Tuesday Tales

Singer Chris Brown cleared up rumors that he was banned from the recent Michael Jackson tribute concert due to his 2009 assault charge involving former girlfriend Rihanna by saying he didn't attend the event because he's still in the middle of dates on his F.A.M.E. tour. In the meantime, another tribute concert for the singer is scheduled for next year. The Jackson brothers will reportedly headline the event. A documentary style video of rapper Lil Wayne has been released in which the rapper admits to having a syrup problem in the past, and that he began using it after hearing his idol, the late Pimp C, rapping about it. A Belgium choreography is claiming that singer Beyonce copied her moves for her new video, "Countdown". Although there's been no comment from the singer, she did reveal in an interview that her baby is due in November. Producers for the upcoming biopic on the late Mahalia Jackson are reportedly upset with singer Fantasia. They claim she told them she gained weight for her role, when in actuality, the singer is expecting her second child. Production on the film has been pushed back until her due date, which is in December. Former LAPD detective Greg Kading's new book, "Murder Rap", is making waves, claiming that Sean "Diddy "Combs was behind the murder of Tupac Shakur, and that Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight ordered the shooting of Notorious B.I.G. in response. Biggie's close friend, collaborator and former Junior Mafia member Lil Cease isn't buying it. He says every year or every few months there's something different. He went on to add that he hopes justice is served so that Voletta Wallace and Afeni Shakur can have closure. Let's hope that happens soon. After postponing two previous release dates, rapper Yelawolf announced a third and final release date for his debut album "Radioactive". The album will feature collaborations with Lil Jon, Eminem, Gangsta Boo, Royce Da 5'9", Fefe Dobson and Kid Rock, with production by Travis Barker, Jim Jonsin, Hydrox and Diplo. The rapper says he needed to add a few finishing touches to the album before releasing it. The album is now due to hit stores on November 21. No doubt fans are eagerly awaiting the release of the album, as Yelawolf is one of hip hop's brightest new stars. Week 4 of "Dancing With The Stars" was movie night, and Chaz Bono brought mom Cher to tears with his performance. Be sure to tune in tonight to see who goes home. It's been an exciting star to the season, and it's anyone's guest who will walk away with the mirror ball trophy. On DVD: "Green Lantern". On the tube: "MLB Baseball" on Fox, "NCIS" on CBS, "Last Man Standing" on ABC and "The Biggest Loser" on NBC. Happy Tuesday!

Monday Memo

Robots took the title of box office champ over the weekend. Hugh Jackman's "Real Steel" topped the weekend box office, earning over $27 million dollars. "The Ides of March", "Dolphin Tale", "Moneyball" and "50/50" round out the top five films of the week. Michael Jackson's children Prince, Paris and Blanket were on hand at the Michael Jackson tribute concert held over the weekend. Paris addressed the crowd saying they were happy to be there. Jamie Fox hosted the event and performed, along with Christina Aguilera, Ne-Yo and Cee-Lo Green. The late singer's sister Latoya performed, and brothers Jackie, Marlon and Tito performed as well. As most fans know, the Black Eyed Peas backed out of attending the event, as did Jennifer Hudson. The singer took to her Twitter account to let fans know that she backed out of attending the event because of creative differences. She says she was given music to sing at the last minute, and didn't have enough time to prepare. Rumor has it though, that she was given music at the same time as everyone else, signed a contract and was paid in full for attending. We'll see what happens with that. With the rumor that he's leaving Young Money Entertainment still looming, rapper Drake has announced that his sophomore album, "Take Care", has been pushed back from October 24 to November 15. He says it's due to trouble with getting sample clearances. He's also postponed his upcoming tour until next year. The company that manufactures a anti-hangover drink called No Ho is interested in purchasing the Tupac Shakur sex tape, but not for the reason you think. The company would like to buy the rights to the song playing in the background. It appears they would like to use the tune in an ad. It would be an interesting business move to make, if it could happen. Rapper Game has announced that his R.E.D. tour will begin in San Diego on October 26. The rapper returned to the top of the charts with a vengeance with his latest release, and fans across the country will not doubt be treated to an exciting show. Another round of competition will take place on "Dancing With Stars" and "The X Factor" as well. Chaz Bono says he's excited about having mom Cher in the audience watching him perform on tonight's show. Despite receiving the lowest score last week, Bono and partner Lacy Schwimmer were buoyed by fan votes and advanced to week four of the competition. Be sure to tune in tonight to see how well the duo does. It should be exciting. Meanwhile, "X Factor" continues with round of competition as contestants continue to bring the heat. Tune in. On the tube: "Terra Nova" on Fox, "How I Met Your Mother" on CBS, "Dancing With The Stars" on ABC and "The Sing-Off" on NBC. Happy Monday!

Friday Facts

The trial of Dr. Conrad Murray continued with the prosecution showing more evidence to prove that Michael Jackson's fingerprints were not on a bottle of prophabal and that injections into the singer's legs were not done by  him. The coroner did admit, however, that she neglected to mention a pair of gloves found in a chair, and that the singer's home was left open for several days after his death. She went on to say that's what she does. We'll have to wait and see what occurs next. Singer Rihanna has been doing quite a bit of parting lately, and it's hard to say what the singer will do next. One incident has her reportedly touching her private area during one event. Definitely not something one can take children to see. With rumors swirling about whether or not singer Chris Brown's girlfriend is pregnant, pictures have now surfaced and she appears to have a baby bump. We'll have to wait and see if a formal announcement is made. Rapper Nicki Minaj graces the cover of the November issue of Cosmopolitan magazine. In the article, the rapper comes clean about several issues. It makes one wonder if she also discussed the recent breakup with her boyfriend. Actress Meagan Good graces the cover of the latest issue of Sister 2 Sister magazine. She discusses her career, her breakup with NFL star Thomas Gibson, her faith and relationships. Pop icon Madonna is in talks with the NFL to headline next year's superbowl to be held in Indianapolis. Neither the singer's representatives nor representatives for the NFL have released a statement confirming or denying the possibility. Rumor has that the singer was approached in 1998 to perform at that year's superbowl, but the two sides couldn't come to an agreement. If a deal is inked this time, Madonna could join Janet Jackson, the Black Eyed Peas and Beyonce as performers on the big stage. For those who have wondered if the rumored Tupac Shakur sex tape was true, well proof is in pictures apparently. Celebrity news site TMZ reportedly has photographic evidence of the encounter. As TMZ reportedly previously, the pictures show the rapper receiving oral sex from a woman while holding a drink in one hand and a blunt in the other. TMZ was able to view the video and they deduced that an unreleased Tupac song plays in the background. During the five-minute sex session, the rapper even chops it up with associate Money B of Digital Underground. The tape, which was shot in 1991, has sparked a bidding war between two porn companies who are offering six-figure payouts. In the meantime, the rapper's family has threatened to sue anyone who tries to sell the tape. The rapper's mother, Afeni Shakur, has called a team of lawyers into action warning them that "we will not allow anyone to put it out". A representative for the Shakur family revealed in an interview that an investigation is underway to identify the person in possession of the tape. The family suspects it could be one of the many male companions in the video or the female who serviced the rapper.  Rock Nation rapper J. Cole is on the sidelines no more. The MC's debut album, "Cole World: The Sideline Story", entered Billboard's charts at number one, selling over 218,000 units. He edged out pop-punk favorites Blink 182, who came in a number two with their latest album "Neighborhoods". "Cole World", the first release on Jay Z's Rock Nation Records, is the biggest selling debut since Nicki Minaj's "Pink Friday" sold 315,000 copies in December 2010. The rapper has certainly made a big splash. Eddie Murphy could make a guest appearance on "Saturday Night Live" this week. It would be his first appearance in over 20 years. Ben Stiller will host, and the two will star in "Towering Heights", which hits theaters next month. In theaters this weekend: :"Real Steel" and "The Ides of March". On the tube: "Kitchen Nightmares" on Fox, "A gifted Man" on CBS, "Modern Family" on ABC and "Up All Night" on NBC. Make it a weekend!

Thursday Dish

A Taped conversation between singer Michael Jackson and his personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray was played in court, and reportedly moved his brother Jermaine to tears. On the tape, the singer, who speaks incoherently, talks about not having a childhood. An investigator says he found empty prescription bottles and a bag filled with probaphal viles in the singer's room. This is the same evidence the Dr. asked a security guard to bag up before calling 911. While TMZ claims someone has a sex tape featuring the late Tupac Shakur, what's strange is, the tape shows the rap icon receiving oral sex while an entourage stands and watches quietly. The rapper's mother, Afeni Shakur, is aware of the tape and has threatened to sue anyone who attempts to sell it. As mentioned, several porn companies are in a bidding war for the tape. It remains to be seen which company will win the war. Singer Alicia Keys will reportedly score and produce a new play. There's been no word on when the play will hit theaters. Rapper Snoop Dogg's new family show has been picked up by NBC, while the Jamie Fox produced show has been cancelled. A woman claims rapper Busta Rhymes gave her the herpes virus, and put the MC on blast. Now, she's posted graphic pictures on the internet. So far, there's been no comment from the rapper regarding the allegation. The Soul Train Awards are back. The third annual awards show will air on both BET and Centric in an exclusive simulcast on Sunday, November 27 at 9 p.m. E.S.T. Actor/comedian Cedric The Entertainer will host the show, which will honor the music, careers and legacies of Gladys Knight and legendary R&B group Earth Wind & Fire. Taping of the show will take place at the Fox Theater in Atlanta on November 17, and will featuring the greatest artists of the past, present and future. The show will be a great way to celebrate the Soul Train brand. The Black Eyed Peas have backed out of a scheduled appearance at the Michael Jackson tribute show in Wales this weekend. The group backed out due to unavoidable circumstances was the reason given, although a statement made by rapper Kanye West may make some wonder if the group has split up for good. West reportedly stated, "rest in peace, Black Eyed Peas" during a concert. Group member Will. I.Am. took to his twitter account to dispel the breakup rumors, but only time will tell if the breakup rumor is true. Will fall quickly approaching, it will be interesting to see what movie studios have in store for fans for the season. Here's hoping it'll be something worth waiting for. On the tube: "The X Factor" on Fox, "The Big Bang Theory" on CBS, "Charlie's Angels" on ABC and "Community" on NBC. Happy Thursday!

Wednesday Roundup

Another day of testimony took place in the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray, and it appears that the Dr may spend 4 years in prison, although that doesn't seem to be nearly enough. The prosecution poked wholes in the defense's claim that Michael Jackson injected himself with a anetestic that's administered in hospitals. Fingerprints found were proven to be the doctor's, not Jackson's. Evidence also shows that the Dr was distracted at the time Jackson went into cardiac arrest. Cell phone records have been obtained as well, and show among the calls taken by the doctor are one in which he attempted to ink a deal to work as Jackson's personal physician and another to one of his girlfriends. Again, we'll have to wait and see how the trial turns out. Sean "Diddy" Combs has apologized for his recent rant during a welcome home party for T.I. As fans know, the hip hop mogul shouted at a gentlemen at the party because he was not drinking Diddy's endorsed brand of vodka. Let's hope Mr. Combs has learned a lesson regarding humility. If you believe Big Sean is embarrassed by the recent photos of him circulating the internet that show him like he's never been seen before, you'd be wrong. When questioned about the photos at a recent event, the rapper stated that it wasn't him. It's been three weeks since his release from a halfway house and rapper T.I. has continued working. The rapper will be seen performing with Young Jeezy at the BET Hip Hop Awards, which will air on October 11. He's also released two singles, "I"m Flexin", featuring Big K.I.R.T., and "F.A.M.E. with Young Jeezy. The rapper stated in an interview that it's a blessing to have a platform and be received with open arms. Needless to say, the rapper had quite a home coming at the awards show. Rap trio Travis Porter will team up with former Destiny's Child member Kelly Rowland for their upcoming single, "Slow Motion". The group is excited about working with Rowland, as they feel she knows how to sell a song. As for the release of their debut album, the group says the album is coming, they want to give their fans what they want. In the meantime, fans can pick up a copy of their mixtape "Differenter 3" to hold them over until the release of the group's album. Singer/actor Tyrese Gibson has made it clear he will not back down after expressing concern about a liquor store next door to a Delaware elementary school got him kicked out of the city's KISS 101.7. The singer stopped by a local elementary school to surprise a group of students for their outstanding academic achievement. The school visit was part of Communities in Schools, an organization whose mission is to decrease the dropout rate in urban areas. The singer is a member of the organization. The singer wanted to grab a carbonated drink from a store across the street from the school. He arrived there only to discover that the store only sold hard liquor. When he arrived at radio station KISS 101.7, he spoke out about what he found. He was later escorted out of the building. The station has banned the singer's music, and demanded an on-air apology.  Gibson has refused, despite the ban. It's great to see someone stand up for what's right. Week three of "Dancing With The Stars" ended with a surprise fans may not have expected. Chaz Bono may be voted off the show. On the tube: "The X Factor" on Fox, "Survivor: South Pacific" on CBS, "The Middle" on ABC and "Up All Night" on NBC. Happy hump day!

Tuesday Tales

Fifteen years after the death of rapper/actor Tupac Shakur, a LAPD homicide detective has written a book, which hits stores today, about the crime. In the book the detective states that the LAPD is sitting on documents and taped confessions from major players in the murder. One tape allegedly has a gentleman confessing that he was paid $1 million dollars by Sean "Diddy" Combs to kill Shakur and Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight. Meanwhile, a sex tape featuring Shakur and a groupie has surfaced, and according to TMZ, several porn companies are interested in buying the rights. There's been no announcement, so stay tuned. Rumor has it that actress/singer Jennifer Hudson and her fiance have postponed their upcoming wedding due to the gentleman not wanting to sign a pre-nup. The two have reportedly dated for some time, and have a son together. Rapper Kanye West unveiled his women's clothing line recently to not necessarily rave reviews from critics. During a recent show, the rapper took to the microphone to let those in attendance know that he didn't deal with celebrities when putting the line or the fashion show together. Rapper T.I. hasn't let any grass grow under his feet since being released from a halfway house. He recently joined country teen queen Taylor Swift on stage. No work on whether the two will work together in the future. If you're thinking that Jay Z is loosing sleep over the reported jabs taken at him by Lil Wayne on "Tha Carter 4" track "I'm Good", you'd be wrong. While at a lavish carnival themed fundraiser to help provide scholarships to underprivileged youth, Hova stated that the jabs the two have taken at one another are rap music, a sport, and that will never change. The only thing that will change is the participants. Last night's "Dancing With The Stars" competition included a touching tribute to fallen soldiers by contestant J.R. Martinez. Tune in tonight to see who goes home. On DVD: "Fast Five". On the tube: "Glee" on Fox, "NCIS" on CBS, "Dancing With The Stars" on ABC and "The Biggest Loser" on NBC. Happy Tuesday!

Monday Memo

The film "Dolphin Tale" topped the weekend box office, earning over $14 million dollars. "Moneyball", "The Lion King", "50/50" and "Courageous" round out the top five films of the week. Hip hop's biggest and brightest stars turned out for the tapping of the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards at the Atlanta Civic Center. Some are still talking about the after parties, however. Sean "Diddy" Combs threw a party, where he reportedly called out a gentleman for not drinking his brand of vodka. He later went on the slap the drink out the the man's hand. Rapper T.I. was also at the event, and depending on which rumor you believe, got on the microphone to either ask the gentlemen to stop the beef, or slapped Combs backstage at the event. So far, there's been no response from either rapper's camp regarding the matter. Rapper B.o.B. stated during an interview with Atlanta radio station V-103 that the title of his next album will be "Strange Clouds". He's gotten some inspiration from legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday, who had a hit called "Strange Fruit" in the 1940's. At any rate, he also revealed that after much debate, he and the powers that be at this record label, Atlantic, decided on "Strange Clouds" as the first single and album title. The MC is preparing the album to hit store shelves next spring. His debut album, "B.o.B. Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray", was released in April 2010. For fans who are unaware, a bizarre incident took place between singer/actor Tyrese Gibson and a DJ at Deleware radio station KISS 101.7. The singer arrived to be interviewed, and after discovering that liquor stores in the area have been allowed to open near elementary schools, let his feelings on the matter be known. He was then escorted out of the building. He took to his Twitter account to discuss the incident, and stood his ground regarding the matter. Meanwhile, Tony Quartarone, in an interview with TMZ, claimed that the singer was escorted out of the building not because of his position on the liquor stores, but because the station felt his use of the word "homies" was disrespectful. Stay tuned. Just when you thought it was over, the Game/50 Cent feud continues. It appeared that the beef between the two former partners began this week when 50 released a track titled "Love, Hate, Love" where he takes a few slights at his former protege. Never one to back away from beef, Game promised to retaliate. 50 took shots at Lil Wayne in a song as well. The G-Unit general has an album due for release in November. The competition continues on "Dancing With The Stars". Tonight's episode should be an exciting one for fans, less any wardrobe malfunctions. On the tube: "Terra Nova" on Fox, "How I Met Your Mother" on CBS, "Dancing With The Stars" on ABC and 'The Sing-Off" on NBC. Happy Monday!