The Law of Attraction - Beyond The Secret...The Moses Code

Joe Budden Gets Candid About Life, Love

By// Quassan Castro

Even before Love & Hip Hop: New York, Joe Budden had a reputation for being blunt. But on the show he took honesty to new heights. The rapper-turned-reality-star had his fair share of emotional anxiety, a relationship love triangle and even revealed that he has struggled with drugs.

However, despite Budden’s emotional breakdowns and confessions of substance abuse, he says that there’s still some light shining on his life. In a recent interview with JETmag.com, the Jersey City, NJ native talks openly about his future with reality television, confirms if he is at odds with Consequence and Raekwon, talks new music, and also reveals his relationship status with on-off-again girlfriend, Tahiry.

What can we expect for next season of Love and Hip-Hop: New York?

You can continue to expect honesty from me on the show.

Do you see yourself in the reality television game for much longer?

The opportunity to appear on Love and Hip Hop presented itself and joining made sense at the time. It was a new experience. Love and Hip Hop is a success. To be in the reality game long term, the opportunity would have to make sense. I’m a musician.

Any new music?

Oh yeah! I’m currently working on the Slaughterhouse album and a follow-up project to No Love Lost.

You talk openly about your struggles with drug addiction and your usage of Mollies. How did you become a drug user at the age of 12? You were a just a kid!

You’re a kid. You’re curious and you end up experimenting with different things. I tried to gain some knowledge of different drugs and things happened.

At one point in your career, your camp literary had to micromanage you in an attempt to keep you from engaging in reckless behavior. Have you transcended from that dark place?

Those issues are no longer a struggle for me. I have good people around me now. I have a great support group that consists of people that love me. You have to surround yourself with people that help you get where you need to be, like family.

You spoke about wanting to fight Consequence each time you saw him after he initiated a fight with you. Are you still at odds with Consequence?

No I am not at odds with anyone at all. I’m at peace with everyone. The fight happened, it came and went, it was dealt with. Him and me aren’t in a situation where we cross paths on a regular basis.  It is what it is.

Raekwon spoke about you in an interview, he says when he sees you he wouldn’t attack you but calmly ask you for clarification, on any issue you might have with him. Let’s clear this up.  What issues do you have with Raekwon as of today?

Let’s be clear, as of today, I have absolutely no issue with anyone at all. Joe Budden has no problems with anyone!

On the show, it seems you basically snub Kaylin to be in the company of Tahiry throughout the prior season. It was no surprise to me when you and Tahiry went for a cozy get-a-way. Are you recommitted to Tahiry in a relationship right now?

Yes we’re in a committed relationship.

Outside of music, what are you working on?

I’m working with a technology upstart called gig-it, which allows me to have more interaction with my fans and expand my audience. I have a partnership with the apparel line By Any Means. The line is about getting your dreams out by any means.

Randy Phillips, AEG Live CEO,Testifies About Emails on Michael Jackson’s Condition

The head of the company promoting Michael Jackson's ill-fated comeback concerts told jurors Thursday that he never consulted a mental health professional to help the singer despite two high-level show workers suggesting it was necessary.

 

AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips testified about emails he sent and received in the week before Jackson's death, including a production manager's characterization that the entertainer's condition was "deteriorating."

Phillips is testifying in a negligent hiring case filed by Jackson's mother against AEG Live LLC, claiming the company failed to properly investigate the doctor convicted of giving her son a lethal dose of an anesthetic. Her lawyers also contend that Phillips and AEG Live executives ignored signs of Jackson's poor health and pushed the entertainer to perform.

Emails displayed to jurors hearing the case show that Phillips told Jackson's business manager he believed the singer might have breached his contract by missing rehearsals. The email was sent June 20, 2009, five days before the "Thriller" singer died from an overdose of propofol.

"And I thought it couldn't get worse," the business manager, Michael Kane, responded. Phillips said Kane had been seeking a $1 million advance for Jackson against the earnings of his "This Is It" shows.

Phillips' email to Kane came hours after the tour director, Kenny Ortega, and production manager, John Hougdahl, emailed Phillips telling them that Jackson was in such a poor emotional state that he couldn't rehearse that night and had to be sent home.

"I have watched him deteriorate in front of my eyes over the last 8 weeks," Hougdahl wrote. "He was able to do multiple 360 spins back in April. He'd fall on his ass if he tried it now."

According to Hougdahl, Jackson said earlier that night after watching a pyrotechnics demonstration, "You aren't going to kill the artist, are you?"

He wrote to Phillips that the entertainer, whose scalp was badly burned while shooting a Pepsi commercial in 1984, didn't appear to be referring to the fireworks.

In a later email, Hougdahl told Phillips he believed Jackson needed a mental examination. "My layman's degree tells me he needs a shrink to get him mentally prepared to get him prepared to get on stage," he wrote.

Ortega also wrote to Phillips hours later, urging that Jackson get some psychological help.

Earlier that night, Jackson had been "trembling, rambling and obsessive," according to Ortega, who wrote to Phillips that the singer seemed unable to rehearse due to "real emotional stuff."

Phillips has yet to testify about a meeting he had with Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray.

Jackson died before signing Murray's $150,000-a-month contract to accompany him for 50 shows planned at London's O2 Arena. AEG denies it hired Murray, and several of its executives have testified that the former physician's fee would have been deducted from Jackson's earnings for the "This Is It" shows.

Phillips is the highest-ranking AEG Live executive to testify in the trial, which has concluded its sixth week. He denied Thursday that he ever threatened Jackson over missed rehearsals.

"We would have never dealt with Michael that way," he said.

He also rejected the idea that he was responsible for Jackson's health.

"I'm not responsible for his medical needs," Phillips said. "We're promoters - that's what we do."

TiVo's Latest DVR Patent Settlements Worth $490 Million

Getty Images TiVo CEO Tom Rogers

Google's Motorola Mobility division, Cisco and Time Warner Cable agree to licensing deals with the company.

TiVo will be earning a nice chunk of change after settling patent disputes with Google's Motorola Mobility division, Cisco and Time Warner Cable.

As part of a multi-party deal to resolve litigation, TiVo will be getting $490 million. As part of the agreement, the companies have entered into a patent-licensing arrangement with the DVR pioneer.

TiVo has aggressively protected its rights over technology and has previously settled cases with AT&T, Dish and Verizon. Collectively, TiVo has extracted $1.6 billion in settlement money.

The lawsuit against Motorola Mobility was launched before Google acquired the company for $12.4 billion in 2012.

"We are pleased to reach an agreement that brings our pending litigation to an end and further underscores the significant value our distribution partners derive from TiVo’s technological innovations,” said CEO Tom Rogers in a statement. “Further, this settlement significantly enhances our already strong balance sheet, bringing our cash position to over $1 billion before inclusion of future expected payments of at least $400 million from prior settlements.”

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Search Goes on After Pa. Building Collapse; 6 Dead

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — As a bulldozer began to clear away the debris of a collapsed building that killed six people, city officials said a search for the dead and injured was nearly complete Thursday and an investigation had already begun to determine how a relatively commonplace demolition job could have gone so wrong.

Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers said crews still need to search about 20 percent of the site of the collapse, including the back of a thrift store onto which the vacant four-story building under demolition collapsed, an effort that was expected to last through the afternoon.

Firefighters were hosing down piles of bricks as heavy machinery scooped up massive piles of debris and filled a large receptacle to be trucked away. Inside what was left of the Salvation Army thrift store, an undisturbed rack of clothing remained standing in a rear corner.

Rescue efforts were buoyed early Thursday when a 61-year-old woman was pulled from the rubble alive and conscious 13 hours after the collapse. That woman, Myra Plekam, was hospitalized in critical condition and has floated in and out of consciousness. At least 14 others were hurt, many with minor injuries.

“That’s why we stay the course,” Ayers said. “This person being pulled out alive is what this rescue operation is all about.”

Workers combed through bricks and rubble using buckets and their bare hands well into the night.

It was unclear what role the demolition work might have played in the collapse, but the accident raised questions about how closely the highly visible spot on Market Street, one of Philadelphia’s signature boulevards, was being monitored, particularly amid word of the demolition contractor’s many legal and financial troubles. Officials from the U.S. Department of Labor and Occupational Safety and Health Administration were at the scene.

“Buildings get demolished all the time in the city of Philadelphia with active buildings right next to them … they’re done safely in this city all the time,” Mayor Michael Nutter said at a news conference late Thursday morning. “Something obviously went wrong here yesterday, and possibly in the days leading up to it. That’s what the investigation is for.”

Officials said every demolition project gets two inspections — one before work begins and a second when most of the building is down. The building that collapsed was one of three being taken down. Officials said they received a complaint in early May when the neighboring building was being demolished. An inspector visited the site on May 14 and found no violations, officials said. They said the building that collapsed was still fully intact on the date of that inspection.

For weeks, people working nearby had watched with growing concern as a crew took down the vacant four-story building next to a Salvation Army thrift store at the edge of downtown.

A roofer atop another building didn’t think the operation looked safe. A pair of window washers across the street spotted an unbraced, 30-foot section of wall and predicted among themselves the whole building would simply fall down.

On Wednesday, that’s what happened. The unstable shell of a building collapsed into a massive heap of bricks and splintered wood, taking part of the thrift store with it.

Witnesses said they heard a loud rumbling sound immediately before the collapse.

“I was standing there looking out my window, watching the men at work on the building, and the next thing I know I heard something go kaboom,” said Veronica Haynes, who was on the fifth floor of an apartment building across the street. “Then you saw the whole side of the wall fall down … onto the other building.”

Several other witnesses said they had questioned how the demolition workers were tackling the job.

Roofer Patrick Glynn said he had been watching workers take down the building over the past few weeks, and he said he suspected a collapse was inevitable because of the way they were going about it.

“For weeks they’ve been standing on the edge, knocking bricks off,” he said. “You could just see it was ready to go at any time. I knew it was going to happen.”

Steve Cramer, who has been working as a window washer across the street, said the demolition crew left 30 feet of a dividing wall up with no braces and it compromised the integrity of the building

“We’ve been calling it for the past week — it’s going to fall, it’s going to fall,” his co-worker Dan Gillis said.

Officials said the demolition contractor was Griffin Campbell Construction in Philadelphia. Messages left for Campbell were not returned.

Records show that Campbell was charged in 2005 with dealing crack cocaine near a playground. The charges were dismissed after prosecutors misplaced evidence.

He pleaded guilty in an insurance fraud case in 2009, and was acquitted of aggravated assault and related offenses in 2007.

Campbell has also filed for bankruptcy protection twice since 2010. The first bankruptcy was dismissed because he didn’t follow through on a repayment plan approved by the court. A second bankruptcy petition was filed in March.

There were no existing violations on the collapsed building, and Campbell had proper permits for the work being done, according to Carlton Williams, of the city’s Department of Licenses and Inspections.

The city issued a demolition permit for the four-story structure on Feb. 1. Records show the property owner as STB Investments Corp., a company linked to prominent businessman and developer Richard Basciano, who has been best known as the owner of porn theaters in New York City and Philadelphia.

Messages left at the company’s New York offices were not immediately returned.

The accident happened on the western edge of downtown, between the city’s business district and its main train terminal, 30th Street Station. The block had long been a seedy link between gleaming skyscrapers and the busy area around the station.

The collapse involved an empty building that once housed a first-floor sandwich shop and apartments above. The thrift shop was on one side. The other side was an adult bookstore and theater that had been taken down within the last few months.

A demolition expert wondered what precautions were taken to protect the Salvation Army store, especially since it remained open. Stephen Estrin, a Florida contractor who has testified as an expert at several trials involving building collapses, also questioned whether the demolition was being done by hand or with machinery. A piece of equipment with a claw device was seen amid the debris Wednesday.

“This is an inner-city demolition of a masonry building, which would normally be done manually because of the inherent risk — predictable if certain things are not done very slowly and very carefully — of a collapse,” Estrin said. “One of the problems with claw work is it sets up a vibration in the walls.”

Records show the collapsed building was sold to STB in 1994 for $385,894. Plans tentatively called for the block to be redeveloped into retail stores and apartments.

Director Spills Guts On Kanye West's 'Anchorman 2' Cameo, Confirms Fight Sequence

Weeks after Kanye West heated up the Internet courtesy of paparazzi spotting him on-set of the upcoming Anchorman: The Legend Continues flick, the movie's director has come forward to address the hype.

According to director Adam McKay, Ye lived up and went beyond his own expectations.

"He was great, and he was funny. He came up with a couple good lines on his own," McKay said. "We did our usual style of do the written line, and then I would throw out alternate lines and we'd improvise. He was completely cool and game." The rapper apparently went above and beyond for his role, showing up for additional scenes, even when he didn't have lines. "He even showed up for an extra quarter of a day where he had no speaking lines," McKay said. "He was just kind of in the group fight sequence, and he was having so much fun that he came back to do that." (MTV)

He also reacted to the fact paparazzi stole some light by leaking on-set photos to the world.

"I think we all know that, in this day and age, you can only cover stuff up so much, unless you're shooting in Venezuela or whatever. It's going to happen. The only thing that I would wish is that when they would reveal cameos and stuff that they would do a spoiler alert up top. I understand that's what these websites do. That's what the paparazzi do. It's not surprising to us at all," McKay said. "On the other hand, it's also a good thing. It's a good thing that people care that much. No one was hiding in the bushes when we were shooting 'Talladega Nights' to see if Sacha Baron Cohen was on set. That wasn't happening at all, so it's a very good sign that people are that excited." (MTV)

Around mid-May, Young Money's Drake was spotted donning an afro and thick sideburns on-set of the new flick.

Drake started from the bottom and now he's in "Anchorman 2." The Canadian rap star was spotted on the set of "Anchorman: The Legend Continues" on Saturday afternoon in New York. Drake, who famously appeared on "Degrassi: The Next Generation," joins fellow hip-hop icon Kanye West in the cameo-heavy "Anchorman" sequel. West was photographed on the film's Atlanta set on May 10. (Huffington Post)

Shots of West and additional cast members like Jim Carrey, Steve Carell and more sprouted online last month.

Anchorman: The Legend Continues is back in Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta, GA today and the cameos will continue, too (rumor has it Vince Vaughn is on set today). According to permits, filming will continue near Park Peachtree St between Marietta St and Auburn Ave (along Woodruff Park) through Monday. Below are a few more pictures from Wednesday's shoot, including new photos of Kanye West, Paul Rudd, John C. Reilly, Steve Carell, and Jim Carrey thanks to @Live1DNews. (On Location Vacations)

‘Mr. Marcus’ Goes to Jail For Exposing Syphilis

Adult film star known as “Mr. Marcus” is facing jail time. He was sentenced Tuesday to 30 days for knowingly having exposed at least two female co-stars to syphilis last year.

Via reports:

Mr. Marcus, 42 — whose real name is Jesse Spencer and who was inducted into the Adult Video News Hall of Fame four years ago — was the main figure in a scandal over the spread of the communicable disease that temporarily halted video productions last year.

Spencer, who admitted having altered documents recording the results of mandatory medical tests all porn actors must take, pleaded no contest in Los Angeles Superior Court to knowingly exposing another to a communicable disease. He was also sentenced 36 months’ probation and 15 days of community labor.

The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office said Spencer got a penicillin shot on July 13 after having tested positive for syphilis. After he tested positive again eight days later, he altered a photocopy of the original test form, it said.

Spencer filmed two videos later in July. The women, who appeared in the videos, noticed that the form had been tampered with and turned him into authorities. They tested negative for the disease, according to the city attorney’s office.

The positive in this, relatively speaking, is that syphilis is curable. But Mr. Marcus is despicable for that behavior and should get more than 30 days.

After Verizon, NSA & FBI Dig Into Personal Google, Facebook, Skype & More Records

The National Security Agency (NSA) continues to work up scares across the United States as a day after making headlines for going through millions of Verizon phone records it's now digging into social media outlets.

According to the latest reports, NSA is collecting information

from a ton of popular servers.

The National Security Agency and the FBI are tapping directly into the central servers of nine leading U.S. Internet companies, extracting audio and video chats, photographs, e-mails, documents, and connection logs that enable analysts to track foreign targets, according to a top-secret document obtained by The Washington Post. The program, code-named PRISM, has not been made public until now. It may be the first of its kind. The NSA prides itself on stealing secrets and breaking codes, and it is accustomed to corporate partnerships that help it divert data traffic or sidestep barriers. But there has never been a Google or Facebook before, and it is unlikely that there are richer troves of valuable intelligence than the ones in Silicon Valley. Equally unusual is the way the NSA extracts what it wants, according to the document: "Collection directly from the servers of these U.S. Service Providers: Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Facebook, PalTalk, AOL, Skype, YouTube, Apple." (Washington Post)

Yesterday, Cash Money Records rapper Busta Rhymes flipped out over the news of Verizon phone records being compromised.

"F*ckin crazy! RT @DJGREENLANTERN: Wow.. News reporting Verizon ordered to give National Security (cont) http://tl.gd/m01a0e," Busta tweeted June 6th. (Busta Rhymes' Twitter)

New York's DJ Green Lantern had a much more in-depth reaction to the global situation.

"Wow.. News reporting Verizon ordered to give National Security Agency all UR phone records .. National security?"

"Who u think ultimately has to give the order for that .. gotta be somebody else , not the homie . Right ?"

"In the words of PE.. "Can't Trust It""

"Really fam ? It's cool tho, he had to.. right ? (read the small print too ) .. http://instagram.com/p/aN5v-UQ3JB/ " (DJ Green Lantern's Twitter)

Reports of the widespread order surfaced across the Internet early Thursday.
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The US National Security Agency (NSA) is collecting the telephone records of tens of millions of Americans, according to the Guardian newspaper. Senior US Senator Dianne FeinsteinBBC News) has confirmed the secret court order was a three-month renewal of an ongoing practice. On Wednesday, the newspaper published the secret order directing the Verizon company to hand over telephone data Civil liberties groups said the details of the report were "stunning". Without confirming the Guardian report, the White House has broadly defended seizures of such information as a "critical tool in protecting the nation from terrorist threats". (

Despite the perceived invasion of privacy issues, President Barack Obama's administration has stood behind its order.

The Obama administration is defending the government's secret seizure of millions of domestic telephone records from Verizon, saying the data collection program "has been a critical tool in protecting the nation from terrorist threats to the United States." A senior administration official released a statement Thursday after the British newspaper The Guardian first reported the secret operation. The paper posted on its website a classified court order that requires the telecommunications company to turn over daily records with the length, location and time of individual phone calls, as well as phone numbers. (Los Angeles Times)

'Fast & Furious 6' Passes $500 Million Worldwide

The ensemble action film zooms to the box-office milestone faster than any film in Universal's history.

There's no stopping Fast & Furious 6.

Universal's record-breaking ensemble action film has crossed $500 million at the worldwide box office faster than any film in the studio's history.

The film, directed by Justin Linand starring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson and Michelle Rodriguez, has held the No. 1 spot at the domestic box office for two weeks in a row, and scored the studio's highest-grossing opening weekend of all time when it bowed over Memorial Day weekend.


To date, Fast 6 has grossed $180.3 million domestically and $342.2 million internationally. The film's stellar box-office performance helped push the studio past the $1 billion mark on May 31.

A seventh installment of the street-racing franchise -- with James Wan taking over as director -- has been set for release on July 11, 2014.

Legends Gamble & Huff, Thom Bell Reteam For Book, Other Projects

Legendary production duo and Philadelphia International Records founders Gamble & Huff have begun writing their autobiography. 

The definitive look back at the pair's pioneering legacy is the latest project under a representation pact signed with William Morris Endeavor (WME) in 2011, covering all areas including film, TV theater and lecture appearances. Under the working title "The Sound of Philadelphia," the publication is slated for late 2014 or early 2015.

Plans for the upcoming book prompted a reunion/meeting last week at Philadelphia International Records between Gamble & Huff and fellow songwriter/producer Thom Bell. The three are the principals behind the music publishing company Mighty Three Music. Currently owned by Warner/Chappell Music Inc., the catalogue includes such classics as "Back Stabbers," "Only the Strong Survive," "Me and Mrs. Jones," "If You Don't Know Me By Now" and "For the Love of Money." Beyond the book, discussions are under way about various other projects to celebrate the trio's 50-year legacy over the next five years. Chief among the ideas under discussion: a stage musical.

Gamble thanks Berry Gordy's "Motown ­ The Musical" for opening the door. "The play brought back a lot of memories and shows how hard it was for an African-American owned company to make the strides it made," Gamble tells Billboard. "It wasn't easy."

As for the book, it will naturally focus on the music and how, in Huff's words, "we were able to complement each other in many ways." Adds Gamble, "We all had one thing in mind: how can we make a living out of this music business we love so much."

"All our energies were the same," recalls Bell. "Banging on doors and having them slammed in our faces . that was fun. But it all clicked. We took the ride and good things happened."  Bell, who lives in Seattle, is also working on another project. He is planning a 2014 concert featuring his music (he's also worked with the Spinners, Stylistics and others) in tandem with the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra.

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Report: Paris Jackson Rushed to Hospital in Suicide Attempt

 

According to TMZ, Paris Jackson was rushed to a local Los Angeles hospital early Wednesday morning.

A call was placed to 911 at 1:27 A.M. with reports of a possible overdose. A source claims there were multiple cuts on the star's wrists as well. Jackson was reportedly taken from her family's Calabasas home on a stretcher at about 2:00 A.M.

Jackson tweeted troubling messages hours before. "I wonder why tears are salty?" she shared. "Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away now it looks as though they're here to stay," she later followed up.

A close source to Jackson told TMZ she tried this before but, "this was far more serious. It was not a cry for help."

A lawyer for Katherine Jackson told the Daily News, "She's suffered with the loss of her father. But we don't know what she was exposed to that precipitated this."

5:19 PM PT -- Howard Weitzman, the lawyer for the MJ Estate, tells TMZ, "Co-Executors John Branca and John McClain wish to extend their heartfelt thoughts and prayers to Paris Jackson during this very difficult time.  The Executors are fully committed to providing Paris with whatever assistance she requires in dealing with this situation and will be there for her."

1:35 PM P -- We just posted a story ... Paris left a suicide note and cut herself with a meat cleaver.  To read full story, click here.

1:30 PM PT Police went to Debbie Rowe's ranch to speak with her today ... presumably because she's been spending a lot of time with Paris, and knows her state of mind.
12:44 PM PT -- Jackson brothers Jackie, Marlon and Tito just sent this statement to TMZ: "Thank you for the outpouring of concern and support for Paris. She is safe and doing fine. We truly appreciate you respecting our family privacy at this time."

11:33 AM PT -- Katherine Jackson's attorney tells TMZ ... "Paris is physically fine and is getting appropriate medical attention."

The lawyer, Perry Sanders, adds, "Being a sensitive 15-year-old is difficult no matter who you are. It is especially difficult when you lose the person closest to you."

10:28 AM PT:  TMZ has found several photos of Paris in which it appears Paris' arm has possible cutting scars. We don't know when the other was taken.

10:14 AM PST:  A source connected to the family tells TMZ ... Paris "threw a fit" last night after she was told she couldn't go to a Marilyn Manson concert.  We're told she ran into her room screaming and slammed the door.

10:14 AM PST: Debbie Rowe's lawyer, Eric George, tells TMZ: "We appreciate everyone's thoughts for Paris at this time and their respect for the family's privacy."

9:51 AM PST:  A source closely connected to Paris tells TMZ ... she has "tried this [a possible suicide attempt] in the past" but "this was far more serious.  It was not a cry for help." 



Paris Jackson was rushed to the hospital early Wednesday morning, and sources tell us it was a suicide attempt.
 
Paris was taken out of her Calabasas family house on a stretcher at around 2 AM and taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital.

The 911 call came in at 1:27 AM.  We're told the caller reported a possible overdose, although a source connected to the emergency response said there were multiple cuts on one of her wrists.

On Tuesday night ... Paris posted some cryptic tweets, including, "I wonder why tears are salty?" ... and "yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away now it looks as though they're here to stay."

We're told she's doing ok.

On May 19, Paris said, "Kurt Cobain is Jesus" during a video chat with someone ... and she posted the whole exchange on Vine.

READ MORE:

http://www.essence.com/2013/06/05/report-paris-jackson-rushed-hospital-suicide-attempt

http://www.tmz.com/2013/06/05/paris-jackson-hospitalized-attempted-suicide-911-call/ 

Clear Channel, Dualtone Strike Revenue Agreement

Clear Channel Media has announced its latest direct licensing deal, this time with Dualtone Music Group, an independent rock label based in Nashville, Tenn. The agreement allows Dualtone artists to share revenue from Clear Channel’s broadcast and digital radio.

Dulatone specializes in roots and indie rock and includes such artist as the Grammy-nominated Lumineers, Guy Clark, Shovels & Rope, Ivan & Alysoha, and Little Comets. Additionally, the label’s catalog includes titles by Brett Dennen, Mark Olson, Daniel Johnston, Townes Van Zandt and June Carter Cash.

Exclusive: Clear Channel, Big Machine Strike Deal to Pay Sound-Recording Performance Royalties To Label, Artists

"Dualtone is dedicated to the long-term career development of each artist on our roster, and radio plays an essential role in their success," said Scott Robinson, CEO of Dualtone in a statement. "We will do whatever we can to help ensure a vibrant future for Internet radio as well as recognizing the continuing importance of broadcast radio. This is how our artists can reach as many of their fans as possible - wherever they are, on whatever device they're using - and is an invaluable factor in their success."

Over the course of the last year, Clear Channel has systemically signed similar deals with several independent record labels, including Big Machine Records, Fearless Records, Glass Note Entertainment Group, DashGo, rpm Entertainment, Robbins Entertainment, Naxos, eOne and Wind-up.

According to Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, they currently serve 150 cities through 850 owned radio stations in the U.S. with an average of 243 million monthly listeners.

“Dualtone has achieved enormous success over the past few years, in large part due to their nurturing approach to emerging artists,” said Bob Pittman, CEO of Clear Channel, in a statement. “Their business philosophy is similarly focused on the long term, so they understand that Clear Channel is trying to move the digital radio industry towards a more sustainable model for the future and ensure fans get the music they want when and where they want it. We’re excited to partner with Dualtone.” 

Surely, this deal will not be the last between Clear Channel and independent record labels.

Eminem Busted W/ Kendrick Lamar & More In-Studio

Grammy-winning rapper Eminem is doing nothing to slow down buzz about a highly anticipated solo album being in the works by now getting spotted with Kendrick Lamar, Royce Da 5'9 and more in the studio. 

While details are extremely limited, a new photo of the bunched up crew has started to circulate.

The Black Hippy crew (Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, Ab-Soul and Jay Rock) were in Detroit this Wednesday (June 5), and had the opportunity to link up with Eminem in the studio. Along with Em, Slaughterhouse's Royce Da 5'0 and Mr. Porter were also in the cut. Will we see a collaboration in the future? Only time will tell. (Baller Status)

Last month, comedian Chris Rock briefly talked about clocking in studio time with Slim Shady.

"Yeah, yeah, but money does that," Chris jokingly said when an interviewer said Em looked younger in the photo. "I'm 65, man! [laughs] Money is the best lotion in the world. [What were we doing?] I can't really say. I'm saying, hey, you know, I've been on, hey, hey, I was on the Kanye record, maybe I'm on the Eminem record. You never know. You never know!" (Fuse TV)

G.O.O.D Music's Big Sean recently discussed linking up with Em.

"It was crazy just coming from Detroit. We sat and talked for a couple of hours, even before we did anything musically," Sean revealed in an interview. "So, I was just telling them how much--how crazy it is man coming from The D. Them was the superstars. Them was the heroes in rap music. And they showed me that you can be worldwide. Cause it was always local heroes, but obviously one of the biggest rappers in the world is from Detroit. It was a big deal there. It was an honor man, straight up." (NBC Nitecap)

Back in March, rap mogul Dr. Dre updated fans on Em's long-awaited LP.

"Em is finishing up his project," Doc revealed in an interview. "And for me, man, I've just gotten inspired again to go back into the studio, so I'm just really having fun with life and having fun with being creative and trying new and different things with myself, just trying to stay active. As you know, it's been almost 30 years for me in music. It's a little bit difficult to keep getting inspired to get back in there but you know, music is my first love and I'm going to continue to do that as long as I can." ("Big Boy's Neighborhood")

Warner Bros.' 'Man of Steel' Nabs $170 Million in Promotional Dollars

The Superman reboot has 98 partners -- more than "The Dark Knight Rises" -- with Sears playing a "dramatic role" in the film, plus action figures (Mattel), razor blades (Gillette), cars (Chrysler), shoes (Converse) and even the National Guard.

This story first appeared in the June 14 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine.

It's a bird! It's a planet! It's an ad!

Warner Bros. has booked a whopping 98 promotional partners worldwide — so far — that are providing about $170 million in support (on top of paid ads) for Man of Steel. That’s even more than The Dark Knight Rises’ $150 million in third-party promos last summer. In addition to those already on board, Warners sources say even more international partners are expected before the movie takes flight June 14 in the U.S. and elsewhere this summer.

Warner Bros. would not discuss their third-party promotions or provide any figures but did confirm some of those who are involved. Sources say that Man of Steel has been a much easier movie to pitch to partners than The Dark Knight Rises, which was darker in theme and plot.

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Clark Kent’s alter ego may not be as joyful as the singing penguins who created a marketing glow that helped propel Happy Feet into merchandising history, but Superman is seen as an all-American figure, a real hero and someone whom people of all ages can admire. That makes the reinvented hero someone advertisers want to associate with.

Along with DC Comics regular partners like Mattel, with a line that includes a variety of action figures and collectibles (priced from around $10 to over $100), a partial list of partners includes toys from Lego, JAKKS Pacific (collectable figures) and Fisher Price (Super Friends for toddlers), shoes from Converse, costumes from Rubie’s, Hallmark cards, as well as apparel collections from Kinetics, Junk Food and Bioworld.

In the U.K., Chrysler is offering two new series of vehicles inspired by Man of Steel. The S-Series comes with oversized black alloy wheels, a dark steel grill and interior accents and a matte-black roof and hood.

Chrysler is also producing two, and only two, concept cars, that will have everything from embroidered carpet mats to a Man of Steel-branded key fob. They will be part of a contest in the U.K. with the cars going to two lucky winners.

There are also Nokia phones and interactive apps, Carls Jr. Super cheeseburgers, Hershey’s Twizzlers on Facebook (where fans create and star in a personalized video) as well as two retail partners -- which is unusual -- Walmart (selling licensed merchandise and tickets to a special screening) and Sears (one of whose stores features in a dramatic twist in the film).

Even the U.S. Army National Guard has enlisted with a Soldier of Steel promotion.

UMe, Muve Music Launch Motown Campaign

Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) and digital music service Muve Music are teaming up to celebrate the Motown legacy. 

Each week in June, Black Music Month, classic music as well as special commentary by founding artists of the iconic label will be featured. 

It is the first time that Muve Music, a division of wireless provider Cricket Communications, has launched such a label campaign.

Spotlighting the music of the Jackson 5, Supremes and the Marvelettes during the June 4 premiere week, the campaign focuses on Marvin Gaye, the Mary Jane Girls and Diana Ross the week of June 11. Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, Teena Marie and the Commodores will be showcased the week of June 18. And rounding out the month will be Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, the Four Tops, Martha & the Vandellas and Rick James. Among the artists providing special commentary during the month will be Duke Fakir of the Four Tops, Mary Wilson of the Supremes, Otis Williams of the Temptations and JoJo of the Mary Jane Girls.

In addition to being offered a host of Motown trivia, listeners can enter a sweepstakes to win artwork and music, Those who download UMe’s latest album release, Motown – The Musical, will be automatically entered for a chance to win a Motown Prize Pack. The package includes a commemorative Motown award-style wall plaque and the Motown: The Complete No. 1’s box set featuring nearly 200 classic songs.

“It’s invigorating to see a modern digital music service pay homage to Motown,” states the Temptations’ Williams in a release announcing the campaign. “Much of the music that we hear today can be attributed to the paths blased during the Motown era.”

Jay-Z Hooks Up W/ Ex-Rap Foe, Gets The Internet Talking

Rap mogul Jay-Z must have something big up his sleeve by topping off recent in-studio Raekwon and Drake sessions with none other than his one-time rap foe Nas. 

Along with Nasty Nas, a new photo shows Young Hov clocking in studio time with close friends TimbalandJustin Timberlake. and

If there was a competition for hip hop collaborations, then this would surely be the "Dream Team" -- Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Nas and Timbaland. The foursome have been snapped together in the studio, and they're seemingly in good spirits as they pour over some tunes. The well-connected Lenny S--aka the "Kodak Man" - shared the photo to the 44,000-plus followers of his "Kodaklens" Instagram page. His caption reads: "JAY x JT x NAS x TIMBO Rat Pack sh*t. For some this is "Work"... For us it's just Fun. #RocNation" Quite what the fruits of those "fun" sessions sound like is the big unanswered question. (Billboard)

Last month, Jay had the Internet rumbling over a snapshot with Young Money's Drake.

And another Jay-Z collaboration is on the horizon. After Raekwon instagrammed a picture of himself and Hove a couple of days ago, another pic of Jay and Drake has now surfaced. The picture was taken by Lenny Santiago, the longtime A&R over at Def Jam and friend of Jay. This caption has been added: "Warning: Please be very afraid of the music we're working on. OVO x ROCNATION" As we know, Drizzy is working on his new album Nothing Was The Same this summer, it is also rumored that Jay-Z is working on a full-length as well. (Hype Trak)

Earlier the same week, a photo of Jigga and Raekwon together landed on the Internet.

Jay-Z and Raekwon on the same track? It's pretty much a dream come true for 90s rap heads. Both are wizards with the drug rap and crimes tales but from two completely different sides of the hustlers spectrum. However, they definitely share some common ground and have helped keep the integrity in New York rap. Thanks to Lenny S., we know a collabo is on the way. Was the RZA there?? Please. (Miss Info TV)

Along with the potential music collaborations, Jay has also kept busy on the business side of the entertainment industry.

Jay-Z is about to ink a hugely lucrative deal with Samsung Mobile, sources tell Page Six. The contract is said to be worth as much as $20 million. One source said, "The eight-figure deal will be inked in the next few weeks, and is the biggest of its kind. You can speculate that he'll want to develop some kind of new music-streaming service to promote his acts and music on mobile devices." (New York Post)

Carey Mulligan Eyed to Play Hillary Clinton in Biopic (Exclusive)

Though Scarlett Johansson, Jessica Chastain and Emma Stone have been rumored to be in the "Rodham" mix, the Brit actress has emerged as the top choice.

 

Carey Mulligan has emerged as the front-runner to play Hillary Rodham Clinton in Rodham, Temple Hill and The Arlook Group’s biopic of the former first lady, New York senator and secretary of state.

The Great Gatsby actress is the producers' top choice to play Clinton during the formative years of her storied career in public service, according to several sources. Several American actresses' names have been bandied about to take on the widely admired but often polarizing figure, including Scarlett Johansson, Jessica Chastain and Emma Stone. Ironically, the British actress, who was nominated for a best actress Oscar for her starring role in An Education, has never been mentioned.

Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that the actress will have a sit-down with director James PonsoldtThe Spectacular Now), but sources say both sides are eager for it to work. (

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However, insiders close to the production caution that no decision has been made and that others actresses are still in the mix.

The indie drama portrays Rodham as a young lawyer on the committee involved in President Richard Nixon's impeachment, and her juggling a diverging career path with her unresolved feelings for future president Bill Clinton.

Young Il Kim wrote the script, which was on the 2012 Black List.

Richard Arlook is producing alongside Temple Hill's Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen.
UTA, which reps Kim and Ponsoldt, is handling domestic distribution rights.

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Mulligan has emerged as one of the most in-demand among the twentysomething set, landing the iconic role of Daisy Buchanan in Gatsby. The role of a young Clinton is one of the most sought-after among Hollywood's under-40 set in recent years.

Mulligan, whose recent credits include Shame, Drive and Never Let Me Go, will next appear in the Coen brothers' Inside Llewyn Davis.

She is repped by CAA and Julian Belfrage & Associates in the U.K.

E-mail: Borys.Kit@THR.com, Tatiana.Siegel@THR.com; Twitter:@Borys_Kit, @TatianaSiegel27

Is Interracial Cheerios Spot Worth Discussing?

In case you haven’t heard by now, Cheerios found itself receiving backlash for a recent commercial that featured an interracial family. 

According to MSNBC, the commercial got offensive comments making references to Nazis, “troglodytes,” and “racial genocide.” It was so vile that comments were disabled for the video on YouTube. 

The silver lining, however, is that the video has 21,651 likes to its 1,453 dislikes (at press time).

The commercial itself, is very sweet and you’d have to be devoid of a soul to deny that fact. Check it out:

General Mills is standing behind the commercial 100%. Camille Gibson, the brand’s vice president of marketing said in a statement:

“Consumers have responded positively to our new Cheerios ad. At Cheerios, we know there are many kinds of families, and we celebrate them all.” On Monday’s TODAY Show, she added: “The [YouTube] comments that were made were, in our view, not family friendly. And that was really the trigger for us to pull them off. … Ultimately we were trying to portray an American family. And there are lots of multicultural families in America today.”