The lawsuit involving David LaChapelle claiming Rihanna ripped off his work for her “S&M” video has survived its first test and is moving forward. A New York federal judge found the themes in her video non-copyright material while the “angles, poses, and lighting” in David’s photos are completely protected. The judge also heard evidence that the storyboards used for the R&B singer’s video actually contained some of David’s photos. With legal matters not looking to be in her favor, Rihanna has decided to get a new lawyer. She fired her legal team from New York’s Pryor Cashman and replaced them with Paul Kilmer from Holland & Knight. It doesn’t look like it’s going to go much further though as talks of a settlement is hot.
Ja Rule has recently turned himself over to the authorities to begin his two-year prison sentence in New York. The rapper’s executive producer Seven, who was in the courthouse when Ja Rule was waiting to be processed, said that Ja spent some private time with his wife, close friends and family members before he was taken behind closed doors. The last thing Ja said to everyone was “Real life is a fantasy, f**k fame … I’m ready for this to get over with. I am focused.” The rapper, whose real name is Jeffrey Atkins, was hit with a 2-year sentence in 2010 when he pled guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon, stemming from a 2007 incident in which cops found a loaded semi-automatic handgun in his car.
The Beatles star Paul McCartney was spotted enjoying a Lady Gaga concert in New York. The 68-year-old rocker took his girlfriend Nancy Shevell, 47, to the star’s recent gig in Madison Square Garden where he sat near the stage enjoying the show. A source told UK newspaper the Daily Star: "He is one of the most famous people on the planet but Macca didn’t ask for any special treatment. "While he could have had his pick of a private box he insisted he get to hang out with the rest of Gaga’s fans, the Little Monsters. He wanted a regular date night with his missus."
Nicki Minaj is featured on the cover of the upcoming issue of Billboard magazine which names the 25-year old rapper The First Lady of Hip Hop. In the accompanying interview, Nicki talks about her rapping style, saying When I started rapping, people were trying to make me like the typical New York rapper, but Im not that. No disrespect to New York rappers, but I dont want people to hear me and know exactly where Im from. I wanted the album to be universal and versatile. It really feels like it speaks for every one of my personalities. Its great that she wants to set herself apart from everyone else. I think thats why she has a lot of people supporting her.
Nicki Minaj has released a new song called “Fly” it features Rihanna
Nicki Minaj feat. Rihanna – Fly – New Song
Though Maroon 5?s third album isn?t set to be released until September, the band is already getting ready for a North American tour to celebrate the release. That record better be good! I heard that they locked themselves in a mountain in Switzerland for months working on their new music. The tour kicks off with a concert in Saratoga Springs, New York on July 30 and will wrap up on August 29 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. More tour dates are still being organized. Joining Maroon 5 on tour will be a rotating set of opening acts that include Owl City, Guster, Kris Allen, VV Brown and Ry Cuming.
Chris Brown is getting ready to celebrate his 21st birthday this May and is planning a huge party for it. However, the R&B singer has a problem on his hand as nobody wants to host it. Chris has been scouting for clubs all over the place, including New York, Miami and Las Vegas, but no one is giving him the ok to have his part at their venue. A source said ?(Some club promoters) don’t want to mess up their relationship, or their potential relationship, with Rihanna.? I can?t say I blame them. The Barbadian babe easily means more money for them as compared to Chris.
Now that Lil Wayne is finally serving his time in jail at New York?s Rikers Island prison on weapons charges, the rapper has been ordered to not sign autographs. He has been warned to avoid publicizing his celebrity and giving autographs to any of the other inmates. A representative of the Correction Officer?s Benevolent Association said ?Lil Wayne is not a celebrity in here.? It looks like the rapper is in for a rough time. Rikers has been known to not really treat their celebrity inmates any better than any other goon. And that?s good since he deserves it after all the lucky breaks he had.
Lil Wayne has finally been sentenced and has started his one-year prison term this Monday for attempted gun possession. It was originally delayed so that the rapper could undergo eight root canals and again delayed after a fire broke out in the Manhattan Criminal Court Building. Last I heard, Lil Wayne was still undergoing medical exams but a New York corrections offer explains how the rapper?s time will be in jail. ?He’ll be housed with inmates who are classified in his category, and he’ll be able to be a regular inmate. He’ll be able to watch television, go into the day room and congregate with people of his classification. He’ll have no preferable treatment at all. He’ll be treated like a regular inmate.?
Some time ago, the stars of ?Glee? went on Twitter to relay news that they would be going out on tour. It?s been a while since any more details came out regarding it but I finally have them for you. The actors and singers of the hit show will be making stops in four cities for a series of shows to perform some of their biggest hits like ?Don?t Stop Believin? and ?Somebody to Love?. The cast will stop in Phoenix, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. The list of dates is as follows: Phoenix on May 18, Los Angeles on May 20 and 21, Chicago on May 25 and 26 and New York on May 28 and 29.
Singer Alicia Keys and her producer boyfriend Swizz Beatz have been looking for a home to share for a couple of months now but it seems that they may have finally found the perfect place. A source said that the couple has reportedly had their eye on a multi-million dollar 3-bedroom penthouse across from Gracie Mansion in New York which they?ve toured four times already. The duplex has ?a fireplace, double-height ceilings, three bedrooms, floor-to-ceiling windows and East River views?. Sounds pretty swanky! I wonder when the couple plans to move in. It?s always a big move for every relationship to move in together.
We?ve gotten plenty of reasons to fall in love with Taylor Swift and it seems that us normal folk aren?t the only ones that are enchanted by the young country singer. After playing a sold-out concert at New York City?s Madison Square Garden last Thursday, Taylor wrote on her Twitter that ?Rihanna sent me roses. How amazing is she?! Most. Amazing. Night. That?s what I?ll look back on when I?m old.? Who knew that the Barbadian beauty was a fan of Taylor? Rihanna was so sweet in sending those flowers to Taylor. If that happened to me, I?d be dead before I forget getting roses from Rihanna.
According to Comscore, Creed isn?t having the comeback that they were hoping for. First off, a comeback implies that people are rejoicing that you have returned. But when no one shows up, you might as well have just stayed home. At the past three shows that the returning band played in the New York and New Jersey areas, the venues did not even reach half the capacity. At the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, a venue with room for 25,277 people, only 6,841 people were in attendance. Now that is what you call one epic burn. Pack it up boys, you?re officially done.
