25.08.10) in front of Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Elden Fox to assess whether the star needs to continue receiving treatment at the UCLA Medical Center.

Lindsay was ordered to spend 90 days in rehab and was sentenced to 90 days in jail for violating the terms of her probation from a 2007 driving under the influence (DUI) conviction.

The hearing is being held to discuss whether the 24-year-old star's imposed rehab stint should be modified to reflect the opinions of her doctors who do not think she needs to be treated for the full 90 days.

A source close to Lindsay told RadarOnline.com: "She is ready to get out. Lindsay has had a lot of down time, and she is anxious to return to her life. Lindsay misses her family and friends tremendously. Lindsay simply wants her life back."

This week's hearing is crucial because only Judge Fox can decide whether or not Lindsay is released from rehab early.

To secure her release Holley could ask for the terms of her probation to be changed with one possible condition being that she undergoes random drug testing for 12 months.

Kylie Minogue stunned drinkers when she played a gig in an English pub

The pop superstar turned up at the Ring O' Bells in Somerset, South West England, to perform a string of chart-topping hits as a favour to her record company Parlophone.

The 42-year-old Australian singer walked into the public house at 10.30pm and in a tiny alcove she belted out five songs.

She sang an acoustic version of her current hit 'All the Lovers' as well as '80s classics 'I Should Be So Lucky' and 'Locomotion'.

Kylie had turned up at the Ring O'Bells on her tour bus last Thursday (19.08.10) for a sound check before the doors opened.

Landlady Lauren Goddard, 32, told the Daily Express newspaper: 't was all quite surreal, to be honest. It's not the sort of thing you expect to see in a quiet local pub like this. We were sworn to secrecy and didn't even tell the staff until 30 minutes before the doors opened.

'Kylie was very friendly and down-to-earth. She didn't make any demands and she was very polite.'

The surprise acoustic concert was laid on by record bosses as the highlight of an away-day trip in Compton Martin for 120 of its staff.

Pub managers Lauren and Rueben Goddard agreed to stage the concert after being approached by Parlophone boss Miles Leonard, who lives in the village.

The fun-packed evening also included sets by Parlophone artists Tinie Tempah, Eliza Doolittle and Morning Parade - before Kylie appeared as the headline act.

Earlier in the evening, Tinie played his hit 'Pass Out' and new track 'Written In The Stars'.

Reuben, 25, told The Sun newspaper: 'The locals were shocked but we all had an evening we'll never forget. It's a bit out of the ordinary for round here."

Man jumps to his death at 'Once' stars' concert

SARATOGA, Calif. (AP) — A man jumped at least 20 feet to his death onto the stage of a Northern California concert in front of hundreds of horrified music fans, the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office said Friday.

The Swell Season was playing an outdoor show at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga in front of a crowd of about 1,900 when the jump happened Thursday night.

Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Rick Sung says authorities are treating the death as a suicide. Sung said the man's identity will not be released.

Sung says the man left a friend in the audience around 10 p.m. and soon appeared on a roof that covers the stage. Witnesses say he jumped off the roof and landed on stage near the band's lead singer, Glen Hansard.

Witnesses said Hansard removed his guitar and walked over to the man's body.

The jumper was pronounced dead by a doctor in attendance who spent an hour trying to revive him.

The band extended its sympathies in a MySpace post Friday.

"Our hearts go out to the victim who decided to take his own life at last night's gig ... and to his friends and family," the statement said.

Hansard and singer-songwriter Marketa Irglova are known in part for the alt-rock band's role in the 2006 movie Once. The group wrote and performed the movie's theme song, Falling Slowly, which won the Academy Award for best original song.

Promoter Live Nation said it would not change its concert schedule.

"We have ample security in place and trained safety staff at every concert and we are committed to ensuring the safety of all who come to Mountain Winery," the group said in a statement. "At the same time, we are working with the local authorities in investigating this tragic incident."

No joke: Margaret Cho tunes up for music tour

 

She's more diversified than a mutual fund. Opinionated stand-up provocateur Margaret Cho— who has written books, released comedy albums and co-stars on Lifetime TV's Drop Dead Diva— has her first disc of original music, Cho Dependent, out Tuesday. It features the comedian, 41, collaborating with Fiona Apple, Ani DiFranco, Ben Lee and Grant Lee Phillips. Her tour in support of the release kicks off Thursday

in Portland, Ore., and wraps up in December in Atlanta. "I always wanted to do comedy, but I also felt the same pull as a musician. I'm a singer," Cho says from her home in L.A., which she shares with her husband, artist Al Ridenour, and their two pooches. "I thought there has to be a way to make songs that are comedy but also have enduring value."

Q: You don't sound happy. Interviews aren't that fun, right?

A: Oh no, this is my voice. People always say, 'What's wrong?' And that's just how my voice is and my face is. This project, for me, has been really fun to talk about.

Q: So how did you hook up with Fiona Apple for the song Hey Big Dog?

A: I had a dog and, unfortunately, he died. I wrote the song because he was dying. He was really afraid of the wind, and Fiona's dog also has the exact same problem. She'd seen me perform that song at my favorite club in the world, Largo, in Los Angeles, and she'd said she wanted to sing it. She has one of the greatest voices of all time, and she's an animal lover. It was a great collaboration.

Q: I'm so sorry about your dog!

A: He was really, really old. He was a very large German shepherd mix, and he was 14. He naturally just died. That was a relief, because I don't think I could have made the choice (to euthanize him). I'm really happy to have the song; I would sit in his dog bed and play it to him. I have two other dogs, Gudrun and Bronwyn.

Q: And you also have a tour starting up. What's the most ridiculous thing on your tour rider?

A: I have Zone bars and sparkling water. You know the artist has to pay for that, and I'm actually super-cheap. I don't want to shell out for any kind of fancy, all-white roses. I have to buy it, and that's the thing people don't understand. I'm very practical about all that stuff. I tour a lot and love it. I haven't been touring for the last year because I've been working on Drop Dead Diva. I live in Atlanta six months out of the year for that, and it changes the way I work.

Q: And as for Drop Dead Diva, what's ahead on the show?

A: My character is a private eye. There's a lot of romance and intrigue. The show is so wonderful and fun.

Q: And now you're back home in L.A. What do you do on your days off?

A: I hang out with my dogs, which is really fun. I have two mutts. They don't miss the big dog at all. The two girls didn't bond with him. I play music, I go see music, I listen to music. I'm obsessed with my Kindle. Today the book I'm going crazy over is The Advanced Genius Theory.

Hearing for Michael Jackson's doctor set for Jan. 4

LOS ANGELES — A preliminary hearing where prosecutors will lay out some of the evidence against a doctor charged in Michael Jackson's death will begin Jan. 4 in Los Angeles, a judge said Monday.

The hearing had been expected to begin later this year but was pushed back due to issues involving witness availability and the ongoing investigation, Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor said.

After the hearing, which is expected to last at least two weeks, Pastor will determine if there is enough evidence to order cardiologist Conrad Murray to stand trial.

Several members of Jackson's family, including his mother Katherine and father Joseph, attended Monday's hearing. They waved to fans who were allowed into the courtroom wearing T-shirts seeking justice for the pop singer.

Murray, 57, has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of Jackson in June 2009 at the age of 50. Authorities have accused Murray of administering a lethal dose of the anesthetic propofol to Jackson in the bedroom of the singer's rented mansion.

Murray's attorneys have said the doctor did not give Jackson anything that should have killed him.

Murray's defense team wants permission to retest three chemical samples currently held by the coroner's office. Attorney J. Michael Flanagan said the samples were obtained from two syringes and an IV, but he did not elaborate.

Prosecutor David Walgren sought more information about the tests and whether the samples might be destroyed.

Pastor urged both sides to work out a deal on the request.

Murray is due back in court on Oct. 26 for another status hearing.

Listen Up: Usher is back in the game with 'Versus'

Usher is the latest star to try to extend the life of a hit album with an abbreviated batch of fresh songs that can stand alone or as part of a deluxe original. (Hey, he probably figures that what's good for the Gaga is good for the gander.)

Versus (* * * out of four), a nine-track follow-up to his platinum Raymond V. Raymond— a chronicle of the bliss/blues of his short-lived marriage to Tameka Foster — finds a Casanova fully loosed from any matrimonial chains. Since his palpable joy over the union fueled his Here I Stand just two years ago, Usher has clearly pushed an emotional reset button to get back to his prenuptial attitudes.

On the opening track, he tells the ladies to line up because he fully intends to Love 'Em All.Versus is crammed with seductive club-ready jams in which he takes pleasure in the chase and, well, the pleasure. With the help of Jay-Z, Bun B., Pitbull and good buddy Justin Bieber, he's having it his way and spreading his love around. — Steve Jones

Fat Joe Explains Selling His Florida Mansion

Rapper Fat Joe recently talked about why he decided to sell his $4 million dollar Florida mansion. The Terror Squad leader says that the wild life and distance from parties forced his wife and himself back towards Miami.

     "Through the permits, it's so hard to get the right permits and all that," Joe said about building his Florida home years ago. "So it's built, it's beautiful and I love it. [I'm selling it] because we want to move closer to the beach and we come from New York. I've lived close to a beach in Miami for like 10 years and then this suburban life, I thought I really wanted to be in the suburbs but you know, it's frogs, it's lizards, it's sh*t I've never seen in my life. Possums look like wolves and sh*t, I got them lights in case the burglar come and every day a f*cking raccoon comes through the back and sh*t lights up and I'm ready to grab for that thing and it's fall. We like to party and it's like 40 minutes away from the party and out there they catch you drinking and driving. But the house is gorgeous man and for the record, there's no mortgage on the house. My house is paid for. I spent close to $4 million on that house out of pocket. So I don't know the rumors about why I'm selling it."

Yelawolf Gets Overwhelmed By Eminem's Advice

New rapper Yelawolf recently sat down with vet, Eminem. Calling the event with his lablemate "overwhelming at first," Yelawolf says Eminem gave him advice for cutting back his drinking.

      "It was overwhelming at first," Yela said in an interview. "I thought, 'I'll just be cool,' but when I saw him it was different. This dude is like history. I felt the same when I met Big Boi and [Andre] 3000. These megastars and culturally-influential people, the first couple minutes you're just in awe...We talked about shows and touring and sh*t...I like to drink a lot, but I sobered up. I got some advice from him about getting sh*t under control based on his experiences...I just gave him my story -- where I was from, how my music developed, and I let him listen to some material on the new album...He did me the honor of letting me hear his sh*t before it came out and it was dope."

Rapper Paul Wall thanks troops at Fort Hood

Paul Wall has a lot of history with Killeen and the military, from his roots to the beginning of his rap career.

The military has always been a part of Wall's life, so giving back to the military is something he's happy to do.

Wall spent his day at Fort Hood to say "thank you" and meet with fans.

First, Wall made a stop at Fort Hood's Main Exchange Friday to greet fans and sign copies of his latest release "Heart of a Champion." Then, for his second appearance at the event, Wall performed at Fort Hood's Back 2 School Bash at the Bronco Youth Center.

The grandson of a World War II and Korean War veteran, Wall said a large portion of his fan base that helped establish his career is military. Wall thinks of Killeen as his backyard, and at the beginning of his career as an independent artist, he had his music at Renaissance Records.

"The military (service members) has always supported me," he said, before meeting dozens of anxious fans lined up in the center aisle of the exchange. "Soldiers stationed in Texas or from Texas are part of my fan base."

Wall returned from his fourth USO tour overseas days before his appearance at Fort Hood.

Jaline Fernandez, a sophomore at Ellison High School, described her first encounter with the Texas rapper as "awesome."

"I got a picture with him," she said with a smile. "He's a real nice person."

Fernandez said Wall was one of the first rap artists she supported. Fernandez said she learned about his appearance, while shopping at the exchange Friday.

Spc. Ayden Ruiz, 582nd Medical Logistics Company, 1st Medical Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command, a native Texan, said he likes that Wall represents the state.

"I've seen him before, but I never got to meet him."

Ruiz said Wall's appearance showed the soldiers and families that he cared. "It means people care about what we do no matter how famous they get."

Anytime he has the opportunity to speak or meet with troops and their families, Wall said he is willing to take the time out.

"It's funny. They come up to me and say 'thank you' but we appreciate the opportunity."

What It Iz . Eminem to host rap contest in hometown‎

All summer long, Eminem and his cronies have been criss-crossing the country looking for the best unknown freestyle rappers at a series of audition events.

Now it's time to crown a victor. The finals of the awkwardly titled Red Bull EmSee: The Road to 8 Mile contest will take place in Eminem's hometown of Detroit on Aug. 26, next Thursday. Em himself will judge the finalists' improvised rhymes.

Eminem first got the music industry's attention by placing well at an organized freestyle competition in 1997. Before that, of course, he cut his teeth at local battles like the ones dramatized in 8 Mile. It's cool that he's bringing that tradition full circle and giving some new rappers a chance to shine. That's especially true these days, when the word "freestyle" hardly means what it used to -- respected artists regularly "freestyle" during radio appearances by reading pre-written rhymes off of their BlackBerries, a dubious practice that I have to assume won't fly here.

T.I.’s wild ride

Although best known for his work as a hip-hop artist, Tip “T.I.” Harris knows the value of versatility.
Since launching his rap career more than a decade ago, Harris has become a music producer, record executive, fashion entrepreneur and, perhaps most importantly to him, an actor.
That’s what makes Harris so passionate about Takers, a crime thriller that allows the Atlanta native to showcase talents other than those that have generated millions of album sales.
“What I’m trying to do right now is have another fan base,” Harris said during a recent promotional stop in Dallas. “Now I have to broaden my horizons, so I’m not just confined to that one demographic. [Otherwise,] I could never live up to my full potential.”
Harris, 29, hopes the film allows him to gain the type of credibility in the acting world that he has achieved in the music world, where he has earned the nickname “King of the South” and won two Grammy awards in 2006.
In Takers, Harris is part of a gang of upscale bank robbers (which puts him in an ensemble that includes Paul Walker, Idris Elba, Chris Brown and Hayden Christensen) being chased by a hardened detective (Matt Dillon) intent on bringing the elusive high-tech crooks to justice.
The film has plenty of glitz and glamour, with sleek cars and cool clothes on display. Those are nice perks, but Harris said he was attracted to the material more for the layering of the characters in the screenplay.

“It’s not your average kind of shoot-em-up, bang-bang, cops-and-robbers heist flick,” Harris said. “It actually has depth and meaning. Each and every last character has their own energy to add, and I believe that makes for a very intellectually entertaining ride.”
Harris said that behind the shootouts and chase sequences, he was struck by the dynamics between the characters among both gangsters and police officers, whether it’s the protective instincts that criminal brothers share for one another or the uneasy bond between a workaholic cop and his young daughter.
“It’s not just about robbing banks. These are actual people,” Harris said. “When you cut the news on and hear that two men robbed a bank, they aren’t just bank robbers. They’re someone’s son, someone’s uncle or brother or father. Everybody has something they’ve got to deal with.”
Harris cites his own character as a prime example. Ghost is released from prison as the film opens, then proceeds to reunite with his old criminal friends for one last heist that could earn him enough money to start a new life. However, the rest of the gang suspects him of having ulterior motives and questions his loyalty.
“That’s the challenge in taking such a complex character,” Harris said. “You have every reason to not trust and not like him. I needed to find a way to make this character likeable and to have the audience empathize with him.”
Harris, who previously starred in the coming-of-age drama ATL and had a supporting role in American Gangster, was approached by the producers for the lead in Takers. He became enamored with the project and offered some feedback, eventually taking on the role of executive producer.
“It shows range,” said Harris, who filmed the movie before a recent 10-month stint in prison on federal weapons charges. “Even though it’s an urban outlaw, ex-con type of character — which some might look and say that’s not much of a stretch for me — this guy has a lot of charisma and a lot of ambition. He’s very strategic in his approach.
“Even if I do a gangster picture, I’m gonna do an intellectually stimulating gangster picture,” he said. “It’s fly; it’s not grimy. It’s cool and it’s shiny.”
Harris said that although Takers doesn’t glamorize bank robbers, it does showcase a more modern breed of gangster — one that steals to maintain affluence and superficial status rather than doing so just to survive.
“You fall in love with the lifestyle of these characters,” he said. “You never imagine people doing things so wrong and living life so great. We are living vicariously through these characters that the normal person can’t fathom. It takes you on a wild ride.”

City foster kids make lifetime bonds at Run- DMC member, hip-hop pioneer Darryl McDaniels' Camp Felix

Most of the foster kids at an upstate camp weren't even alive when its co-founder rose to fame as a rap pioneer.
They just know the Queens native as the guy who creates a safe place for them during the summer to talk about the difficulties they face in the child welfare system.
"These kids say, 'I am just a foster kid. I have nothing going for me other than just being miserable,'" said Darryl (DMC) McDaniels, who co-founded Camp Felix. "I tell them, 'You are wrong. Your situation doesn't define who you are.'"
Hundreds of kids ages 8 to 14 have made the trek to Peekskill, swapping stories of fear, abandonment and their struggles with identity. They form bonds that organizers hope will last a lifetime.
"We are a family," said McDaniels, sitting among 171 campers from New York City last week.
McDaniels, 46, has a special insight into identity issues, having learned in his mid-30s that he was adopted as a 5-year-old.
"I was hurt, confused ... it felt totally unreal," he recalled of the mind-boggling discovery. "At the time it meant that they are not my mom and pop."
While it first threw him for a loop, learning that he was adopted never held him back.
The Hollis rapper was part of the hip-hop trio Run-DMC that ruled the charts in the '80s. The group was the first in hip hop to earn a Grammy nomination, score a platinum album or appear on "Saturday Night Live."
McDaniels also won an Emmy for his 2004 documentary "DMC: My Adoption Journey," which chronicled his emotional search through court records and other obstacles to finally meet his birth mother.
Two years later, McDaniels met "Sopranos" casting director Sheila Jaffee, who learned when she was 11 that she also was adopted. The two of them formed the Felix Organization, targeting kids in foster care. The nonprofit - named after an imaginary dog that was adopted by a family of cats - shells out $500 per camper each summer. About 350 children have attended the three-week camp in Westchester County.
The buzz around Felix is growing: Actor Mark Wahlberg donated $100,000 to Felix, and former "Sopranos" star Lorraine Bracco is honorary chairwoman of the group.
Davon Davis, 19, a product of foster homes, is now a counselor at Camp Felix.
"I grew up in foster care," Davis said, adding that he can relate to the kids. "They feel no one cares about them, so they don't care about the world.
"They come here and get love and support. They become good people."

Eminem: "I Don't Know How Much Longer" I'm Going to Rap

 
Eminem's career has been revitalized thanks to his hit album Recovery, featuring the smash singles "Not Afraid" and "Love the Way You Lie."  But Eminem feels that his days as one of rap's most revered MCs may be numbered.
Em tells Vibe magazine, "Honestly, I don't know how much longer I have in this game. I'm always going to love hip-hop, but how much longer am I going to still do it?"  He went on to say, "If this album isn't better than my last one, then why am I doing it?," and added, "The day that this is not better than the last will probably be the day I stop."  Em also pointed out, "You don't know how long people are going to want you around," but admitted, "Realistically, if I don't rap, what the [bleep] am I going to do? It's too late to be unfamous right now at this point."
Em also says that he's not driven by a desire to be "the best rapper in the world," like other MCs might be.  He told Vibe, "I don't believe there's any one rapper that can be the best because that means you have to be the best at everything.  There are certain things that I may do better than [Lil] Wayne.  There are certain things that Wayne may do better than me. There are certain things that Jay [-Z] may do better than both of us....being the best? There is no such thing."

Sarah Godfrey's music picks for Aug. 23-29

Rodrigo y Gabriela

Guitarists Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintera have played metal in Mexico City clubs and wistful guitar in Irish pubs. They’ve played weddings and house shows, busked in below freezing weather, and performed alongside Beyonce at a White House State Dinner. The duo can play anywhere, and they can play anything, as they show on their most recent 11:11, a stunning work influenced by everyone from Carlos Santana to Jorge Reyes and Pink Floyd.

Tears for Fears

The '80s were, unarguably, the decade that was kindest to Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith of Tears for Fears. But the duo has done a fine job of staying afloat in the last decade, too. They survived opening for Spandau Ballet, being covered by Adam Lambert, and in Smith's case, a possible judging stint on that sinking ship of a talent competition, American Idol. Plus, the English pop band is on tour, getting to see some of the same fans that fell in love with them 30 years ago — and now that they have less hair covering their eyes, they should get a pretty good look.

Yo Gabba Gabba! Live!

Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! is bringing the popular Nick Jr. show to life with the “There’s a Party in My City!” tour, bringing with it not only a whole load of exclamation points, but usual suspects Brobee, Foofa, Plex, and musician-magician DJ Lance Rock. But the most exciting news of all, boys and girls, is that the rapper (and sometime DMV resident) Biz Markie, who appears on the show, will be giving beatboxing demonstrations (and making us wonder why no one convinced him to get into children’s entertainment ages ago).

Anita Baker

The last time Anita Baker released an album (apart from greatest hits packages and a Christmas project) was 2004, with My Everything. Before that, many thought 1994’s Rhythm of Love could be her last LP. Still, Baker’s distinctive, ghostly wail — which sounds like someone singing soul music into a whirring fan — is still the subject of obsession, with artists from Drake to MF Doom drawing inspiration from the Ohio-born songstress. Few care that she’s less than prolific or that she botched the national anthem at the NBA Finals this year — most still seem to be caught up in the rapture.
Nelly
As a rapper, Nelly’s greatest accomplishment is introducing the redundant “r” into song titles (i.e. “Hot in Herre”). As an impresario, his finest triumph to date has been bringing together that lovable band of musicians, the St. Luntatics. As a fashion designer, Nelly will go down in history as the man who introduced the most lasciviously named line of blue jeans in the history of the free world (Apple Bottoms). And as a visual artist, the Missouri native’s crowning achievement was swiping a credit card through the cheeks of a model’s ass in a music video. For all of these reasons, Nelly, we...salute you? Nelly celebrates his 10 years in the game with a performance and party.

Rock the Bells

The Guerrilla Union hip-hop festival continues to stick with its same winning formula: draw folks in with major rap nostalgia and, once everyone has been corralled, use the opportunity to expose them to a few underground and/or up-and-coming acts. This year, the big names include Snoop, A Tribe Called Quest, Wu-Tang Clan, and Lauryn Hill (a lineup that has fans of '90s hip-hop foaming at the mouth), as well as Rakim, KRS-One, and Slick Rick (which has '80s rap fans twitching in anticipation). And the undercard of strong, underrated MCs, including Wiz Khalifa and Yelawolf, should elicit some mild convulsing as well.

Ladies of Uke

Don Ho, Tiny Tim...gosh, those stars of ukulele and their sausage parties. Luckily, the Strathmore Music Center recognizes that the mighty uke does not discriminate on the basis of gender and can be enjoyed by all. The Ladies of Uke, the North Bethesda venue’s last free Wednesday night concert of the summer, will feature the Sweater Set, Victoria Vox, the Hula Honeys and others, who will cover every possible strain of uke music. And if you arrive a little early and bring your own uke, you may be invited to strum along.

Lil Wayne sues over missing tour proceeds

Incarcerated rapper Lil Wayne has fired off a lawsuit against his former booking agents, accusing them of holding back $375,000 in tour profits.
The Lollipop hitmaker and his company Young Money Touring Inc. allege the owners of Ujaama Talent Agency Inc., Erskine Isaac and David Nelson, owe him money from two of his America's Most Wanted Music Festivals in 2009.
The complaint claims Isaac and Nelson "elected to divert to Ujaama's own bank account an amount not less than $375,000, the sum that Isaac and Nelson maintain is owed to Ujaama for the tours in question."
Lil Wayne has employed the firm's services since the start of his career and participated in four different tours with Ujaama from 2008 to 2010, according to the suit filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York.
AllHipHop.com reports that the rapper's lawyer asked the pair for the money before filing the suit but they refused to hand it over.
Lil Wayne is currently serving time at New York's Rikers Island jail on weapons possession charges and is due for release later this year.

Artists to Watch in 2010

YelaWolf

Ever since Bubba Sparxxx faded from the scene and abandoned rap's redneck throne, there's been a void that hasn't been filled -- until now. Alabama rapper YelaWolf is next to bring Podunk back, having recently gone viral on the Internet with his gritty mixtape 'Trunk Muzik,' a studio-quality collection of tracks that sees the emcee reflecting on pick-up trucks, shooting shotguns and collaborating with the likes of Bun B and Raekwon. Though he isn't signed to a major, word on the street is that he's fielding a few offers from labels, so prepare your iTunes to tussle with some of this up-and-comer's tunes in 2010.

Kooley High

This North Carolina-based sextet, first introduced by Napoleon Wright II's documentary 'One Day,' consists of three emcees (Charlie Smarts, Tab-One and Rapsody), two producers (Foolery and The Sinopsis) and a DJ (Ill Digitz). But while they roll deeper than a rickety clown car, the group has a cool blue sound that hasn't been this relaxed since the days of Digable Planets. The collective first released their debut EP 'The Summer Sessions' in 2008 and soon followed with solo albums from each emcee (Rapsody, the token female of the gang, is putting hers out this year). 2010 will see the release of their official debut 'The High Life,' but Google their '09 mixtape 'Kooley Is High' to help vibe out until that day comes.

 Mickey Factz

As one of the 10 emcees to be featured on XXL Magazine's infamous 2009 "The 10 Freshmen" cover, Mickey Factz didn't pop off in 2009 quite like people expected. But instead of falling back, Factz pushed up his black-rimmed glasses and kicked off 2010 by releasing a brand new project dubbed 'thedarkphoenix #ALPHA,' which hit the Internet on the first day of the year. The project was a hit among those well versed in the art of right-clickage, and while the eight-track offering was satiating, it's only an appetizer for what's to come from Factz in '10.

---

Waka Flocka Flame

With Mizay Entertainment repping some of the biggest Southern acts like Gucci Mane and Nicki Minaj to blow in '09, it's a safe bet to place your money on Waka Flocka Flame as the Mizay torchbearer for 2010. Straight out of Atlanta, Juaquin Malphurs (that's his real name) kept steady on the mixtape grind last year, releasing street favorites 'Salute Me or Shoot Me Vol. 1' and 'Twin Towers' as well as performing in his group Brick Squad with Gucci, OJ Da Juiceman, Frenchie and Wooh Da Kid. Waka Flocka got off to a rocky start this year, getting shot in the arm in an attempted robbery, but a mere two days later, he was conducting interviews discussing the incident. Look out for his official debut 'Murda Man Flocka' in 2010 and respect this fighter's spirit!

The Kid Daytona

Bronx-based emcee The Kid Daytona sped his way across the blogosphere in 2009 with a string of free releases, paying homage to A Tribe Called Quest on his Cipha Sounds-approved 'A Tribe Called Fresh' and unleashing his Mick Boogie-presented free EP 'The Daytona 500.' But before he made a name for himself as a solo artist, Daytona had a deal with Atlantic Records in a group dubbed The Aces, quickly joining Busta Rhymes' Flipmode Squad after the deal fell through. Now, after releasing his lyrically dense 'Come Fly With Me' in summer '09, Daytona is gearing up to take over 2010, having already taken it to the blogs with a few new tracks released this January.

---

Travis Porter

This trio's name might give off the impression that it's actually one guy on the mic, but Atlanta emcees Strap, Quez and Ali spent 2009 making sure that the world knew that Travis Porter is a triumvirate of like-minded lyricists. With three mixtapes ('Who is Travis Porter,' 'I'm a Differenter' and 'I'm a Differenter 2') under its belt, the unsigned group is keeping on the independent hustle in 2010, catering to younger fans with their indelible street slang and getting co-sign from adults by collaborating with trap rappers like Waka Flocka Flame. Though there's no word of an official album on the way, the group already seems to have '10 in the pocket.

---

Bridget Kelly

When 23-year-old Bridget Kelly graced the stage to belt out the chorus on 'Empire State of Mind,' during Jay-Z's 9/11 televised tribute concert at Madison Square Garden last year, the uninformed mistook her for Alicia Keys. Despite not being the piano-playing songstress everyone hoped for, her pristine vocals won over fans. The mystery girl had a name, and shortly after, the masses learned she was a singer signed to the Roc Nation imprint. In 2009, Hov took Bridget on tour with him to promote 'The Blueprint 3.' With the rapper by her side and a debut album in the works, mistaken identity is no longer a problem.

---

Pill

Atlanta rhyme slinger Pill has just two mixtapes under his wing -- '4180: The Prescription' and '4075: The Refill' -- but that's enough to cure the ailments of this rap game. Though the bottom-of-the-map talent spits lyrics of street life, he's not one to glamorize the struggle. On tracks like the synth-heavy 'Trap Goin' Ham,' Pill puts the masses on to foodie slang while simultaneously shedding light on the nitty-gritty of ATL's Fourth Ward drug movement. But it's his crisp lyrics on 'Hear Somebody Comin'' that prove Pill's got the verbal remedy: "Caped crusader, you won't ever unmask me/ Supreme with the game, call me Pilton & Bradley/ Monopolize the wordplay, a swordsman with the pen tip/ You better call authorities after my third gin sip."

---

Nicki Minaj

Not many female rappers can get away with Barbie comparisons, yet Nicki Minaj has managed to flip the doll's image to suit her taste, as she's done with every song she's been featured on as of late. Her vivacious delivery and sexually charged lyrics are a hot commodity when it comes to the likes of Mariah Carey ('Up Out My Face' Remix) and Robin Thicke ('Shakin' It For Daddy'). She even outshines the majority of her Young Money affiliates on the team's standout track, 'Bed Rock.' For those still not convinced the Queens-bred emcee is the greatest thing since Lil Kim donned colored wigs, check out the verbal fire she spits on the remix to Keri Hilson's 'Get Your Money Up' featuring Keyshia Cole: "Three girl play so I'm tripling my value/ Keri steal, Keyshia pass, Nicki with the alley-oop."

---

Krys Ivory

It's no secret that Ryan Leslie is a musical force to be reckoned with. As a result, his co-signs prove to be well-worth the listen. Such is the case with Krys Ivory. In 2007, the producer signed the West Coast singer to his Next Selection imprint, crafted her piano-laden track, 'Be Next 2 Ya,' and launched her singing career straight towards the blogosphere and social networking sites like MySpace. After enduring a year-long battle with cancer and emerging victorious, the steadfast songstress has no restraints holding her back. Eager listeners can hear both new and old tunes on Krys' mixtape, 'Reflections,' presented by NextSelection and Stupid Dope Moves, a joint effort between DJ Frosty and Charlamagne Tha God.

The Athiarchists Crashed Mayhem Festival Parking Lots

Sure, the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival is over for this year. But if you were lucky enough to go, there's a chance you saw a band ride into the parking lot, playing from a mobile stage with gear bolted down to it. That band was the Athiarchists.

What drove the Oregon duo of drummer Dano Lemm and guitarist Aaron Tunnell to not only build a stage they could travel with and live in is simple: They don't take no for an answer.

"We would want to play a show, whether it be in our hometown or anywhere else, with a bigger headlining band, and either the promoter, venue or band would not let us open up," Tunnell told Noisecreep of this DIY adventure's origin. "So we started playing in the parking lots with generators in front of shows."

Tunnell points out the early problems were involved set up and break down time, occasionally being forced to leave before a single song was played. "We have always talked about having a mobile stage so we could just open the door and start raging it with no set up time. We didn't know that we would ever pull it off until we saw the lineup for Mayhem this year. We knew it was time to do it"

Hatebreed, always a huge supporter of the trash hardcore two-piece, actually tried getting the band on the tour's roster. "From day one of this tour, they have been telling all the bands/roadies/managers about what we're doing.

"None of the other bands had any idea what was going on until the fifth show in Phoenix. We pulled up while Korn was playing to the [Jägermeister] stage/Silverstar stage band parking lot," he recalled. "We crawled into the back and were raging it in about 15 seconds. About 30 seconds after the door opened, every singe person in every tour bus was standing out in the parking lot scratching their heads with a smile on their face, saying, 'What the f--- is this?'"

Soon after that one show, the support came in. "Bands that we grew up listening to were buying our shirts. We were trying to give them shirts, and they were buying them because they knew we needed the support. We ended up with multiple cases of beer and bottles of liquor by the end," Tunnell admitted, admitting being humbled by everything.

Midway through, the Athiarchists were given the official go ahead to play outside of the venues fences. Tunnell wouldn't have had it any other way.

Sadly, the band suffered many breakdowns, even being stuck in New Mexico for ten days, but a new traveling stage that won't suffer the same issues is in the works. "This winter, we are going to build a bigger diesel powered mobile stage that will be more reliable as far as the truck engine goes. It will essentially be our own tour bus, that we don't have to lease, that has living quarters and a shower, a mobile stage with everything bolted down so we can play anywhere, extra equipment to play venue shows, complete with a screen printer so we can make more shirts on the road. We have created a monster, and we want to change the way smaller bands tour and play live shows. "

Tunnell continued, "I'll say it again: The bar scene is dying right now. Half of our last West Coast tour was canceled because either the venue closed down or the bar booking person double-booked. The possibilities are endless with this, but nothing could have prepared us for what is happening with it now. It honestly brings tears to my eyes. It is f---ing crazy."

NASA Launches Music Contests for Final Space Shuttle Missions

As NASA (the actual National Air and Space Administration, not the band) tragically prepares to dismantle the Space Shuttle Program, they still have a few missions left to complete. Since the Apollo days, Ground Control has entertained Major Tom (and all the astronauts) by playing them music as a wake-up call. Some music may sound better in space than others, but NASA often went with songs that were topical to the day's agenda. For example, Simon & Garfunkel's 'Homeward Bound' might play during the journey's final day. Or, to break up the monotony of seriousness that accompanies space adventures, a sly crew member might slip in the theme to 'Mission: Impossible' as a joke (true story). Family members, the astronauts themselves and even celebrities or politicians would sometimes be granted special requests.

Ground Control has two new missions: First, to bring the wake-up music to the people. And, then, to bring the people's music to space. For the final days of the Space Shuttle Program, NASA is allowing the public to vote on two wake-up songs for the STS-133 mission, which currently has a Nov. 1 launch date. Nominees include songs by U2 ('Beautiful Day'), the Clash ('Should I Stay or Should I Go?') and, of course, Thomas Dolby's 'She Blinded Me With Science.' Other bands on the list of 40 include Metallica, Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen.

But for those who truly wish to rock space and didn't get accepted to Space Camp because they were too busy playing their electric guitar, NASA is offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity -- artists can go to NASA's website and upload an original song. A panel of science nerds and space geeks (err, an official NASA panel) will vote on two songs to be played as wake-up music for the STS-134 mission, which has a launch date of Feb. 26, 2011.

The winner gets galaxy-sized bragging rights: even if they usually play to empty rooms or, for that matter, only in their living room... at least they can say they're big in outer space.

RedOne Talks Lady Gaga’s Next Album

Producer RedOne, who collaborated with Lady Gaga on her chart-topping singles “Just Dance”, “Poker Face”, “Bad Romance” and “Alejandro”, talked about her next album in a recent interview with Billboard magazine. He said:
“It’s going to be shocking, shocking, shocking! You never want to go too far from your brand – people love you for a reason. But we still want to give them something with a kick, something that makes them say, ‘Oh my God! We didn’t expect this!’. When you heard ‘Bad Romance’ after ‘Poker Face’, it was like the best thing you’ve ever heard. We want that type of reaction. I think that’s part of my job and her job – to keep her evolving.”
RedOne confirmed that he has worked on two tracks for the upcoming album, which is set to be released next year, and described both of them as “massive” hits-to-be.

New Twitter Update from Lady Gaga

On Thursday night, Lady Gaga posted a photo along with the following message on her Twitter:

“Haven’t left the studio. Each song I write, I feel closer to you. Miss you little monsters, little inspirations. X”.

Lady Gaga is currently recording songs for her third studio album, which is set for release in 2011.

Lady Gaga Tweets from Plane to Tacoma

Lady Gaga has just posted this photo from a plane to Tacoma, Washington along with the following message on her Twitter:
“Portland. NY. KISS. Tacoma. 22 hrs. No worry little monsters, on the plane. Wouldn’t miss the ball!”
The singer is scheduled to perform a sold-out “Monster Ball” show at the Tacoma Dome tonight.

Lil Wayne Files Lawsuit Against Former Booking Agent

Incarcerated Young Money rapper Lil Wayne has reportedly filed a lawsuit against a former booking agent whom he has accused of stealing $375,000 from him in 2009.

On August 16, lawyers for Wayne and his Young Money Touring Inc. filed suit against Ujaama Talent Agency Inc. in the New York Supreme Court for electing to "divert to Ujaama's own bank account an amount not less than $375,000."

Ujaama has organized and scheduled tours for Wayne on a non-exclusive basis for years, however, according to the suit, the two parties got into a dispute over Wayne's America's Most Wanted tours which went on in the summer and winter of 2009.

Following the tours, Wayne approached Ujaama in late 2009 about booking yet another national run, before he began to serve his current prison sentence. The booking agency, then, claiming that they were still owed money from their previous tours, diverted $375,000 to their account. Though Wayne's lawyer repeatedly requested that the money be returned to Wayne & Young Money Touring, Ujaama refused.

The case does not yet have a court date. Wayne is scheduled to be released from Rikers Island on November 4, and will be performing in a welcome home concert on November 5.

Toby Keith Concert Results in 42 Arrests

Several fans at Toby Keith's recent concert at the Darien Lake Performing Arts Center in Darien Lake, N.Y., took his mandate to 'Get Drunk and Be Somebody' a little too seriously. The, show, part of the superstar's American Ride tour, resulted in 42 people being charged for various offenses, including 36 for underage drinking. Several other charges included physical assault, trespassing and harassment.

While Toby is all for people having a good time at his shows, he also believes the parents of young people facing legal trouble are partly responsible. "I think most of the problems that kids have start at home," he tells The Boot." All those things come from underneath your roof at your house ... At some point you've just got to practice tough love and make them pay for it."

Toby is not the only country star to have fans arrested in Darien Lake during a concert. Only a couple months earlier, Brad Paisley's concert in the same city resulted in 46 arrests, with 38 charged with underage drinking.

Hopefully, the rest of the American Ride tour, which includes Trace Adkins, as well as opening act Jaron and the Long Road to Love, will coast along a little more smoothly for fans. Click here for upcoming dates on Toby's tour schedule. Toby's album, 'Bullets in the Gun' is set for release Oct. 5.

Josh Turner Is Ready to Go Fish

Josh Turner has been so busy on the road this summer that he has not been able to take his boat on the lake but a few times. Not only does he like to tool around with his wife Jennifer, but every now and then he enjoys putting a pole in the water and wrangling a few fish, as well as playing the role of biologist.

"I go out and just check pH levels and stuff like that, try to check nitrogen and phosphorus and all that kind of stuff," Josh tells The Boot. "I like to fish when it's not too hot. I've been working towards getting the boat set up to go tubing. I'm not much of a water skier, my legs are too skinny for that, so I just try to tube and have fun, just ride."

While Josh loves performing, he's a bit disappointed that he has not been able to tool around the lakes of Middle Tennessee. "I have a nice boat that I got a couple of years ago that's a Skeeter brand that's 20-foot, center-console," the South Carolina native states. "I have it set up for saltwater and for fresh water, so it's been a nice boat. Jennifer and I took the boat out late spring, early summer, just try to run it a little bit and get away from everything, and that was fun. But ever since then, I've been working, watching others play on the lake. [laughs]"

The 'All over Me' singer has got a few days off from the road, so perhaps he will be able to take his budding family (wife Jennifer is expecting baby no. 3 early next year) out on the water. Josh is currently set to hit the stage in Meadville, Pa., on Wednesday, August 25.

Download Josh Turner Songs| Buy Josh Turner Albums

Underworld Debuting 70 New Paintings, Record Label

As famed British electronic duo Underworld gear up for the release of their eighth studio album, 'Barking,' next month, they're also busy this week with a few related endeavors. No stranger to visual media, Underworld's Karl Hyde will debut roughly 70 new paintings at a show called "What's Going on in Your Head as You're Dancing" at the Laforet Museum in Harajuku, Japan. This marks Hyde's first solo venture into the museum world, although as recently as 2008 he and Rick Smith, along with artist John Warwicker, debuted an installation project called "Beautiful Burnout" in New York City.

"It started off by making series of marks while I was doing interviews, marks that were inspired by walking through the streets of cities," Hyde tells Spinner. "That started to develop into seeing the same shapes I see in my head while I'm onstage with Underworld. I see physical 3-D shapes in my head while I'm onstage of the potential moves I might make when I'm thinking about moving across stage or interpreting the sound."

Clearly, there's some next-level thinking going on here -- but for Underworld, it would be remiss for them to trek across the globe for just one little art opening. Thus, they're taking things to the big screen as well. "We're incorporating big screens. There's the big Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo and we're screening some of the paintings on that as well," Hyde says, revealing he'll also dazzle attendees with some live painting.

Joining Hyde will be his Underworld partner Rick Smith, who's not just there to hobnob -- he'll be launching his new record label, Bungalow with Stairs, and debuting the soundtrack for Hyde's exhibition. That music will become the label's first release.

Hyde is also planning to start writing another book, the follow-up to 2003's 'In the Belly of Saint Paul.' "We're working on the book about the night streets of Tokyo," he says. "I don't know what the title is yet, but it's about us walking through the city at night. Urban environments I find deeply inspiring."

Drums Singer Places Equal Value on Words and Music

Long before he formed the Drums, a group currently jet-setting around the world and playing summer festivals, Jonathan Pierce knew what it was like to front a buzzed-about rock band. In 2003, as leader of the dance-pop outfit Elkland, he signed with Capitol Records, and two years later, he released an album called 'Golden.' The record proved anything but, and after failing to crack the charts, Elkland found itself dropped.

The episode left Pierce demoralized and unsure of his future -- even three years later, as he and childhood friend Jacob Graham prepared to move from Florida to New York City and launch the Drums.

"The band was birthed out of frustration and confusion and getting older and feeling more upset about my life and sort of hopeless," Pierce tells Spinner.

He poured those feelings into the Drums' self-titled debut, a collection featuring infectious melodies, insistent beats and crisp, springy guitars that offset the disillusionment driving the lyrics. Pierce's songs are so catchy, in fact, that some listeners are likely to miss their meanings altogether -- something he says he doesn't mind.

"At the end of the day, we're just writing simple pop songs," Pierce says. "It is pop and the great thing about pop is that it's so subjective. People can take it for whatever they want. A song like 'Forever and Ever Amen,' people can look at it as a really uplifting and fun to dance to, and that's what a lot of people look for, and then a lot of people come up to me and say the song makes them cry or makes them sad."

"Whether it's a painting or a song or a sculpture, some people will be searching for something deeper," he adds. "Whether someone is excited about how the music sounds or the genre or the lyric or the mood, to me, that's just really fascinating and that's why I write pop songs. I have that fascination with how people react."

The Drums are sometimes compared to Beach Fossils and Wild Nothing, stylistically similar indie-pop acts whose frontmen have both said in recent Spinner interviews that they focus more on writing memorable hooks than meaningful lyrics. Pierce, it would seem, puts greater emphasis on his words.

"It's funny to hear because it's true but it wouldn't have been true a couple years ago," the songwriter says. "All the bands I've been part of, I've always been the songwriter. I write the lyrics and all that. And lyrics have always been second or third to me. The most important thing is the melody, and what's different with the Drums is to me, I've come to this realization that melody and the lyrics are both equally important."

A believer in the idea that "every great melody has great lyrics kind of wrapped up inside it," Pierce generally starts with a tune and adds whatever words seem to fit.

"For the Drums, we wanted to write the most simple, most stripped down, classic, not-trying-to-do-anything-new-or-edgy-or-interesting sort of simple pop songs -- barebones, classic songs about heartbreak and sadness," he says. "And the best way to do that is to come up with a great melody, a classic pop melody."

Insofar as he aims for emotional directness, he takes his cues from '60s girl groups.

"Rather than saying in 200 words why they're so sad, they'd just write songs, and in the chorus, the chorus would simply say, 'I'm sad,' or 'I'm so sad,' and that's all they had to say," he says. "And with those classic melodies, it has this sort of feeling that takes over and overwhelms you."

Fantasia Admits Her Overdose Was Intentional

Former 'American Idol' star, Fantasia Barrino, was treated and released from a North Carolina hospital two weeks ago after ingesting a potentially lethal amount of aspirin and sleeping aid. In a new episode of VH1's 'Behind the Music,' which premieres on Tuesday night (Aug. 24), the 26-year-old singer admits that her overdose was intentional.

"I didn't have any fight in me. I didn't care about anything. I just wanted out," Fantasia says. "At that moment, I wanted out. I wanted it to be over with -- all of it, all of that s---."

Fantasia's suicide attempt was triggered by news that she was responsible for destroying the marriage of her alleged boyfriend, Antwaun Cook. Her boyfriend's wife, Paula Cook, made the allegations public when she filed court papers a week earlier, claiming that she could produce a sex tape as proof of the affair. "I just sat in the closet and looked at the mirror and took all the pills in the bottle," Fantasia says, according to People Magazine. "I wanted to go to sleep and just be at peace. I knew exactly what I was doing. You can't accidentally take whole bottles of pills."

Following Fantasia's attempted overdose, Cook's wife retracted her original allegations. In a new statement, her lawyer Nicole Sodoma explains that Fantasia was not responsible for tearing the marriage apart, despite her relationship with Antwaun Cook. "I was tired of people doing me wrong, constantly, over and over again, dealing with my family -- my father, dealing with mean and their s---," Fantasia says. "I was tired. My head was hurting me. I was over it."

Fantasia gave her first post-suicide performance at a recent birthday party for Charlotte Bobcats' player Tyrus Thomas. "I been in the house for a week so you know I'm bout to act ugly," Fantasia said to the crowd.

Catch Fantasia's 'Behind the Music' interview on VH1 at 9PM on August 24.

50 Cent jumps on new CEE-LO track for remix

Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images Ever since 50 Cent dropped 'Before I Self Destruct' last year and experienced his first true bomb, he's been relatively silent on the rap front. Of course, he's still been acting, pulling publicity stunts and ruthlessly taunting some of the biggest artists in the game, but there haven't been any new verses from the vicious Queens native lately. That all changed over the weekend when 50 heard the new Cee-Lo jam entitled 'F--- You.'

On the track, 50 dives in to wax poetic about ladies, haters and everything in-between. Fans will be thrilled with his turn. It's very reminiscent of the original Curtis they came to love -- double-time flow, sassy attitude and playful taunts.

"Keep playing games, I'll take her right away," he raps. "50, I really don't like when you talk about my chick/ I think you are just mad, cause she's not your b----/ Cause nobody will f--- with your own/ You're not rich/ Man, I shouldn't even have to tell you this s---."

Yes, it does sound like he's ribbing Cee-Lo a little bit and claiming that he's stealing his woman with his penchant for having tons of cash, but that's the original 50 people love. With this and him screaming at Shyne, it's definitely felt like vintage Curtis lately.

More About 50 Cent on AOL Music

• 50 Cent Videos
• 50 Cent Pictures
• 50 Cent Biography

Lady Gaga becomes most followed on Twitter

Lady GAGA has just surpassed Britney Spears as the most famous person on social networking site Twitter. At the time of writing, she has 5,666,500 followers, 100 more than Britney.

The singer joined Twitter on March 26th, 2008 with the following update: “Rehearsing for my video ‘Just Dance’ and am now at WMC to perform at the Armani and Nervous Records party. But I am no nervous record”. Since then, she wrote 460 tweets.
Unlike Miss Spears’s tweets, which are either promotional messages from her staff or personal notes that appear when the pop princess is reportedly attending an event, all of Lady Gaga’s updates come directly from her. They are later being reposted to Facebook, where she became the first living person to reach 10 million fans last month.
Take a look at our favourite tweets from Lady Gaga after the jump!
“Turn on The View… about to give America the flu.” – March 10, 2009
“My long hair is back today, lavender locks for my birthday! Tonight at midnight. 23. It’s been the best year of my life, I’m so grateful. xx” – March 27, 2009
“I just saw a fan write my lyrics on a paparazzi car. You’re badass and I love you. Xxloveandart gaga” – April 21, 2009
“They tried to arrest me in Russia, for leather at St. Basil’s. But all is calm in the red square, as I leave the east Parisbound.” – April 26, 2009
“Stop leaking my motherfucking videos.” – May 29, 2009
“Whoever stole my much music outfit, the Haus curses you with a future of fashion travesties… I miss & love my fans. See you soon in Paris.” – July 7, 2009
“GagaDaily.com is the best! I love you guys, thanks for being the best fans ever. You’re doing a great job. Xxgagaloo” – July 22, 2009
“Coffee and a ciggy in Denmark, making hair sculptures, writing music… I could find truth in this red lipstick all day. The joys of a wench.” – July 31, 2009
“Love you Japan! Poker Face just went #1! Thank you! My show was so good last night. I just had to go home and suck my own hermie dick, suckka.” – August 08, 2009
“Saw Beyoncé live, from the stage. She’s an amazing performer, and a beautiful person, inside and out… Love a strong ass woman. xx” – August 13, 2009
“Aaliyah marathon doing makeup, she’s an angel.” – September 9, 2009
“God Bless New York and everyone whose life was stolen on 9/11. Back home today, doing charity for the mercy center, then rehearsal. Xiloveny” – September 11, 2009
“Still leaving on solo tour this November. Announcing next week. Leaked next single is making my ears bleed. Wait till you hear the real version. ;)” – October 2, 2009
“My Daddy had open heart surgery today. And after long hours, and lots of tears, they healed his broken heart, and mine. Speechless.” – October 23, 2009
“Seems as though my twitter was hacked yesterday. I could be angry, except I secretly love how psychotically smart my fans are.” – November 17, 2009
“Monster Ball is amazing, enjoy while you can. I’m already redesigning it for 2010, the haus tells me there’s hospitals who accept people like me.” – December 20, 2009
“Pretty genius, big huge man banging on the car window outside the arena, trying to sell me scalped tickets to my own show. You scallywag!” – January 13, 2010
“@gagadaily I dont know what I did to deserve the gift of you and all my fans. But God made you little monsters very special. You are my heart.” – March 19, 2010
“Rehearsal till we bleed. Sweat, passion and knee pads. Feel like I’ve waited an eternity to release my favorite song from The Fame Monster.” – April 25, 2010
“#AlejandroIsUrDaddy is trending? Little Monsters are crazy?! (Me and RedOne laughing on floor of studio) You are so funny! Thank you we love you!” – May 9, 2010
“So many will try to destroy me. So many, over and over, coming in periods of greatness. But in this period, I cannot be broken: GAGAKLEIN.” – June 7, 2010
“A middle finger is more New York than a corporate ambush. I bleed for my hometown, and I’d die for my fans.” – June 11, 2010
“My little monster sweeties are already camped outside Today show! I love you! Will be sending you pizza and water all day! And a surprise tomorrow! x” – July 8, 2010

Lady GaGa Rocks Out With KISS

"KISS the Queen," Lady Gaga tweeted after meeting up with legendary rock band KISS this weekend. The pop star, who just overtook Britney Spears as the most followed person on Twitter, mugged for the cameras backstage with the group and likely exchanged makeup tips before heading out into the crowd and rocking out with her boyfriend, Luc Carl. Luckily for us, an eagle-eyed concertgoer thought to snap some video of Gaga dancing along to 'Calling Dr. Love'.

Gaga then flew across the country for the Tacoma, WA, date of her 'Monster Ball' tour later that night and discussed the experience with her audience. "You meet so many people [in Hollywood] who are so ungrateful for what they have," Gaga said. "But KISS! These guys have been making music for decades and they were ... beyond nice and beyond down to earth, full makeup and everything. They hung out with me and my friends ... just shooting the s**t backstage like they don't have anything better to do ... That's gonna be me in 30 years".