50 CENT - YAYO BEGS HIS MUM TO MOVE

50 CENT - YAYO BEGS HIS MUM TO MOVE

50 CENT's G-UNIT sidekick TONY YAYO is begging his mother to move out of "the hood" after thugs riddled her home with bullets.The rapper insists the home was just a random target and his mother doesn't have a price on her head - but he's desperate to find her a safer place to live.The only problem is his proud Haitian mum wants to stay where she is in Queens, New York.Yayo says, "She don't want to move. I begged her plenty of times... (but) my mom's values are different. She feels like she prays and she's got God on her side."I'm trying to explain to her, `Mom, I'd rather somebody come and shoot at me than shoot at the house for no reason.'"Ironically, Yayo's mother lives just a block away from where 50 Cent was shot nine times in a pre-career attack on his life.50 says, "She's still staying in the same area. She should have listened and moved."

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Publisher Throws the Book at Foxy Brown, Lil Kim

Publisher Throws the Book at Foxy Brown, Lil Kim

Being incarcerated may be a pretty good excuse, but Simon & Schuster apparently doesn't care what led to Lil Kim and Foxy Brown's writers block.
The New York-based publisher sued the rappers Thursday, intending to get its money back after paying out generous advances for books that the ladies never completed.
According to the dual lawsuits filed in New York State Supreme Court, Simon & Schuster gave Kim, whose real name is Kimberly Jones, $40,000 in 2003 for a novel that was supposed to be finished the following year. Brown was then paid $75,000 in 2005 to pen her autobiography, which was tentatively titled Broken Silence.
"Both accepted the money, and both books never were delivered," S&S spokesman Adam Rothberg told Bloomberg.com.
Since then, however, both hip-hop stars have spent time behind bars for various offenses—Brown for violating her probation multiple times after finally being sentenced for a 2004 fight in a Manhattan nail shop, and Kim for perjury and conspiracy after lying to a grand jury about her friend's involvement in a 2001 shooting.
Brown, whose real name is Inga Marchand, was released in April after serving eight months of a yearlong sentence. Kim's been a free bird since July 2006, when she flew the coop after spending 10 months behind bars.
But even with all that life experience under their belts, neither MC has done enough prosaic musing to satisfy Simon & Schuster, which also published 50 Cent's autobiography and books penned by members of his G-Unit crew.

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50 Cent says Taco Bell stole his endorsement

50 Cent says Taco Bell stole his endorsement

Rapper and hip-hop mogul 50 Cent sued Taco Bell on Wednesday, saying the restaurant chain made him the star of its hip-hop themed ad campaign without his permission and without paying him a fee.
50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, accused the Mexican-style fast food chain of "diluting the value of his good name" and employing a guerrilla advertising campaign to fool consumers into thinking he had endorsed the chain, said the lawsuit, filed in Manhattan federal court.
"Without seeking or obtaining Jackson's authorization, defendant Taco Bell made him the star and focus of its nationwide advertising campaign by using his name, persona and trademark to promote Taco Bell's business and products," court papers said.
The lawsuit accuses the chain of disseminating a letter, addressed to 50 Cent, that encourages the rapper to change his name to "79 Cent," "89 Cent" or "99 Cent."
The letter was designed to promote the company's "79-89-99 Cent Why Pay More" campaign, while avoiding the multimillion-dollar fee the rapper might have charged to use his name, the lawsuit said.
Rob Poetsch, a spokesman for Taco Bell Corp, said, "We made a good faith, charitable offer to 50 Cent to change his name to either 79, 89, or 99 Cent for one day by rapping his order at a Taco Bell, and we would have been very pleased to make the $10,000 donation to the charity of his choice." Taco Bell is operated by Yum! Brands.
The lawsuit said the Taco Bell letter was eventually sent to the rapper, but only after it had been circulated to reporters.
"As Taco Bell intended, many customers believed that 50 Cent had agreed to endorse Taco Bell's products. Indeed, postings on numerous Internet 'blogs' castigated 50 Cent for 'selling out' by his apparent endorsement of Taco Bell," the lawsuit said.
Since his debut album in 2003, 50 Cent has built a business with a record label, a clothing and footwear line, ringtones and video games. He has also starred in a movie based on his life, "Get Rich or Die Tryin'."

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50 Cent to perform at Australian MTV awards

50 Cent to perform at Australian MTV awards

US RAPPER 50 Cent has been confirmed as a performer and special guest presenter at this year's Australian MTV Awards.
MTV Networks Australia today announced they had secured the Grammy winner for the awards event on April 26.
50 Cent will join already-announced presenters/performers including actress and musician Juliette Lewis and fellow rapper Eve.
The head of MTV's Australia and New Zealand operations Dave Sibley said it was a huge coup.
"50 Cent is an incredibly popular artist with MTV viewers," Mr Sibley said.
"We're committed to delivering high calibre artists to fans in Australia and will continue to work very hard to make 50 Cent's trip a roaring success."
The 2008 awards ceremony will feature eight performances and 10 awards and will be held at a new "gritty" location at the Australian Technology Park in Sydney.
50 Cent's appearance will coincide with his Australian tour with his G-Unit crew.
Concerts will be held in Sydney on April 23, Auckland on April 25 and Melbourne on April 27.
50 Cent's last visited Australia in 2006.

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50 Cent Will NOT Be Working With Michael Jackson

50 Cent Will NOT Be Working With Michael Jackson

50 Cent has dismissed claims that he will be working on Michael Jackson's comeback record, after rumours have been flying around online.
It has been rumoured that the likes of Will.i.am, Akon, Teddy Riley and numerous top-name hip-hop and r&b stars will feature on the album, but 50 has rubbished reports of his involvement.
In a new interview, the rapper says: "It's not true. Anyway, what can you possible teach Michael Jackson about music? Nothing."

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50 Cent, Jay-Z Top List of Biggest Celebrity Paydays

50 Cent, Jay-Z Top List of Biggest Celebrity Paydays

50 Cent may have come in second place in the Kanye West vs. 50 Cent war, which resulted in the Queens-bred rapper threatening retirement when upstaged and outsold by West, but how could 50 forget the huge victory and paycheck he took home in June? The big payday put 50 in the No.

2 spot on Forbes list of the Biggest Celebrity Paydays of 2007. And while the rap star may have come in second place, yet again, we're sure he doesn't mind his placement this time around. In 2004, the admitted drug dealer-turned-rap star teamed up with the Glaceau beverage company and lent his name to a Vitamin Water flavor appropriately dubbed Formula 50. On June 7, Coca-Cola brought Glaceau and cut the emcee a check for $100 million.

Hip-hop mogul Jay-Z landed at No.4 on Forbes' list when he sold his Rocawear clothing line to Iconix Brand Group for $204 million of which $84 million went straight into the rapper's pocket.

Other musical talents recognized for raking in the dough in 2007 are former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar, who took home $80 million in May when Italian alcohol company Gruppo Campari bought 80 percent of the rocker's Cabo Wabo tequila brand. Pop icon Madonna made the list after she walked away from Warner Music and signed a $120 million deal with concert promoter Live Nation.

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