'It Is OK To Be Gay': Fans Voice Overwhelming Support For Lance Bass

'NSYNC singer's announcement surprises many fans, alienates few.

Lance Bass is definitely not alone.

The day after the 'NSYNC singer publicly revealed that he's gay, fans have voiced overwhelming support for him. "I'm not ashamed," he told People magazine in the issue that hits newsstands Friday.And as far as fans are concerned — at least, the ones who've written to You Tell Us — they're cool with it. Bass' announcement has shocked many, eliciting cheers — and a few tears — from supporters."As an 'NSYNC fan for eight years — literally half my life — I was shocked when I heard the news, and I did cry," said Taylor, 16, of Richmond, Virginia. "But even while I was crying, I knew I loved Lance all the same, just in a different way now. I support him completely, and as much as I admired him before, I respect him immeasurably now.""It is a little jarring to see someone I had a major crush on when I was in junior high come out of the closet," agreed Rebecca, 20, of New York, "but going by the articles and the things he's said, he's really happy now, and that's all that matters. I'm really happy that Lance is able to finally be himself without having to hide anything."For some fans, the time may have come for them to stop hiding as well."I just want to let him know that what he has done has encouraged me not to hide anymore either," said Paul, 19, of Las Cruces, New Mexico."I think that it was really a good thing to come out like Lance Bass did," wrote another reader, Hansel, 23, of Ozone Park, New York. "He is brave. ... I'm myself bisexual and I'm proud of it, but my parents don't know."One gay teen who has already come out was impressed by someone of Bass' stature making such a declaration."I can't imagine how hard it must have been for Lance Bass, an international star, to come out," said Jarrid, 17, of Jonesboro, Georgia. "As a gay teen, I know that each of our own cases seems to be the worst and hardest there is, but the fact that he did it on such a large level, I truly admire him for doing this. Hats off to you, brother!"A large number of readers said they believe Bass' announcement will not only spur others to admit to being gay, but it will make homosexuality more accepted in American culture. For one reader, though — Erin, 22, of Fort Wayne, Indiana — the news is having a much more personal impact."Lance Bass' story makes me so very happy," she wrote. "I am the daughter of a homosexual male. It kills me that my father had to hide who he truly was for 15 years. It makes me happy to see that Lance is happy and comfortable enough to tell the world who he is. In today's world, gay is becoming a norm. While many in the world may not agree, if we could all take the approach of Lance's grandmother, who loves him and accepts him no matter what, maybe we can become a more accepting world too."A few readers, however, expressed discomfort over Bass' announcement. Some, such as Kyle from Texas, cited their religious views. "I cannot believe America is letting this immoral thing come in," he wrote. "Lance [said] God is OK with [his sexuality]. Except if they read their Bibles they would see that in Exodus it says that it is an abomination for man to lay with mankind." A larger number said Bass could have come out sooner. "It's no big deal anymore that Lance is gay. If that's what makes him happy, then so be it. Why keep it such a secret?" said Nelson, 21, of New York.Another New Yorker, Armando, 23, voiced a different type of criticism: "I'm happy for Lance that he came out, but for him to make a stereotype by labeling others like him 'SAGs' (straight-acting gays) is really uncalled for. Gay is gay, so why all the labeling of what type of a gay man one is? Keep the labeling to food and clothes and not a person's sexuality."By and large, however, Bass has a wealth of fans who approve of the singer's decision. "I love this story," wrote Mona, 15, of Austin, Texas. "I think it's fantastic because it shows that Lance is happy with himself and that he is comfortable with who he is. It shows that it is OK to be gay and that there is nothing wrong with it."

Nelly Says His Family 'Flipped Out' Over New Duet With Janet

MC, singer recently shot 'Call on Me' video in St. Louis.

ST. LOUIS — As you might guess, enjoying the distinction of working with both Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson in less than a year has been "a dream come true" for Nelly. "Amazing," Nelly said of the collaborations while sitting in Mack's, the new sports bar he owns with the St. Lunatics, on Thursday. He recently filmed the video for his "Call on Me" duet with Jackson, and he worked with M.C. on her The Emancipation of Mimi album."I'm big fans of both of them. Mariah Carey, she's possibly the best singer I've heard," he said. "And you watch someone such as Mariah, who went from the highest of the high to the lowest of the low, and come back like she never missed a beat, and stand up and smack everybody in the face like, 'I'm still here; matter of fact I'm better' — that gives you inspiration. That keeps me going. "Then Janet Jackson — come on, man, that's Penny! That's Charlene," he continued, referring to Jackson's sitcom roles on "Good Times" and "Diff'rent Strokes." "Where do you go from there? It's a beautiful thing."Nelly said his family was especially excited when it heard about the Jackson song, which will appear on her forthcoming LP, 20 Years Old. "My family flipped out," he smiled, showing off a diamond grill covering the bottom row of his teeth. "They're definitely fans of the Jacksons. I grew up singing Jackson Five songs. My uncle put a little band together with all the kids, and I used to have to be Mike. This was a long time ago."The King of St. Louis said he made it a point to do true collaborations with Mariah and Janet, rather than make the track the way artists typically do — where the singer records 90 percent of the record and sends the Pro Tools file to another studio for the MC to lay his verse and ad libs."I wanted to do something different," he explained. "I just don't want to be, 'You do the song and I put the 16 [bars] on the end, or eight bars on the front.' With Mariah, I went in, me and Mariah sat down and wrote the song out. With Janet, we went in, wrote the song out. It's not like they had the song done and said, 'Nelly, put your thing on it.' I'm happy it went that way because I feel more of a part of it. You can't take me off and still have a song."Although Nelly loved recording with Janet, he deemed the Mariah sessions the most fun he's ever had in two days in a studio. "When me and Mariah did the joint, we had the studio locked down," he recalled. "I was working on Sweatsuit, Snoop was working on his album and Mariah was working on her album. We had all the studio's doors open because we're all family."Snoop's room was little more smoky than everybody else's," he joked. "Matter of fact, I was in with Christina Aguilera in my studio and was going back and forth with Mariah. We had the basketball goal in there, we was hooping — me, Ali and one of our partners [against] Snoop, Nate Dogg and somebody else. Everybody was chilling. We in the studio, hooping like we outdoors."So is Nelly going to call on Janet or Mariah, or maybe both superstars to return the favor and sing on his next LP? Maybe — he isn't sure about any collaborations just yet. His next record won't drop until next year, he said. He wants to concentrate on releasing albums by the artists on his Derrty Entertainment imprint.Big Gipp and Ali have their duo LP, Kinfolk, coming in the next couple of months and Murphy Lee might drop his second album, The Package, before this year's out as well. If not, the youngest 'Tic will come next year, followed by Nelly and new singer Avery Storm.

Hell Hath No Fury Like Long-Awaited Clipse LP Slated For Halloween

NEW YORK — Yes, it really does exist.There've been rumors about the Clipse's long-awaited Hell Hath No Fury for years and they finally unveiled the album Wednesday.The Neptunes went hard with the beats and brothers Pusha T and Malice brought even slicker rhymes, making the project twice as nice as their debut, Lord Willin'.Originally, the Virginia duo were going to fill the album with songs they'd been sitting on for years. But as more and more time passed, the brothers' attitude took a decidedly darker turn, and they wanted that to be reflected in their music.So they scrapped most of the original record and hit the studio. The MCs feel the music is so harsh, it's only appropriate that they release it on October 31."It's just fitting. Halloween — let the demons loose," Malice said at Battery Studio. "It's a fresh album. There's no way we could use the same album; we're in a totally different place. You can hear what we've been through. It's good to let people in on it. It's been sitting up, and it's good to let the cat out of the bag. The feedback has been good. It's a classic. ... It's going to be reminiscent of classic East Coast hip-hop.""Sitting here with everybody else, I'm seeing it as everybody else is seeing it, all the writers and everybody's eyes," Pusha said about the journalists previewing the LP. "Then just comparing it to everything else, it's like we getting a musical album with different sounds, and it's a good body of work."They feel records like the violent "Chinese New Year" will never get play on the radio. There's also a record called "Mama I'm Sorry," where they proclaim to not be afraid of "Crockett and Tubbs" — "It's just a play on words," Pusha laughed. "A play on 'Miami Vice' and police."The Clipse say that around the same time Hell Hath comes out, they want to drop a movie to coincide with it."We're doing 'Hell Hath No Fury' the movie, and the soundtrack is all [our crew's] Re-Up Gang music," Pusha noted. "We're trying to get the soundtrack together. We already have great music. It's just a family soundtrack. You're not going to hear any other artist outside the family."I'm not sure when we're gonna start shooting, but we're about to write it up," he continued. "It's basically like [Jay-Z's film] 'Streets Is Watching.' It's gonna be a defining moment. It's the album, seven videos off of it, narrated, and the story line is what we've been doing the past four years on hiatus. The videos fit around the story."Pharrell, Slim Thug, the Re-Up Gang and Roscoe P. Coldchain appear on the album.

A Newcomer 10 Years In The Making: Rick Ross Gets Help From Jay-Z, Akon On First LP

Now that the world is starting to know him through his guest appearances and street smashes, all he has to do is say the name "Rossss" and hip-hop heads know who it is: Rick Ross.The husky Miami native's 10-year wait is almost over: In less than two weeks, the man Jay-Z and Def Jam have invested millions in will release Port of Miami."I predicted a classic, man," Ross said of the LP, before watching his new video, "Push It," Tuesday in Los Angeles. "I put out countless mixtapes. My mixtapes down South been doing so good for so long, it just gave me more experience at putting the album together. I knew, 'This is going to be Port of Miami,' my first official time [releasing an album]. I got all the resources to make it a success. I just took my time. ... I got the best beats money could buy — not the most expensive, but the best — [from producers] the Runners, Cool & Dre, DJ Khaled, Jazze Pha, DJ Toomp came in, Just Blaze."Ross also worked with Akon, who produced and sings on "Cross That Line.""That's just a record that represents where we come from and the principles of where we come from," Ross explained. "That's the kind of record I wanted to do with a brother like Akon: real black, real strong. When I came in, he had that ready for me. When I [saw him] in a club in Miami, I let him know I wanted some hard sh-- from him. Then I went to see him in a studio in Atlanta, and he had it ready. I was fortunate to walk in, hear the beat, the hook, all I had to do was my thing."Judging from Akon's proven track record, "Cross That Line" could be a single. Ross originally was going to follow up his smash hit "Hustlin' " with "Blow," featuring Dre of Cool & Dre singing on the hook. But he opted for "Push It," a much edgier cut ."I leaked it," Ross said of "Blow." "That was a strategy to touch a different audience. Let the ladies know you could get sexy, kick your shoes off. That's what we did. Now we pushin' it to the limit."In the video for "Push It," Ross compares his struggle and triumph to that of another Miami staple: Al Pacino's Tony Montana from "Scarface.""The video is almost similar to 'Scarface,' me starting at the bottom," Ross said. "It took me a decade to get here. We turned the mixtapes into multimillion-dollar bidding wars. I was small-time, I grew, I blossomed verse-by-verse. We chronicled the rise. 'Push It' — it's gonna be a motivational record. It ain't just for the 'hood. If you're a kid playing soccer, basketball, any goal you trying to accomplish or trying to achieve, it's going to be something resourceful for you. You gotta push it to the limit."It seems like Ross is not only pushing himself to go platinum with Port of Miami but to be on the most guest verses in 2006."It's love, man," he said about all the calls he's getting to be on his peers' albums. "I'm staying busy. I'm on Snoop's new album, Birdman and Lil Wayne's album. I'm fiendin' to sit down and put some songs together with Diddy, the Boys N Da Hood project. Too many."Ross has also laid verses for the new Fat Joe and Nina Sky LPs and is getting plenty of love from show promoters to get him on their bills. There are no official tour plans, but Ross might go on a joint headlining outing with Yung Joc.

Game Teams With Nas And Mary J., Says He's 'Heir To The Aftermath Dynasty' On LP

When Game talks about "one blood," he's not talking about plasma. The Compton, California, MC is shouting out his affiliation and letting the world know his new album, The Doctor's Advocate, is coming soon. On Monday, he released his new song,
The beat incorporates a sample and loop of Junior Reid's reggae classic "One Blood." According to Game's camp, newcomer Reefa produced the track."The 'Math gonna drop him, if 50 ain't rockin' with him no more," Game raps, referencing the rumors that he had been dropped from Dr. Dre's Aftermath label in the wake of his beef with 50 Cent."Everybody knows I'm the heir to the Aftermath dynasty," he continues, reaffirming his allegiance to the Doc.Months ago, Game's manager, Jimmy Henchman, said his client would in fact work with Dr. Dre on The Doctor's Advocate, but there has since been no confirmation from Game or Dre about new collaborations (see "Game Working On The Doctor's Advocate With ... You Guessed It ..."). The controversial lyricist has definitely been in the studio with another Dre, though: one-half of Cool & Dre, the duo who produced The Documentary's Grammy-nominated single, "Hate It or Love It.""We gave him some really hot records," Dre of Cool and Dre said recently in L.A. "We gave him this record with Mary J. Blige. [It's] another soulful record. Mary flipped it. We was in the studio — it was Mary, me and Cool, Game. The record is so beautiful. I believe the Mary song is called 'People.' Then we did a record with him that's so phenomenal that's up for first single status. This record is called 'Stop.'" 'Stop' is something you never heard before," he continued. "Me and Cool got this really new style. The beat is hard, but melodically, it's new. It's on some 'Twilight Zone' sh--. It [goes,] 'Stop/ When the lights go out and the music go off.' It's crazy. The Game is spitting crazy on it. We actually did three records for his album. We did another one that Nas is on."The Doctor's Advocate has a November 7 release date, and while "It's Okay (One Blood)" is still considered just a street single — not the proper first single — there are plans in motion to shoot a video for it. There's a Scott Storch-produced cut called "Strip Club" that is being talked about as the official first single, but no plans have been finalized.

'Spider-Man 3' Cast Confirms Love Triangle, Death, Soul-Sucking Costume

SAN DIEGO — After two years of Hollywood secrecy so effective it could instill jealousy in the CIA, the tangled web of the next "Spider-Man" blockbuster has finally begun to unweave.The cast of "Spider-Man 3" showed up unannounced Saturday at Comic-Con to reveal crucial plot details to an intensely knowledgeable crowd — and overwhelmingly, thousands of geeks responded by showing that it wasn't just the neighborhood web-slinger who's friendly .Man, they make it very clear to you that you shouldn't let the cat out of the bag in terms of what happens," apologized a buffed-up Topher Grace, finally able to purge after keeping a tight lip at the request of his Marvel Comics employers. "There's such a rabid fanbase in terms of figuring out information about these characters ... but I'm excited — we're going to show a clip today and a little bit of information is gonna be revealed. I've been working on this for a year now, and I'm excited to share it with people."Moments later, hundreds were turned away from a sold-out "Spider-Man 3" panel in Hall H (capacity: 6,500), contributing to the first day in its 37-year history that Comic-Con had to stop selling tickets for fear of overcrowding. "I want to see the movie more than all of you combined!" Grace declared, establishing his geek cred with an audience composed of at least one full-costumed Spidey questioner. And along with Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, director Sam Raimi and fellow "Spider-Man" newcomers Thomas Haden Church and Bryce Dallas Howard, he finally had his gag order lifted."Weirdly, in 'Sideways,' I was also made of sand," joked Oscar nominee Church, cast in the new film as Flint Marko, a.k.a. the Sandman. The actor remembered that he got the job because he had read for Raimi's 2000 flick, "The Gift," but said he didn't appreciate the scale of his new assignment until he was surfing the Internet shortly after filming began."Everything's so immediate now," he marveled. "It's like, somebody sees a guy in a green-and-black sweater and they're like, 'Oh God!' and they've got their picture phone, and then it's on the Internet. We were shooting some stuff, second unit, in Cleveland ... and a guy videotaped it. He literally got a hotel room and videotaped everything they did for two weeks and then edited the video all together and streamed it on the Internet!""[Marvel] were really wanting to hold back that information for a long time, but it got leaked out there in an irrefutable way," Church shrugged. "So yeah, it's kind of common knowledge that Topher and I are the bad guys."At the panel, Raimi confirmed that Peter Parker would also be battling a third foe in James Franco's Harry Osbourn. Images were shown of Church as the shape-shifting Sandman, Grace being consumed by the otherworldly Venom costume, and Franco dressed from the neck down in an outfit similar to the one that fueled Willem Dafoe's madness in the first flick. Raimi said of Harry: "In the third movie, he is a little upset about his father, and he does want to wreak vengeance on Peter Parker." Pressed for further details, Raimi revealed that Franco's performance is "somewhere between" the comic characters of Green Goblin and Hobgoblin, and it was further revealed that Harry's story line will conclude in the third film."Thomas Haden Church will play the Sandman in the third installment, and he's one of the classic Marvel villains for Spider-Man," Raimi revealed moments before the panel. "All throughout the 1960s, he was pretty much — for my money — the best and baddest of foes that Spider-Man could tackle. He has an extraordinary ability to turn himself into sand or rock-hard sandstone.""Venom, we are revealing today, is also in the picture," Raimi said, admitting later that he wasn't originally a fan of the character but was talked into it with some help from Marvel Studios Chairman and CEO Avi Arad. "He is played by Topher Grace. He's one of the characters the Marvel writers came up with in the 1980s, a little bit later than 1960s Sandman."Pressed on rumors of a fourth villain who is well-known in Spidey circles, Raimi insisted that some secrets must remain for now. "The Chameleon as well? I can't say," the director offered. "I'm not at liberty to say."Series star Maguire was more vocal, disputing a recent USA Today article that implied he'd be leaving the series after the film's May 4 release. "I think you're reading a little bit into it, and I think also that that was an interviewer putting a certain headline upfront that maybe made it sound more dramatic than the actual interview," he insisted. "Look, I've had a great time and I think we've woven a lot of the story lines and come to some conclusions in the third movie. ... I'm open to future movies, but only if there are great stories to tell."Are there great stories to tell? I'm not sure yet," added the actor, whose contract only binds him to three Spidey flicks. "We'll see, but I'm not making any declarations."Maguire not only has several villains to keep him occupied in "Spider-Man 3," but he also has multiple girlfriends as well. "I do play a character called Gwen Stacy," said Bryce Dallas Howard, the "Lady in the Water" redhead who dyed her hair blond to play the classic character who vied for Parker's heart in the comics. "In this film she's a member of a love triangle between Mary Jane and Peter Parker, so drama ensues."Mary Jane, meanwhile, will once again be a redhead played by a blonde. "I liked working with Bryce, so I had one scene with her, where it was just me and Tobey in a restaurant," Kirsten Dunst grinned. "I was actually acting; I don't like the blue screen stuff. I hate it so much."During the panel, a question about Mary Jane's propensity for getting captured may have revealed a crucial plot point. As Dunst struggled with the identity of her favorite captor, Grace cleared his throat into the microphone — seemingly implying that his villain should be among the nominees. "You just gave something away, by the way," she grinned, looking down the table while chastising him.Raimi further revealed that former "Evil Dead" leading man Bruce Campbell will once again cameo in the film and, despite rumors of a falling out, the director still hopes to bring series composer Danny Elfman back to the negotiating table. Hours after the supergroup won over the geeks and fled Hall H, however, one particularly intriguing comment continued to hang in the air like a leftover web string. "Comic books deal with some really great issues," Grace explained while discussing the topics of racism and homosexuality explored by the "X-Men" comics and films. "I remember watching the 'X-Men' movies when they came out and thinking, 'This is a really interesting way to have this dialogue.' "" 'Spider-Man' deals with some similar things. There are some really good writers behind it," Grace added, shining a quick light on the Venom angle that may have finally interested Raimi in the character. "Especially in this movie, which deals with some really, really serious issues, almost kind of bordering on substance-abuse issues.""It does it in a way that kind of sugar-coats the pill," Grace finished, implying that Peter Parker's dependency on the soul-sucking Venom suit will take him to a junkie-like level of desperation. "It kinda feeds everything you want as an actor, to be in one of these movies."

Kanye, Paul Wall Urge Rappers In Documentary

When Raquel Cepeda first learned of the conflict in Sierra Leone back in 2001, she was working as the editor in chief of Russell Simmons' now-defunct One World magazine. In keeping with the publication's theme, she would find places around the globe where hip-hop had taken a foothold, and Sierra Leone's burgeoning scene grabbed her attention.But almost immediately, she knew a mere magazine article would not do the country's story justice. After all, this was a nation just emerging from a savage 11-year civil war — a conflict fueled by the diamond trade — and was in the early stages of recovery, picking through the rubble and trying to rebuild.And seemingly no one was paying attention."I felt that Sierra Leone was more than an article, because I saw these fascinating parallels," Cepeda said. "It was formed by freed slaves, and just at the time hip-hop started to become commercially successful here in the United States — in 1991 — [the Los Angeles district] Watts was burning, and this bloody civil war was beginning in Sierra Leone. So as the conflict was ending, and the aftermath was everywhere, I felt like it would be an interesting social experiment to have some rappers go there as goodwill ambassadors. Because hip-hop has affected every crevice of the world, and I wanted rappers to know that."And so Cepeda decided to make a documentary that would do just that: show rappers — and hip-hop fans — the connections between hip-hop and the Sierra Leone conflict.While her film does focus on the role music has played in the country's recovery — there's a vibrant hip-hop scene in the capital city of Freetown, highlighted by artists like Daddy Saj and Jimmy B — it's more concerned with the implications that came with the genre's bling obsession. She decided to call the film "Bling: A Planet Rock," because the insatiable thirst for diamonds was indirectly affecting the war in Sierra Leone."It's important to have it out there that the very uncivil war in Sierra Leone was not started over diamonds," Cepeda said. "It was fueled by them."In early 1991, a militant group called the Revolutionary United Front launched an insurgence against the government in Sierra Leone, attacking villages and committing unspeakable acts of barbarism against women and children. The militants hoped to throw the nation into a state of chaos, taking over the nation's diamond mines and using their riches to purchase drugs and weapons from neighboring nations. These diamonds became known as "conflict diamonds" — or blood diamonds — the same rocks Kanye West raps about in his song "Diamonds From Sierra Leone.""The film is not intended to make people stop wearing diamonds, because if we boycotted them, it would impair the fragile economy of Sierra Leone and would end up hurting these people," Cepeda said. "It's nobody's fault — the rappers, anyone — if they don't know they're wearing conflict diamonds. So we wanted to raise awareness about the whole issue. We wanted people to bling responsibly. We want rappers to rap about how it's cool to wear cruelty-free diamonds. And Kanye helped with that."West is interviewed in the film, as is Jadakiss, though neither artist was able to make the trip with Cepeda to Sierra Leone due to scheduling conflicts. But thanks to funds secured from the United Nations and VH1, she was able to secure three other hip-hop figureheads that knew very little about the country but were willing to learn: Paul Wall, Raekwon and reggaetón star Tego Calderón."Raekwon really bonded with everyone he met," Cepeda said. "He didn't know what to say at some points, because what he saw in Freetown or in the amputee villages left him speechless. Tego was amazed by what he saw, and Paul was literally walking around with his eyes wide open."Wall — who's gained acclaim not just for his rapping but for his diamond-encrusted grill — said he was amazed by what he saw, and he hopes the film will raise awareness about the past, present and future of Sierra Leone."Up until I heard Kanye's song 'Diamonds From Sierra Leone,' I had never even heard of the country," Wall said. "But once I did, I wanted to find out more, and I wanted to try to help out. So we went to Sierra Leone — me, Raekwon and Tego Calderón — and it changed our lives. We saw the diamond mines and the amputee camps, and it was hard to believe that especially in 2006, people can be living like this."When we were over there, it shocked and kind of embarrassed us as jewel wearers, but the people over there told us not to stop wearing them," he continued. "The thing is, that's how people eat. Even to this day, there's a large percentage of illicit diamonds in the marketplace, even though the conflict in Sierra Leone is over. So you want to be careful and get them through the proper channels. I know I'm trying to do that now."Cepeda will wrap production on "Bling" later this year, and she hopes to make the festival rounds in the winter.

Jessica Goes Public With Longoria

Jessica Simpson's making a public affair out of her new video — by inviting her famous friends to appear in her roller-skating-fantasy clip as a spoof on the paparazzi tracking her every move. "The whole idea is that everybody's just if interested to know what's going on, and you can't celebrity," Simpson said of the video for "A Public Affair," the debut single from her album of the same name, which is due August 29. "You can't stop it, so you just gotta think positively — just gather up all your girlfriends and go out and smile and look 100 percent."While much has been made of how "A Public Affair" bears some resemblance to Madonna's "Holiday," Simpson's video is heavily influenced by Olivia Newton-John's 1980 film, "Xanadu," as well as several famous Material Girl moments — including videos like "Sorry" (with its choreographed roller-skating) and "Music" (with a celeb making a cameo as the star's chauffeur). Instead of Ali G, Simpson's got Ryan Seacrest in the driver's seat. "He doesn't like to be called the limo driver," Simpson said. "He's my 'Alfie,' that's what he likes to be called."In the clip, Seacrest carts around Simpson's gaggle of gal pals, which includes Eva Longoria ("one of my best friends, we're both Texas girls"), Christina Applegate ("one of the funniest girls around, she has such a dry wit"), and Christina Milian, who was invited along not because she's a Simpson confidant, but because Simpson thinks she's "hot and beautiful and talented." "I knew she was photographed a lot, so she'd understand the concept of it," the singer explained. "And thank God, she really jumped on it and wanted to do it, so now I have a new friend in Christina."With "X-Men: The Last Stand" director Brett Ratner behind the camera, Simpson couldn't resist including a catfight, something Ratner mastered in Mariah Carey's "Heartbreaker" video, in which Carey wrecked a movie-theater bathroom as her alter ego, Bianca. This time, the fight is between Simpson and Maria Menounos, who gets upset when she sees her boyfriend making eyes at the blonde bombshell. This leads to two fantasy sequences: one where the boyfriend imagines what it would be like to be with Jessica, and one where Maria imagines what it would be like to tear Simpson's hair out. "I ended up pulling her extensions out, and she pulls my extensions out," Simpson laughed.Andy Dick also gets a fantasy sequence of his own, thanks to shooting "Employee of the Month" recently with the singer/actress. "I called him up and asked him for a favor," Simpson said, "because he's one of the funniest guys you'll ever meet." Dick's dream scene involves Jessica and her girlfriends licking him while he's trying to give them their roller skates.Simpson revealed that working with Ratner was rewarding, but demanding. "I know Brett's going to make everything right, but sometimes he makes it too right: take after take after take," Simpson said."Well, we had to get the lip synch, the performance ..." Ratner said in his own defense."It's not a movie, it's a music video!" Simpson countered."It's a mini-movie," Ratner concluded. — Jennifer Vineyard, with additional reporting by Ben Hurvitz and Jim Cantiello.

The Streets Is Talking: News & Notes From The Underground

A chorus that goes, "Chicken Noodle Soup, with a soda on the side," might sound like straight gibberish to you, but DJ Webstar and Young B's "Chicken Noodle Soup" has the kids in uptown New York dancing harder than when the Harlem Shake was en vogue. The two new dances? The Chicken Noodle Soup and the Toe Wop.Meanwhile, Diddy is giving his own ode to the dance craze that's sweeping Harlem with "Get Off." Puff said "getting off" simply means to dance uninhibitedly."I was inspired by the hyphy movement and the crunk movement," Diddy said. "I was like, 'Yo, New York has a movement that's been going on here for a long time that maybe people don't know.' It's like the sista of that. Like how crunk is the brother to hyphy, we got a movement. ... When kids hear something, they gotta release and get off and do their thing. This right here is that next-level, high-octane, that uncut, raw [version] of that. So what you seeing, that Chicken Noodle Soup, you seeing all that. This is something that's been going on in Harlem for a long time. This is the uptempo version of that. Get your sweat on, get off." ...


When you hang around Diddy long enough, his hustle ethic is going to rub off on you. Cassie sings and dances in her video for "Me & U," and in her follow-up clip, she rocks the mic in another fashion."My next single is 'Long Way to Go,' " the beautiful Bad Boy princess recently said in L.A. "I'm rappin' on the record, so look out for that one. We're probably doing the video in the next two or three weeks, so look out for it. The song is about a guy that's trying to get with me, but he's got a long way to go." ...

Honorary G-Unit member Lil Scrappy is putting out a sequel to 50 Cent's "How to Rob" — and he's holding up the music industry."I'm jacking everybody," Scrappy said. "Even 50 and [Lil] Jon — they getting it too."At first I wasn't into talking about anybody," Scrap added later, "but I remember back in the day when a n---a ain't had nothing. He would do anything to get a little paper. I want to be where real hip-hop is. A lot of people say hip-hop is dead. Well, I'mma kill it for 'em. You gotta think: I'm a dude who can get crunk and spit."Coincidentally, Scrap is getting ready to film a movie with Mekhi Phifer and Stacey Dash that centers on a crime mob that robs rappers and basketball players. They begin filming in late August in L.A.Scrappy's Bred 2 Die, Born 2 Live comes out in late September, and he has two mixtapes, G 69 and Keepin it G, coming soon. Also, expect a Scrappy mixtape tour this summer. ...

After 10 years in the game, Cham is a baby no longer. The Kingston, Jamaica-born reggae star is actually starting to get recognition in the U.S. with "Ghetto Story," an underground smash that gives a snippet of his life's hardships. Cham's struggles have resonated with the people, and he's getting spins on MTV, BET and radio."It's my biggest hit ever," Cham, who smoked the clubs three years ago with the dancehall classic "Vitamin S," said from Jamaica.Even some of the biggest names in the music industry have become Cham fans. Alicia Keys recently laid down vocals for a remix of "Ghetto Story," as did Akon on a separate version.Cham said working with Akon was meant to be because the two struck up a friendship years ago when A was supposed to be on the "Vitamin S" remix. At one point, Cham was even considering signing to Akon's Konvict Music imprint. But for the Grammy Award-winning Keys to get on his record was a welcome shock."Yo, that's like a giant," Cham marveled. "That link, I was on the road with Dave Kelly, my producer and close friend. He told me, 'Yo, you're going to get Alicia Keys on the "Ghetto Story" remix.' I was like, 'Are you sure?' Because she doesn't get on any and every project." Keys obviously kept her promise and sang on the record."What she's singing about surprised me," he said. "That's real respect, 100 percent. I think she loved the record for real. You can hear it in her voice and what she went through as a kid. If you came through struggles, you're gonna feel it. You can hear the punch, the pain. It's a beautiful thing. She's saying she ate white rice and honey. I never heard of that before, but I'm going to try it. In Jamaica, when we had no meat to eat with the rice, we ate white rice and butter."Cham's LP, Ghetto Story, comes out August 15 and also features a guest appearance from Rihanna. Cham and Keys just finished the video for the remix in Jamaica. ...Lastly, look for Pharoahe Monch to be coming back this year. He worked on Diddy's upcoming LP, Press Play, and has Puff spitting like never before. Monch also just signed a deal with SRC/ Universal to release his next LP, Desire.

Usher Goes To Broadway, Finds Kindred Spirit In Richard Gere

Hey, if it's good enough for Sebastian Bach, Toni Braxton, David Hasselhoff, Huey Lewis and Joey Fatone, certainly Usher can do it — the Grammy winner is going to Broadway.On August 22, Usher makes his debut in the musical "Chicago," taking over the role of Billy Flynn, played by Richard Gere in the Oscar-winning movie. The 27-year-old singer has performed for millions of screaming fans on stages across the world, but he's never been on a stage like this."This is a very exciting time in my career," Usher said Friday (July 14) in a statement. "I have always admired Broadway actors for their showmanship, dedication and focus that goes into performing live onstage every night. Being on Broadway allows you to connect to audiences in a whole new way that's different from music and movies. When they asked me to play Billy Flynn in 'Chicago,' I jumped at the chance to be a part of such an amazing production."Usher's Broadway stint ends October 1. His main producer, Jermaine Dupri, recently told MTV News that the singer is already thinking about his next album and should begin recording before the year is out

Want To Wake Up With Beyonce?

The recording of Beyoncé's upcoming B'Day album was kept a secret, even from the singer's father/manager.B makes the revelation in the new issue of Giant magazine, hitting newsstands Monday.
"I don't mind pressure," the former Destiny's Child leading lady told writer Scott Poulson-Bryant. "I'm very good under pressure. But I wanna put myself under pressure, not be pressured by someone else, or else I'm angry and it blocks my creativity. ... That's why I didn't tell anyone about this album."According to Beyoncé, the only people who knew she was back in the studio (she was supposed to be vacationing) were her A&R guy and the producers she summoned into different rooms under the same roof: Rich Harrison, Swizz Beatz and Rodney Jerkins I'd go to another one and say, 'Rich got some fire, you gotta come with it, man,' " recalled Beyoncé, who recorded three tracks a day for two weeks. "It was magical. We'd just write a chorus or a verse and go into the next room and work on it. Everyone was excited to be here, just being creative. It didn't have any of that negative competition. And I was very conscious of my budget. I paid for it all myself, so I spent the least money on this project than any I've ever spent on a record, Destiny's Child included."Along with revealing details of B'Day, the Giant cover story, titled "If I Was Your Girlfriend," also comes complete with a rather revealing photo spread courtesy of Ellen Von Unwerth, who recently shot Christina Aguilera's new album cover .The concept is to give viewers a chance to see what it might look like if you woke up in the morning with Beyoncé on your bed and watched her get ready for the day. Pics show the singer in a sexy negligee, in the shower (complete with shower cap), and doing her hair (with curlers) and makeup."She dived in with us and was extremely enthusiastic about the whole concept," Giant Editor in Chief Smokey Fontaine said. "To be fearless enough to rock a national cover in curlers — at the peak of her career — is the sign of a true independent woman."And speaking of waking up with the star, the article also includes a rare comment from the singer about her beau, Jay-Z."It's very easy," she said of their relationship. "He's so quick. And we respect each other. If I have any suggestions he respects it. If he has any suggestions, I respect it. It's just, I don't know, easy. And fun."Beyoncé also addresses the other man in her life: Mathew Knowles, her father and manager."It took awhile for me and my dad to have an understanding," she said. "When I turned 18 and started handling my business more, he went into shock. And we had our issues. I'd say 'No' to something, and he'd book it anyway. Then I'd have to do it because I'd look bad [if I didn't]. We would fight sometimes, and it took about two years, to when I was 20, for him to realize, 'Oh, she is an adult now, and if she doesn't wanna do something, I can't make her do it.' "The Giant interview discusses her role in the upcoming "Dreamgirls" movie as well ("I've never wanted a part this much"), including how it influenced her album ."I just felt so strong after filming it," she said. "Kind of like when you do something and you've given 100 percent."

Eminem Accused Of Assaulting Man In Strip-Club Bathroom

Detroit police are investigating an altercation that occurred in the men's bathroom of a strip club on the city's west side that allegedly involved Eminem. According to a police spokesperson, detectives are "very interested" in speaking with the rapper.
about the incident, which unfolded early Thursday morning inside the Cheetah strip club, located on the road Em's music and film helped bring to worldwide fame: 8 Mile. The spokesperson said police merely want to discuss the matter with Em, as well as the alleged victim and anyone else who may have been involved — but they do not, at this point, consider him a suspect in the alleged assault.The Detroit Free Press reported that the fight started at around 1:15 a.m. Thursday, when a 48-year-old Royal Oak, Michigan, man — the alleged victim — claims he was assaulted in the strip club's bathroom. Local ABC News affiliate WXYZ identified the victim simply as Miad J., but police would not release the names of individuals who may have been involved. Miad J. told the news station that Eminem punched him in the face four or five times.The victim told WXYZ that he was using a urinal next to Eminem when another man entered the bathroom and struck up a conversation with the rapper. At that point, Miad J. said that one of Em's bodyguards warned the man to keep quiet. Miad J. said he told the bodyguard to relax, and when "Eminem got done ... he started swinging," he told WXYZ. "I wasn't even expecting it. I was just minding my own business."A spokesperson for Cheetah told the Free Press that a fight had occurred inside the club and that Eminem was involved, but declined further comment.A spokesperson for Eminem's label, Interscope Records, declined MTV News' requests for comment on the situation.According to the Free Press, police claim the assailants fled the club in a vehicle, and that a third suspect — riding in the same car — brandished a firearm, but that he did not point it at anyone outside the club.Miad J. sustained minor injuries to the side of his face, WXYZ reported. Miad J. said the club's bouncers intervened, and tossed Eminem's bodyguards out of the club. Witnesses reported seeing Eminem inside the Cheetah the evening of the alleged assault. The incident is the latest in a series of legal issues connected with Eminem this year, including the shooting death of his D12 bandmate and longtime friend Proof and his second divorce from wife Kim .

Strip-Club Anthems, Cautionary Tales — Luda's Upcoming LP Has It All

Ludacris is still chasing that elusive #1 spot, but he feels like he'll attain his goal when fans get a hold of Release Therapy, due September 26."Therapy Is In Session: Kanye, Pharrell, R. Kelly Hop On Luda's LP"). "I say it on a song too."
Luda just released two records to the street: the controversial "War With God," where he strikes back at those who've badmouthed him (see "Mixtape Monday: 50 Cent Disc Features Stripped-Down Game; Ludacris Explains Mystery Rival"), and "Tell It Like It Is," where he gives some tough advice to MCs who haven't been schooled in Music Industry 101. His single featuring Pharrell is coming soon too.
"It's a radio record called 'Money Maker,' " he said. "It basically is a feel-good strip-club song."
R. Kelly appears on "Woozy," and Luda said he's always impressed with the Pied Piper's work ethic.
"Working with R. Kelly is great," said Luda, who's collaborated with Kelly in the past. "He's one of the hardest-working individuals, period. He's straight vampire: He leaves the studio when the sun comes up, goes in when it goes down."
Ludacris said Release Therapy will have two sides — he's just bummed no one buys cassette tapes anymore.
"The way we're going to try to format the record is you have your Release side and your Therapy side," he said. "Everybody knows the Release side would be 'War With God,' 'Tell It Like It Is.' I have a record called 'Slap.' Just getting everything off my chest. The Therapy side would be feel-good — a song like 'Woozy' with R. Kelly on it is therapeutic. Even 'Money Maker.' Some women's therapy is getting out, going to the club and shaking they ass. It's therapeutic to them.

DIDDY`S OCTOBER LP !!!

NEW YORK — Diddy has scrapped the PDV (PD Five) album name he's been working with for the past year. The official title for his October 3 release is now simply Press Play, an ode to Puff's vow to not overhype his LP.
"I'm known for dramatic titles — 'Unforgivable' the cologne, [the albums] No Way Out, Forever, The Saga Continues," he said yesterday in his Daddy's House Studios. "I've evolved a little bit. Studied the game, been a part of it, had success. It all comes down to pressing play. After you press play, it's gonna make or break you in this game. That's where I'm at. We about to press play on October 3, and hopefully I can make people feel good."For the past year and a half, Diddy has been working with everyone from Kanye West, Pharrell, Will.I.Am, Mobb Deep's Havoc and Pharoahe Monch. The first single is a toss-up between "Touch Me," featuring Christina Aguilera, and "Come to Me," featuring Nicole from the Pussycat Dolls on the hook."It's basically all my musical experiences from the Uptown era, when I was working with Jodeci, Mary J. Blige and Guy and Heavy D and everything I learned as a producer from that," he said about the LP. "To the Biggie, 112, Mase, Total, Diddy, No Way Out era. As time evolved and I started traveling overseas and going into dance and techno clubs and seeing music from a worldwide point of view, it came together, all those sounds in my head. The approach I came into was sitting down with the tracks and making it something you would have to sell. I wanted it to be a CD to press play and it would hit you."Diddy said his five-second rule determines if a song makes the cut: If the song didn't grab him within the first five seconds, it had to go. Press Play also has a theme."One of the things I've gone through in the last couple of years is a lot of situations with relationships," he said. "I wanted to do an album that had a concept but wasn't heavy on the concept. You get a character statement about who this man is. He meets this girl, they seduce each other, he falls in love, then there's some pain that comes with it. I thought that was a little bit different when I was listening to everything that was out there hip-hop-wise. I thought that was a lane I could get in. I kinda specialize in relationships and some of the problems and the seduction and all that. It's something we all go through."The first track leaked from the LP is "Get Off," an interlude in which Diddy talks — but doesn't rap — about dancing on street corners in the summertime and in his basement."It really captures the energy of the movement," Diddy said of the song. "Being from Harlem, when we dance, we call it 'getting off.' "

Today on EXIT music festival - SERBIA

MAIN STAGE

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Time ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Performer :

19.00 - 19.45 ................................................. Sidhharta

20.15 - 21.05 ................................................. Playboy

21.30 - 22.30 ................................................. Dizzee Rascal

23.00 - 00.30 ................................................. Morrsissey

01.00 - 03.00 ................................................. Dj are not Rock

.................................................................... Stars Aka

.................................................................... Princess

.................................................................... Superstar and

.................................................................... Aleksander

.................................................................... Technique

03.00 - ......................................................... Goldie

DANCE ARENA

Time ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Performer :

20.00 - 22.00 ..................................................... Dee Face

22.00 - 00.00 ..................................................... James Holden

00.00 - 02.00 ..................................................... Nick Waren

02.00 - 04.00 ..................................................... Hernan Cattenao

04.00 - 06.00 ..................................................... Steve Lawer

06.00 - 08.00 ..................................................... James Zabiela

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FUSION STAGE

Time : ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Performer :

18.30 - 19.00 ..................................................... E - Play

19.20 - 19.50 ..................................................... Blla Blla Blla

20.15 - 21.30 ..................................................... Massimo Savic

22.00 - 23.00 ..................................................... Darkwood Dub

23.30 - 01.00 ..................................................... Let 3

01.25 - 02.25 ..................................................... Eyesburn

02.45 - 03.15 ..................................................... Strip

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MUSIC STAGE

Time ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Performer :

18.30 - 19.00 ............................................ Ad Libitum & najbolji

.................................................................pevaci i tamburasi

19.15 - 20.00 ............................................ Batria SambaNSa

20.15 - 21.15 ............................................ Sarajevo Drum Orchestra
.................................................................( Bosnia and Hercegovina )

21.45 - 23.00 ............................................ Vlatko Stefanovski &
.................................................................Teodosi Spasov
.................................................................( Macedonia & Bulgaria )

23.15 - 00.15 ............................................ Olah Vince & Triola

00.30 - 01.45 ............................................ GYASS band

02.00 - 03.30 ............................................ Bucovina DJ session

.................................................................DJ Shantel

.................................................................( Germany )

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METAL HAMMER STAGE

Time :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Performer :

18.30 - 19.00 ......................................... No Comply

19.20 - 19.50 ......................................... Sacramental Blood

20.10 - 20.30 ......................................... Simagral

20.50 - 21.20 ......................................... Father ( Croatia )

21.45 - 22.30 ......................................... Alogia

22.50 - 23.20 ......................................... Annathema

23.50 - 01.10 ......................................... Max Cavalera

............................................................ ( SOULFLY,ex SEPULTURA )
............................................................ & Danny Lilker ( ex BRUTAL
............................................................ THRUTH,NUCLEAR ASSAULT,
............................................................ S.O.D., ANTHRAX )
............................................................ Jam + guests BRASIL / USA

01.30 - 02.00 ......................................... Amon Din

02.20 - 02.50 ......................................... Ophiolatry ( Brasil )

03.10 - 03.40 ......................................... Rapid Force

HAPPY NOVI SAD STAGE

Performer :

Marchello

Elemental

Hein Teny

Sky Wikluh

DJ Rajd

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HIP HOP STAGE

Time ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Performer :

21.00 - 21.30 ........................................ Sweeper

21.45 - 22.15 ........................................ Mistakes off, Pajche & Sista

22.30 - 23.00 ........................................ Nafta

23.15 - 23.45 ........................................ Fulltone Point

00.00 - 00.30 ........................................ Rory McVicar

00.45 - 01.15 ........................................ Harakiri Sisters

01.30 - 02.00 ........................................ Murdoch

02.15 - 02.45 ........................................ Zekson 5

03.00 - 03.30 ........................................ Tripcycle Quartet

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FUTURE SHOCK STAGE

Time :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Performer :

21.00 ...................................................... Car Z ( English breakfast )

23.00 ...................................................... Vlada Janjic ( Escorteaze)

01.00 ...................................................... Cassy ( Perlon, GER )

03.00 ...................................................... Matthias Tanzman

.............................................................. ( Poker Flat, Moon Harbour,
.............................................................. GER )

05.00 ...................................................... Fakir ( Noice Destruction )
06.00 ...................................................... Vlada ( Intellect )

07.00 ...................................................... Stole ( Xperiment )

EXIT FEST - SERBIA

....................today starts....................

:: EXIT 06 ::

biggest music festival in Europe

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MAIN STAGE - Main stage of the festival, place where we had the pleasure to see Iggy Pop, Massive Attack, Moloko, Kosheen, Cypress Hill, Tricky, White Stripes, Underworld, Garbage, Fatboy Slim perform in front of 35 000 people. This year also it is a place with the most spectacular performances of musicians from all over the world.

MAIN STAGE Morrissey Franz Ferdinand
Pet Shop Boys Billy Idol The Cult The
Cardigans Goldie Scissor Sisters HIM
Chicks on Speed Dizzee Rascal
DEATHSTARS Plejboj Lara-B Kiril
Vlada Divljan Siddharta Esma Redžepova
T.B.F. Andy C Princess Superstar

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DANCE ARENA Second biggest stage of the festival, last years DJ Arena, is a place with the hottest atmosphere and those who tasted it among many are LTJ Bukem, Morrajes, Erik Morillo, Pit Tong...This year too it is the greatest discotheque in Europe. Rare are the places where you can welcome the sunrise together with 20 000 people.

EXIT 06 DANCE ARENA Dave Clarke David Guetta DeeFace Derrick May Eric Prydz Hernan Cattaneo James Zabiela Jeff Mills JoJo De Freq Junior Jack and Kid Creme Layo and Bushwacka Loco Dice M.A.N.D.Y. Marko Nastić Microchunk Nick Warren Sebastian Ingrosso Simian Mobile Disco Steve Angello Steve Lowler Technasia Vladimir Aćić

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NIS FUSION STAGE Fusion of the best, most extreme and colorful sounds...broadest selection of styles just for the fans of quality live acts...One of the most popular stages at the festival...Exclusive concerts from world music stars to hard core performances...Capacity of 10 000 people...From dusk till
dawn...

EXIT 06 FUSION STAGE Blla Blla Blla Block Out Darko Rundek Darkwood Dub Dog Eat Dog Eyesburn Junkie XL Let 3 Massimo Neno Belan Obojeni program Partibrejkers Rambo Amadeus Sofa Surfers Suzanne Vega TIDE Van Gogh
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METAL HAMMER STAGE Madball MAX CAVALERA Moonspell

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Renault WORLD MUSIC STAGE This year fans of blues & jazz jamming have won a special place at the state of Exit. Instead of the last years Exit Theatre we will witness the performance of some of the best blues & jazz names of this region. Some records still fight battles...

Tuborg HAPPYNOVISAD STAGE Located in the proximity of the Dance Arena, this year too, it brings us phenomenal atmosphere with even more powerful sound, representing most significant DJ collectives in the region. Absolute best of the best crew that has established club culture in Southeastern Europe. It is their fault you've became addictive to clubbing...

Converse HIP HOP Stage By their dirty free style reputation, this year too they present the craziest act in the festival. Scratchin'n' Rappin a bit of everything to wrap and take - hip hop, jungle, drum'n'bass, dancehall, and raga...DJ and MC fanatics', censure free... F@M FUTURE SHOCK STAGE Carefully selected among 200 applied, best demo bends will blew up this stage. Powerful guitars and hard fry as a blast from the future! EXIT here is really an entrance for those who seek musical affirmation. It is your turn now, get ready...Regional support...

DJ SUPERSTAR STAGE COCKTA DJ super star stage The main reason for the collaboration between EXIT and the record label Recon Warriors is realization of common goals, including promotion of positive values of the electronic music culture, educating young people interested in working in the field of DJ-ing and production, presentation and acquaintance with the latest technical achievements (of hardware and software), promotion of young artists in Serbia in the domain of electronic music in the country and abroad… This year Recon Warriors' DJs and guest will open the COCKTA DJ SUPERSTAR STAGE.

Café del Danube stage Café del Danube stage. Café del Mar on the balcony of the Petrovaradin fortress. The only place at the festival that will make you, with its music program, forget presence, close your eyes and, with a smile on your face, imagine yourself sailing on the waves of dreams toward the most beautiful destinations of the universe. Originally conceived to transmit to you the magical atmosphere of the notorious café in San Antonio on the sunny Ibiza, Café del Danube will enable you to completely relax with waves of different music trends that have ambiance as their common tune.

East Point ROOTS & FLOWERS Stage Superior specter of the Third World... A journey through amazing music of Asia, Africa, Middle and South America led by The Global Village People with guests... From ancient tribal melodies to folk interventions in electronic music... Scented flourishing ambient is a place where the urban DJ-ing meets the traditional live acts with numerous exotic instruments.

WALK THIS WAY

BOSTON - Stubborn clouds and early showers didn't deter thousands of Fourth of July revelers from turning out for fireworks, the Boston Pops and Aerosmith. "What could be more iconically American than rock 'n' roll?" said Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart, hours before he shared the stage with Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry. "Arguably, Boston's two most famous bands are the Pops and Aerosmith."Tyler pranced onstage in a black-and-leopard-print open shirt with tight white pants and an American flag bandana flowing from his microphone. Tyler danced with Lockhart during the band's "Walk This Way," singing the line "give me a kiss" and then deadpanning to Lockhart: "not you."The nationally televised gala also included talk show host Dr. Phil McGraw and his wife Robin McGraw as masters of ceremonies, singing group Rockapella, and Renese King.Local American Idol finalist 17-year-old Ayla Brown opened the show with "The Star-Spangled Banner."State police estimated 450,000 to 500,000 people gathered for the concert and 23-minute pyro-musical fireworks extravaganza near the Charles River.

KYLIE MINOGUE

SAN FRANCISCO - In her first TV interview since her recovery, Kylie Minogue fought back tears as she described the moment she discovered she had breast cancer. Minogue said she was determined to continue with her grueling "Showgirl" tour despite the news last year, but her family insisted that she not."The moment my doctors told me, I went silent," she said. "We all fell to pieces, but I was saying, 'No, I'm getting a plane,' and they said, 'No, you're not, sit down.'"The San Francisco Chronicle's Web site reported on the star's interview with British TV host Cat Deeley for a show to be aired on Sky One on July 16.Minogue also says she is already busy working on a new album, but is determined not to put her body under undue stress for the sake of work."We're taking one baby step at a time. It's early days and I'm not sure what shape things are going to take," she said.

ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL

Houston is on fire lately. It's like people just realized the H was on the map for the first time. First the NBA All-Star event, now this year's Essence Music Festival. OK, I lied. Essence was originally slated for New Orleans, but apparently one city's tragedy has turned into another's treasure. Sad, but true. It's like the All-Star weekend all over again with groupies everywhere.
The worst part is the slew of parties promising big name celebrities. Don't get ripped off y'all. Rely on your instincts. Certain scams are way too obvious to miss. And, if your thing as a concert organizer is to take advantage of star-struck groupies via false advertisement, at least get your game right. Don't be like that low-thinking done-for-gooder who called me up yesterday talking about a blues concert featuring Jay-Z. I was like "Even if Hov wanted to pull a Pussycat dolls on us and sneak into Houston, it wouldn't be at a blues concert you dumbfuck!"

WORD TO DE LA

So ... following up on FAT JOE`S claims of having the " Most Phenomenal Album On The Planet Earth " with his Me, Myself and I album. Word is that Remy Ma will appear on the album and that is no beef between her and Joe. The Game will also appear on the album and there is some speculation that it might be a 50 Cent diss but those rumors haven`t gained much momentum. Also there is a small street buzz from the streen single " Damn ". So will Joe really have a hot album ? WORLD BEST MUSIC

CAN U HEAR ME NOW ???

FOXY BROWN is back and so is her hearnig ! Foxy will perform for the first time since her surgery st the HIV/AIDS awareness reggae concert by LIFEbeat`s Hearts and Vioces Benefits Concert Series ( or "Reggae Gold Live 2006 Summer Jumpoff ") presentes by NY`s Power 105.1 . Her album, Black Roses, is scheduled for a winter release. This is good news for someone who couldn`t hear at all almost a year ago. News sources say her hearing is 100% intact. Good to hear ( literally ) - WORLD BEST MUSIC

QUIK DRAW

DJ QUIK will filnd himself locked up for a five monts after assaulting his sister. DJ QUIK turned him self in to authorities last week and began his stint. This all stems from an incident back in 2004 when Quik reportedly pulled a gun on his sister during argument. Quik wass supposed to spent 45 days in jail on weekends, but skipped out on time when he originally pled quilty.