Friday Facts

It appeared to be just a rumor in the beginning, but now it appears to be true. Rapper Nicki Minaj will have her own reality series. The show, to be produced by "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest, will give fans access to the star's live and career. No word on when the show will air. In other Young Money news, Young Money boss Lil Wayne has broken Elvis Presley's record for the most singles on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. Congratulations. Rapper Jay Z will perform a special concert that won't include any of his celebrity friends. Hova says he's being selfish this time by doing the show alone. Rapper Wiz Khalifa and girlfriend Amber Rose will appear together on the cover of the October/November issue of XXL magazine. Amber says she'll give birth naturally when the time comes. Congratulations to the happy couple. The "Entertainment Tonight" interview with Usher's ex-wife Tameka Raymond concludes tonight. She'll discuss the surgery that sent her into a coma a few years ago. In theaters this weekend: "Hotel Transylvania", "Looper" and "Won't Back Down". On the tube: "The X Factor" on Fox, "CSI: New York" on CBS, "Shark Tank" on ABC and "Grimm" on NBC. Make it a weekend!

Thursday Dish

Singer Nicole Scherzinger has dispelled rumors of a romance between she and Chris Brown after photos of the two at a club surfaced. She says the two were just talking. Usher has postponed the European leg of his current tour due to personal and professional commitments. A representative for the singer says one reason is definitely his new gig as a judge on "The Voice". The other obvious one is of course, his children. Madonna caused quite a stir during a recent concert when she told the crowd President Obama is a Muslim. Now, in a released statement the Material Girl says she was being ironic when she made the statement and knows President Obama isn't a Muslim,  and that some think he is. She added a good man is a good man, no matter what faith he practices. Kim Kardashian says she doesn't have to hint to boyfriend Kanye West what she wants for a birthday present since he has good taste. She says what she wants most is a day off. The problem now, of course, is determining what Kardashian does for a living. Teen girls all over will be glad to know that Jaden  Smith is available. Rumor has it that he was hanging out with a Disney star, although that appears to have ended. On the tube: "The X Factor" on Fox, "The Big Bang Theory" on CBS, "Last Resort" on ABC and "Saturday Night Live" on NBC. Happy Thursday!

Wednesday Roundup

Yet another hip hop beef as begun between rappers DMX and Fredro Starr. It all began when Starr posted a You Tube video of himself doing a freestyle in which he talks about how X's involvement with a woman Starr was dating. During a recent interview, X responded by saying he's not concerned about Starr, and that Starr is just using him to get attention. X went on to add that Starr should stick to being a sticom "Moesha" gangsta, referring to Starr's hit 90's series with singer Brandy. So far, no comment from Starr. Singer Rihanna posted a tweet supporting ex-boyfriend Chris Brown on his day in court a few days ago. The singer let her ex know she's praying for him and wishes him the best. Tameka Raymond, ex-wife of R&B star Usher Raymond, conducted a three part interview with "Entertainment Tonight" in which she discusses the breakup of the couple's marriage. She revealed that Usher sleep with two of her bridesmaids, and that losing her son in a jet ski accident is the worse pain she's ever felt. She added that it's made her determined to fight for custody of her other children. The remainder of the interview will air tonight and tomorrow. Ever since hip hop mogul Chris Lighty's death was ruled a suicide, the former executive's friends and family have openly challenged the notion that Lighty would take his own life. Among them is Lighty's friend and client 50 Cent. He's taken his dissent a step further by hiring private investigators to look into Lightly's death. The G-Unit general stated that he can't wrap his head around the idea of Lighty shooting himself. Lighty's family ordered a second autopsy after the first one, conducted by the New York City coroner's office, delcared the death a suicide by gunshot to the head. The results of the new autopsy have not come in. In his will, the founder of Violator Management left all his assests to his wife, Veronica, with a trust set up for their children. It looks like hip hop new comer Azealia Banks has hit a bump in the road while promoting her new mixtape "Fantasea" when she was forced to cancel the release of the collection's next single due to a dispute with the producer. The track in question, "Esta Noche", uses a beat by Munchi, but Banks never sought permission for it. The producer took to Twitter to blast Banks and her team for making plans to release the song to iTunes without contacting him. Banks had already released artwork for the single before he got word of it. Banks and her team apparently attempted to resolve the matter with a payout, which didn't work well. The producer went on to assail Banks'

Tuesday Tales

Singer Chris Brown finally appeared in court for an audit of his court ordered community service hours, and it's been determined that he failed a drug test. Brown admitted to smoking marijuana in California, and has a prescription for the drug, but the hearing took place in his home state of Virginia. Marijuana is illegal in the state of Virginia, so only time will tell what will happen regarding that matter. The judge ordered another hearing regarding Brown's community service hours. He's due back in court in November. Court depositions are not fun, unless you're rapper Lil Wayne. The New Orleans native was asked a series of questions during a recent deposition, none of which he could answer. The rapper is in the process of suing producer Quincy Jones /// over a documentary centered around the rapper's life. Although he participated in the footage, Wayne claims the producer used his music in the film without his consent. Only time will tell when and how this will play out so stay tuned.  As mentioned previously, Def Jam Records tweeted that it had an announcement to make regarding singer Rihanna, but later deleted the tweet. Now, a press release has confirmed that the singer will preview her new album tomorrow, and a single, "Diamonds", will be released to radio at 8 p.m. tomorrow. It will be available on iTunes an hour later. That should be good news to fans. With fall quickly approaching, the networks are pulling out all the stops to get the attention of viewers this fall. Each major network has returning favorites as well some new shows lined up, and it's anyone's guest which shows will survive a full season and which ones won't. Stay tuned. On DVD: "Marvel's The Avengers", "Bond, 50", "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1" and "Damsels In Distress". On the tube: "New Girl" on Fox, "NCIS" on CBS, "Dancing With The Stars: All Stars Live" on ABC and "The Voice" on NBC. Happy Tuesday!

Monday Memo

The film "End Of Watch" topped the weekend box office, earning over $13 million dollars. "House At The End Of The Street", "Trouble With The Curve", "Finding Nemo" and "Resident Evil: Retribution" round out the top five films of the week. It looks like fans may get an opportunity to see rapper Kanye West in a new light. Two sex tapes have surfaced with the rapper reportedly going on and on like the Energizer Bunny. His lawyer has filed a cease and desist order. The footage was reportedly stolen from the rapper's computer. Rapper Wiz Khalifa was involved in a hit and run. A woman has filed a complaint regarding an accident between she and the Pittsburgh MC were involved in  after a video shoot they worked on together. No word on a court date or damages sought. Rapper Soulja Boy was responded to the suit filed by a woman he hit while driving his Bentley. He says the woman is a racist. No word on a court date or the amount of damages sought. The Prime Time Emmy Awards aired last night with Jimmy Kimmel hosting. "The Daily Show", "The Amazing Race" and Claire Danes were all winners on this years telecast. Actor/comedian Tracy Morgan was in on a hilarious gag during the otherwise predictable ceremony. Only time will tell what next year's show will bring audiences. Usher, Rihanna and others performed during Clear Chanel's iHeart Festival in Las Vegas over the weekend. However, the thing people are talking about is the fact that Greenday frontman Billy Joe Armstrong ranted on stage when the band was asked to cut short it's performance. Armstrong cursed and smashed his guitar. Sometime later it was announced that he's heading into rehab just days before the band is set to release the first of three albums. Here's to his getting well soon. Chicago rapper Lupe Fiasco has been flirting with the idea of retirement from the rap game for some time now. With the release of his fourth studio album coming tomorrow, the independent minded rapper focused on the issue again during an interview with Australia's Music Feeds TV. According to Lupe, he's contractually obligated to produce two more albums after "Food & Liquor 2: The Great American Rap Album Pt 1". One of those will be Pt 2 and the other will be a different album called "Skulls". Lupe says once the music he's working on currently is finished he'll cease making hip hop for commerical purposes., only returning when he feels artistically moved. He said he'll focus on his other projects, one being his electronic DJ act SNDCLSH and punk band Japanese Cartoon. On the tube: "Bones" on Fox, "How I Met Your Mother" on CBS, "Dancing With The Stars: All Stars Live" on ABC and "The Voice" on NBC. Happy Monday!

Friday Facts

Rapper Roscoe Dash is now going in on Kanye West claiming he wrote two songs on the G.O.O.D Music compilation CD, "Cruel Summer", but wasn't given proper credit. He says he did it as a favor, then went on a Twitter rant about the matter. Meanwhile, Kanye West won't be releasing another as a website claimed. The website and album appear to be a  hoax. Common will release a new album in January. He'll work with producers No I.D., Kanye West and others. Should be a winner. Singer Beyonce Knowles and mom Tina have joined together to create a new line of baby items. The line will cost $60 each. No word on when the items will hit stores. Beyonce is also slated to perform at Alicia Keys's annual Black Ball which supports victims of child prostitution. Way to go! Wu Tang Clan member RZA will hit the road this fall on a tour to support his upcoming film, "The Man With The Iron Fist". The tour starts in November and should do well. Rapper 50 may have become friends with boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr, but he's cozing up to one of Mayweather's rivals. The G-Unit general is close to inking a deal with Manny Pacquiao to start a new promotion company together. According to Pacquiao's business advisor Michael Koncz, business discussions between the two are serious and have been going on for quite some time. Although he wouldn't say if a deal has been finalized, he did say that he and Fif have been in talks for almost two months and will definitely do something together. All this may lead some to wonder where this leaves Fif's friendship with Floyd Mayweather Jr. Koncz stated that the original plan was for the three to do something together and that may still happen. We'll see. Minus a few enthusiatic

Thursday Dish

For those who are tired of Chris Brown, reportedly there's an App now available that includes articles and images of the singer with a line drawn through them. No comment from Brown on the matter. Although the show has began it's new season, there's still rumors swirling regarding who will host "The X Factor". Khloe Kardashian and Mario Lopez are among those in the running for the gig, but nothing's been confirmed as yet. We'll have to wait for an official announcment. Pictures of Jay Z, Beyonce and President Obama have surfaced after hip hop's first couple hosted a fund raiser for the Commander and Chief. The nominations for the upcoming Soul Train music awards have been announced and Usher, R. Kelly and Kanye West are among those up for awards. Cedric The Entertainer will host the show, which will air in November. New Edition will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. Ladies love cool James indeed. LL Cool J will host the Grammy award nomination concert again. The show will air in December. Wyclef Jean has published his menior and in it he details his relationship with fellow Fugees member Lauryn Hill. He admits that the two had an affair and that Hill lied to him about the paternity of her child. No comment from Hill. Actor/writer/producer Tyler Perry cancelled a planned tour after learning of ticket scalpers in several cities. How sad. I'm sure there were plenty of fans looking forward to seeing him. Actress Amanda Bynes is probably thinking about the power of karma at the moment. Actress Lindsey Lohan posted a not so nice tweet regarding problems each has had. Ms Lohan recently hit a man with her car and is now back in prison. While there's no word on when she'll be released, it's safe to say that Lohan is out of control and needs help desparately. On the tube: "The X Factor" on Fox, "The Big Bang Theory" on CBS, "Wipeout" on ABC and "SNL Weekly Update Thursday" on NBC. Happy Thursday!

Wednesday Roundup

Rapper Pusha T is downplaying the rumored beef between he and Lil Wayne. He says it's not as a big of a deal as some have made it out to be. He went on to add that he's not a fan of one of Wayne's projects, and that some incorrectly assumed he was referring to Wayne in his song "Mr Me To". Pusha added that he has no ill will toward Wayne. Let's hope that ends the beef rumors.  Missy Elliott and Timbaland are back collaborating again. The two have released the singles "Triple Threat" and "9th Ending", both of which will appear on Missy's next album. As mentioned, a rumor surfaced regarding Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj arguing on the set of "American Idol". Now, it appears that Nicki showed up for work a few minutes late and Mariah pulled her aside to address the issue. Divas indeed. Jay Z and Beyonce hosted a $40,000 a plate fundraiser for President Obama. The President has stated that He and Hova bonded because they each have daughters and both have wives who are more popular than they are. Rapper Kendrick Lamar is inching ever closer to releasing his major label debut, "Good Kid, m.A.A.d. city". The album art work was released online recently and shows Lamar as a small child sitting at a table with his uncles and grandfather. He discussed the significance of the photo during an interview with Fuse. He stated that the story is about the youth and those some call delinquents in his city. He went on to add that the photo says so much about his life and how he was raised in Compton. He went on to say you can see what he's witnessed through his own eyes. The album is set to hit stores on October 22. It should be a treat for fans. Power 105.1's The Breakfast Club had the G.O.O.D. Music crew in the studio and the team that Kanye West built held court on a variety of topics du jour. Celebrating the release of their compilation album, "Cruel Summer", the crew discussed personal projects and more. Common, the crew's resident Chicago native, stated he would like to get together with hip hop new comer Chief Keef and have a summit to help quell the violence in the Windy City. In between discussing social issues, Common made sure to tout the qualities of the Second City and praise the younger members of the crew for keeping him on his toes lyrically. With "Cruel Summer" in stores, the crew is ready to put out a host of solo projects. Big Sean indicated that his sophomore album will be out before the year is out. On the tube: "The X Factor" on Fox, "Survivor: Philippines" on CBS, "The Middle" on ABC and "The Voice" on NBC. Happy hump day!

Tuesday Tales

No even a week since the new judges were announced, and there's already trouble in "American Idol" paradise. Reportedly, Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey interrupted and talked over one another while on the set. Carey tried to play down the rumor by commenting that the two weren't arguing. We'll have to wait and see how the upcoming season turns out. Meanwhile, there's reportedly been a shake up at "The Voice" as well. Rumor has it that Cee Lo Green and Christina Aguilera are out. Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine and Blake Shelton will remain. R&B singer Usher and Shakira are reportedly in talks to join the show as judges. Aguilera has stated that although she's enjoyed doing the show, she wants to concentrate on her own music. There's been no other comment on the matter. Singer Chris Brown was supposed to appear in court yesterday, but the hearing on  his probation was delayed by prosecutors. Lawyers for the district attorneys office have raised questions regarding whether Brown has lived up to his obligations, causing a judge to order an audit of his community service record before a hearing is scheduled. Brown is on probation for the 2009 beating of then girlfriend Rihanna. His community service responsibilities were a total of six months and include graffiti removal, roadside cleanup and other manual labor. The hearing, which had been scheduled for Monday and will be Brown's first in over a year, has been moved to next week. In the meantime, Brown had been commended for complying with his five-year probation requirements admirably. Missy Elliott and Timbaland stopped by New York's Hot 97 to chat with host Angie Martinez and the duo addressed rumors regarding a posthumous Aaliyah album to be executive produced by Drake. They both stated they hadn't been contacted regarding the project. Missy, in particular, also stated that she would never proceed with another Aaliyah album without getting the blessing of the late singer's family first. As for Timbaland, he stated doing another Aaliyah album would be too much for him emotionally. The two were close to Aaliyah during her life. When Martinez brought up the contention that some have made that Drake may have an unusual fixation on Aaliyah, both Missy and Timbaland reserved judgement. The G.O.O.D Music compilation CD "Cruel Summer" hits stores today. The anniversary of the release of Michael Jackson's "Bad" will be celebrated today with it's re release, which includes 2 CD's and a DVD. On DVD: "Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures", "Cabin In The Woods", "Katy Perry: Part Of Me" and "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel". On the tube: "So You Think You Can Dance" on Fox, "NCIS" on CBS, "The Middle" on ABC and "The Voice" on NBC. Happy Tuesday!

Monday Memo

The film "Resident Evil: Retribution" topped the weekend box office, earning over $21 million. "Finding Nemo", "The Possession", "Lawless" and "ParaNorman" round out the top five films of the week. It's official. "American Idol" producers announced the judges for the show will be Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj, Randy Jackson and Keith Urban. After many rumors and much speculation, the judge line up is set, and it's going to be interesting to see how things pan out. An interview with R&B star Usher appeared on "Oprah's Next Chapter" last night, and the singer opened up about his failed marriage. He admitted to cheating on his wife, and also admitted to sleeping with one of her bridesmaids. Singer Rihanna will appear on the cover of Vogue magazine. The singer tweeted about the upcoming interview. Her recorded label, Def Jam, tweeted that they had an announcement to make, then took it back. The announcement may be that the star has a new album coming. Actress Jasmine Guy says her ex-husband hasn't paid child support in some time. She wants to have his wages garnished, and his assets taken. There's just one problem. She has to find him in order to serve him with papers. Rapper Meek Mill is set to join a list of other celebrities with a line of headphones. He will partner with a manufacturer of headphones to create his own line. No word on when the line will hit stores. G.O.O.D. Music hit a bump in the road when during their surprise set at Jay Z's "Made In America" festival recently when 2 Chainz missed his cue to enter the stage on "Mercy", therefore missing the  first few bars of his verse. Some took note of the misstep, including Drake, who had 2 Chainz appear at his own show the next night for a performance of their hit "No Lie". Drake then took to Twitter and tweeted "That's how you bring out 2 Chainz". Pusha T, who has warred with Drake in the past, made clear that he and his crew don't care about the Young Money rapper's two cents. Guess that ends the argument. On the tube: "Bones" on Fox, "How I Met Your Mother" on CBS, ""CMA Music Festival: Country's Night To Rock" on ABC and "The Voice" on NBC. Happy Monday!

Friday Facts

New Orleans rapper Webbie has been charged with assault after he allegedly pushed a woman down some stairs and took $300 from her purse. A representative for the rapper claims he took the money because she stole it from him, but he did not assault her. No word on a court date or sentencing. Rapper Nicki Minaj is excited about her new single and it should be another chart topper for the First Lady of Young Money. The battle for ratings between "The Voice" and "The X Factor" ended with "The Voice" winning hands down. The show pulled in a few million more viewers than its competition. Rapper Wiz Khalifa, who's preparing his sophomore album, appears on the cover of the October/November issue of Complex magazine. His new release, "O.N.I.F.C.", was initially scheduled for release on September 18, but has been delayed for unspecified reasons. Wiz says his record label wanted him to do more radio-friendly singles. Wiz starts a Taylor Gang tour on October 12 and also has a pending mixtape with Curren$y, "Live In Concert", for which he's still awaiting sample clearance due. The October/November issue of Complex hits newsstands on October 2. Although it's been years since rapper DMX released any impactful music, his recent interviews have packed the wallop of an atom bomb. During a recent interview with New York's Power 105 FM, the Ruff Ryder MC wasn't shy about making clear his dislike for rapper Drake. He called everyone's favorite rapper/singer disrespectful and added that he's not feeling the fact that Drake will executive produce the upcoming Aaliyah album. X also added he's not feeling Drake's alleged crush on Nicki Minaj. Not even Kanye West and Kim Kardashian escaped the Dark Man's wrath. X went on to say he wouldn't 'wife no b**** who got famous f******". So far, no comment from Drake. In theaters this weekend: "Finding Nemo" and "Resident Evil: Retribution". On the tube: "Touch" on Fox, "Undercover Boss" on CBS, "Shark Tank" on ABC and "Guys With Kids" on NBC. Make it a weekend!

Thursday Dish

Def Jam Records took to Twitter to announce the release date of Rihanna's new album, then deleted the tweet. They then came back and stated they have an announcement to make. It's clear what that announcement is. In the meantime, pictures have surfaced of Rihanna's ex, Chris Brown, with a new gold grill. Rihanna had a gold grill, just at the bottom some time ago. Brown has gotten a tattoo just above his stomach. Rihanna has a tattoo in the same area. All this is enough to make one wonder what's going on, although only time will tell what. The son of rapper Coolio has been sentenced to 42 to 120 months in prison for robbing a Las Vegas apartment some time ago. Reportedly he and a prostitute robbed the apartment before an arrest was made. "Basketball Wives" star Jennifer Williams and soon-to-be ex-husband Eric have been going at it on Twitter. He assumes she refuses to answer his calls, and she claims he want to stall divorce proceedings. Here's hoping the two work out their differences. A new addition to the cast of the reality series "Hollywood Wives" has been added. Actor Keenan Ivory Wayans ex-wife Daphne will reportedly join the show. The two were married four years and have five children together. Rappers Lupe Fiasco and Chief Keef have had their differences the past few weeks, but Lupe showed his commitment to burying the hatching by shouting out the younger rapper at a recent concert in Toronto. The tension between he two started when during an interview Lupe commented that Keef and the presumed culture of youth violence that he represents scares  him. The 17-year-old Interscope signee responded to the comments with an aggressive diss via Twitter. Since then, both parties have tried to strike a more conciliatory tone. Let's hope Lupe's shout out leads to peace between the two. After making a huge impact at the BET Awards, winning for Best Group and Video of the Year, Jay Z and Kanye West are not ready to give up their throne just yet. The two have received a total of 19 nominations for BET Hip Hop Awards in wake of their album "Watch The Throne". The BET Hip Hop Awards will air on October 8 on BET at 8 pm. On the tube: "The X Factor" on Fox, "The Big Bang Theory" on CBS, ""Wipeout" on ABC and "America's Got Talent" on NBC. Happy Thursday!

Wednesday Roundup

The new tattoo singer Chris Brown has is one that commemorates a Mexican holiday and is not a tattoo of ex-friend Rihanna as some have assumed. That should clear the rumors up. Kris Jenner, mother of the Kardashians, has  made it clear that she's not too pleased to hear that her rumored son-in-law to be, Kanye West, used to watch the tape of daughter Kim and singer Ray J when being intimate. Kris wants the sex tape to go away for good. In other Kardashian news, it's been rumored that Khloe Kardashian has been picked by Simon Cowell to be the host of "The X Factor", although it hasn't been confirmed. We'll have to wait and see what happens. In the meantime, the rumors about Khloe being O.J. Simpson's daughter won't go away. The National Enquirer now reports that their sources say the rumors are true and that Simpson has even included her in his will. There's been no other comment regarding the matter other than mom Kris Jenner denying the accusation and Khloe herself taking to Twitter to blast those spreading the rumors. Stay tuned.  More "American Idol" news. It now appears that Randy Jackson will be on the show since contract negotiations between Enrique Iglesias and producers have stalled. Now, it appears it will be Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Randy Jackson, for the moment, at least. We'll see. Jay Z and Beyonce will host President Obama at a fund raiser at Jay Z's 40/40 club. Guest will pay $40,000 each to attend. Rapper Chi Ali, a member of the 90's hip hop collective Native Tongues, has been released from prison after serving a 12-year sentence for second-degree murder. Word of the Bronx MC's release first broke when fellow 90's rapper Dres (Black Sheep) tweeted a photo of the newly freed rapper two weeks ago. This week the rapper turned up in another Twitter photo with Fat Joe and Lil Wayne. Joe, also a Bronx native, was filming the video for his new single "Yellow Tape". Ali was arrested in 2001 for the shooting death of his girlfriend's brother Sean Raymond. He spent a year evading police and even appeared on an episode of "America's Most Wanted". Affiliated with A Tribe Called Quest and The Jungle Brothers, Ali was a child star who recorded his first album at the age of 14. His biggest hit was "Age Ain't Nothin But A #". On the tube: "The X Factor" on Fox, "Big Brother" on CBS, "The Middle" on ABC and "The Voice" on NBC. Happy hump day!

Tuesday Tales

Singer Chris Brown has made it clear that the new tattoo he's just gotten, which looks similar to ex-girlfriend Rihanna's is not Rihanna. I'm not certain how the rumor began, but Brown dispelled it in a hurry. R&B star Usher has won custody of his two children with ex-wife Tameka Foster. It's unclear whether Foster will appeal the decision by the judge. In the meantime, Usher still has another legal matter to tend to. He's been caught up in a lawsuit by two song writers who claim they wrote then played the composition Caught Up for record executives and it ended up on Usher's album. The single appeared on Usher's 2004 album, "Confessions". We'll see what happens. President Obama isn't making much of the recent supposed endorsement of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney by rapper Nicki Minaj. During a recent interview, the President didn't seem fazed by the line in Lil Wayne's single "Mercy", where Minaj states she's voting for Mitt Romney. He stated his daughters don't listen to Minaj and she's not on his or the First Lady's radar. Minaj, meanwhile, took to Twitter to thank the President for understanding her humor and sarcasm. Guess that means we won't be seeing Minaj on any upcoming Romney campaign stops anytime soon.  Don't expect to see rapper Jay Z at any Occupy Wall Street rallies anytime soon. During an interview with New York Times magazine, Hova stated he's not sure what the movement is about and wonders what the protesters want. Simon Cowell may no longer be a judge on "American Idol", but he still has the inside scoop on the show apparently. He recently wrote the Randy Jackson will return to the show, although it's been rumored he'll be moved to a mentor role. Two confirmed judges for the show are Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj. It's been rumored that several people are in the running for the third judge role, including Keith Urban and Kenny Chesney. We'll have to wait and see what happens. On DVD: "Titanic", "Snow White & The Huntsman", "What To Expect When You're Expecting" and "Harry Potter Wizard's Collection". Rapper DMX releases his new album today, and rapper Ludacris celebrates birthday # 35 with a new release as well. On the tube: "So You Think You Can Dance" on Fox, "NCIS" on CBS, "The Middle" on ABC and 'The Voice" on NBC. Happy Tuesday!

Monday Memo

The film "The Possession" topped the weekend box office, earning over $17 million. "Lawless", "The Expendables 2", "The Bourne Legacy" and "ParaNorman" round out the top five films of the week. Rapper Lil Wayne is suing producer Quincy Jones 3 for using his music in a documentary without permission. The rapper allowed the producer to follow him around with cameras while filming a documentary about the New Orleans native's life and career, but apparently is not pleased with the finished product. We'll see what happens with the case. The mother of singer Chris Brown is not at all pleased with the kiss between her son and singer Rihanna at the VMAs. As mentioned, the two reconciled during a moment that wasn't seen on television, but was caught on VH1's behind the scenes cameras. No comment from Brown or Rihanna. Singer R. Kelly is in trouble with the IRS again. After forking over millions for unpaid taxes in 2005, Kelly still owes Uncle Sam for unpaid taxes from 2011. Kelly may get the funds from an upcoming tour, provided he stays healthy enough to tour. We'll see. The husband of "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta" star Rasheeda apparently has a huge skeleton in his closet. Rumor has it that he father a child outside the marriage with the daughter of a former flame. While there's been no comment from either regarding the matter, let's hope that it's not true. Rapper Gucci Man is out $60,000. He was ordered by a judge to pay the woman he pushed out of his moving Hummer $60,000 for her injuries. The rapper was sent to prison last September on a batter charge after pushing the woman out of his car when she rejected his sexual advances. He was released in December. The independent music website Pitchfork has pulled a video it posted of Chicago rapper Chief Keef where the teen rapper is shown firing guns at a gun range.The video, first released in the spring, drew plenty of criticism for glorifying gun violence and reinforcing negative stereotypes. Pitchfork initially stood by the video but has now changed its mind in light of the recent murders in Chicago, including that of Keef's rap rival 18-year-old Lil JoJo. Keef himself drew plenty of backlash for laughing off the death of Lil JoJo on Twitter. We'll see what comes of this situation. On the tube: "Hell's Kitchen" on Fox, "How I Met Your Mother" on CBS, "Bachelor Pad" on ABC and "The Voice" on NBC. Happy Monday!

Friday Facts

The MTV Video Music Awards aired last night, and Chris Brown took home Best Male Video for "Turn Up The Music". Rapper Nicki Minaj took home a similar award for "Starships". Other winners include Rihanna, One Direction and Drake. Rapper Wiz Khalifa gave a shout out to his unborn child with fiance Amber Rose. Alicia Keys debuted her new single, while British boy band One Direction gave one of the most scream filled performances of the evening. All in all, it was another night music fans probably won't forget. In other VMA news, a reunion occurred between Chris Brown and Rihanna, although it wasn't broadcast on the air. A behind the scenes live feed available online showed the two pop stars and former lovers in a  engaged in a candid embrace that would have been unimaginable a few years ago. MTV's "VIP Seating Cam" showed the brief reconciliation as Rihanna returned to her seat after accepting the award for video of the year for her single "We Found Love". After spotting Brown, she approached him and he stood up to give her a hug and kiss on the cheek. It's the first time the two have gotten intimate since their violent breakup in 2009. Though she's stated she and Brown are not dating again, she told Oprah Winfrey during an interview that she still loves Brown and that he is the love of her life. She also admitted that the two were in St Tropez together and that she still get butterflies in her stomach whenever they see each other. Last February a restraining order against Brown was lifted after his domestic violence conviction was lifted, allowing the two to be in the same place during award shows like the VMAs. Rihanna says the two have been working on their friendship. In theaters this weekend: "The Cold Light Of Day" and "The Words". On the tube: "Stand Up To Cancer Live" on Fox, CBS, ABC and NBC. Make it a weekend!

Thursday Dish

Rapper Memphitz is proceeding with a lawsuit against the creator and producers of "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta". It was revealed on the show by K Michelle that he was abusive during their relationship. He's suing for defamation and seeking one dollar per viewer. The show has become quite popular, so it's going to be interesting to see how things play out. K Michelle, meanwhile, is standing by her statements and says she's ready to have her date in court. She's even hired an attorney to represent her. Rapper LL Cool J and others helped with laying Violator Management founder Chris Lighty to rest today. The industry is reeling over his sudden death and he will be missed. Forbes magazine has released it's list of highest paid hip hop celebrities. Sean "Diddy" Combs, comes in at #1, followed by Jay Z, Kanye West and Lil Wayne. Congratulations to all! Rapper Drake and singer Rihanna are set to go to the MTV Video Music Awards the top nominees. Other nominees include Kanye West, Jay Z and others. Alicia Keys and Wiz Khalifa are set to perform. The ceremony airs tonight. Simon Cowell is none too pleased with NBC's decision to air "The Voice" opposite "The X Factor". Another interesting thing about the switch is that Christina Aguilera and Brittany Spears will square off. Needless to say, the upcoming fall television season is going to be an exciting one. Chicago rap fans are reeling over the death of hip hop newcomer 18-year-old Lil JoJo, but not all of his gone-to-soon peers are in mourning. His rap rival, Chief Keef, took to Twitter to openly mock JoJo before succumbing to an uncontrollable fit of laughter. His tweet regarding the matter has received quite a bit of backlash, as Lil JoJo was killed in a drive by shooting while riding on the back of a friends bike. Keef's manager, Rovan Manuel, defended his client's statement via Twitter by saying that a lot of things he does, he does because he's a kid. People forget he's a kid. He's made mistakes the hard way. Previously, Chicago hip hop elder statesmen, Rhymefest and Lupe Fiasco have denounced Keef for willfully embodying  and perpetuating a culture of youth violence. We'll see what becomes of this matter. On the tube: "Raising Hope" on Fox, "The Bang Theory" on CBS, "Wipeout" on ABC and "America's Got Talent" on NBC. Happy Thursday!

Wednesday Roundup

After the "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta" reunion show it's been revealed that two cast members will be given the boot. Rasheeda, it's been said is boring and doesn't have enough drama going on in her life. K. Michelle, seems to have too much drama going on. We'll see what happens. Rapper Kanye West is finally speaking out about girlfriend Kim Kardashian's sex tape. Sort of. He let his feelings regarding the matter be know in a song that will appear on the G.O.O.D. Music compilation CD, "Cruel Summer". Needless to say, he's not the least bit fazed by it. It's official. Former NFL star and former New York Giant Michael Strahan will be Kelly Ripa's co-host on her morning talk show. Since the departure of Regis Philbin, the show has had several guest co-host, and Strahan has finally gotten the gig. Fans who are wondering what rapper Shyne has been doing since his release from prison can wonder no more. He's just released a new single featuring Pusha T., but says the road back to music hasn't been easy. During a recent interview, he stated that 10 years in prison made him sound like a zombie on the mic, referring to released music that didn't move fans. Although he's not back to his old self, he said he won't lose determination. At any rate, it's great to see him back  doing his thing. The hip hop industry is still reeling from the death of Violator Management founder Chris Lighty. The hip hop honcho was found dead of an apparent suicide outside his New York home. The mystery surrounding his death has been complicated, to say the least. It's become much more complicated due to commentary from his widow Veronica. She dispelled rumors that marital problems played a role in his death. Another rumor is that financial trouble played a role, and that Lighty owed the IRS $5 million. Mrs Lighty dispelled that rumor as well. The Associated Press reported that Lighty paid the debt down with the sell of a condo in Chelsea. Mrs Lighty added that though she and her husband had their ups and downs, they loved each deeply. She added that her husband had a lot of weight on his shoulders. There's no peace in the home of the late Nate Dogg. The singer's children are fighting to claim their inheritance. Nate never wrote a will, and now the children think their stepmother will cut them out of the picture. The hip hop singer's widow, Latoya Calvin, was put in charge of his estate after his death on March 15, 2011, and recently requested his mother, Ruth Holmes, be named an administrator as well. Nate's daughter, Aundrane Hale, argues that neither Calvin nor Holmes can be trusted with the responsibility. She stated that Grandma Ruth won't look out for her and her siblings. Nate Dogg had six children in all. On the tube: "So You Think You Can Dance" on Fox, ""Big Brother" on CBS, "The Middle" on ABC and NFL Kickoff 2012: NFL Football" on NBC. Happy hump day!

Tuesday Tales

The film "The Possession" topped the holiday weekend box office, earning over $17 million. "Lawless", "The Expendables 2", "The Bourne Legacy" and "ParaNorman" round out the top five films of the week. Sad news out of Hollywood. Actor Michael Clark Duncan, star of the film "The Green Mile", has died. He was 54. Duncan suffered a heart attack back in July, and was revived by girlfriend Omarosa. He continued to remain in the hospital, where he appeared to show signs of improvement. No details regarding the actual cause of death are available. Details regarding a public and private memorial service will be revealed at a later date. "Basketball Wives" star Evelyn Lozada gave an exclusive interview with "Nightline" where she recounted the infamous head-butting incident between she and so-to-be ex-husband Chad Johnson. She stated Johnson is a good guy who made a bad life changing decision. She added she wishes him the best. Rapper Nicki Minaj has caused quite a stir with her new single. It's caused a stir due to the fact that she mentions voting for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Some think it may give fans the wrong impression. So far, no comment from Minaj. Virgos are doing it big. Rapper Ludacris recently celebrated his birthday by having the Mayor of Atlanta declare it Ludacris day in the city. Congratulations! Today is also singer Beyonce Knowles birthday. Congratulations! During a recent interview with MTV News, rapper Jay Electronica dispelled rumors that he ever was a ghost writer for rapper Nas. He stated that his work on the album "Untitled" was a collaboration between the two and an honor. Guest that clears the rumors up. On the tube: "Hell's Kitchen" on Fox, "NCIS" on CBS, ", "The Middle" on ABC and "America's Got Talent" on NBC. Happy Tuesday!