Kris Kross rapper denies cancer rumors

Chris Kelly, half of the rap duo Kris Kross, denies rumors that he has cancer.  Kelly said he has alopecia, an autoimmune disorder that causes hair loss.

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Tyler Perry to buy private island

To celebrate his upcoming 40th birthday in September, Tyler Perry plans to buy himself a private island, reports People magazine. 

“I’m a loner by nature, so when I’m out there on these islands, I just feel like the only person in the world,” says Perry, whose latest film, Madea Goes to Jail, grossed a whopping $41 million its opening weekend.

The island will not be named after him, Perry said.

“I’m so sick of seeing Tyler Perry all over everywhere!”

Perry said there will be one rule on the island.

“There will be no paparazzi on my island!” he declares.

Chrisette Michele will release new album

Grammy winning artist Chrisette Michele will release her sophomore album, “Epiphany” March 31 on Def Jam Records.  Ne-Yo wrote the title track that recently entered the R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart at No. 78.

“I heard the song that Ne-Yo had written titled ‘Epiphany,’ and the word just stood out to me,” Michele tells Billboard.com. “It stood out to me because I’d been through a lot in my last relationship, and the word ‘epiphany’ exemplified exactly what happened in the end when I realized I didn’t have to put myself through it anymore.”

Michele is referring to the lawsuit she filed against her former manager, Douglas “Biggs” Ellison, accusing him of embezzlement and harassment last year. Ellison has countersued for breach of exclusive management agreement. The lawsuit is still pending.

The Roots to be Jimmy Fallon’s new house band

On March 2, “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” will premiere on NBC with rap group The Roots as its house band, reports Billboard.  The group was recommended for the job by Neal Brennan, co-creator of “Chappelle’s Show,” where The Roots served as musical supervisors.

The Roots will also participate in comedy routines on the show, said the group’s vocalist, Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter.

“There are a few things we’re trying to work out now that might be established as recurring bits,” he said.  “None of the Roots members object to taking part in any of that. We’re totally open to working our new routines and establishing things on our own.”

The group is also recording their next album and will continue to tour on weekends.

N.O.R.E. arrested after Fatburger altercation

Noreaga was charged with simple battery and disorderly conduct after punching a man three times at a Fatburger in South Beach, Florida.  Police told MTV News that the rapper threw a yellow liquid and was charged with “disrupting the normal flow of business.”

T-Pain cancels South American show after threats

Rapper T-Pain cancelled his concert in Guyana, a country in South America, after receiving death and kidnapping threats, reports Billboard.  Police authorities are investigating the phone and email threats which were received.

‘Madea’ is no. 1 at the box office

Tyler Perry’s “Madea Goes to Jail” topped the box office charts this weekend, raking in $41.1 million.  It is the biggest opening ever for Tyler Perry and for the movie’s distribution company, Lionsgate, reports Variety.  The per-screen average of $20,236 was the highest for any movie since last November’s “Twilight.”  “Madea” attracted a diverse audience with 35 percent of moviegoers being under age 35 and 13 percent being Hispanic.

Kanye West Leaks New Video

Kanye West leaked the video for his song, “Welcome to Heartbreak,” on his blog.

“This is not the next single, ‘Amazing’ is the next single,” West wrote. “This is the video we’ve been working on for the last month. We know there is another video out there using the same technique, so we were forced to drop it now.”

Director Nabil Elderkin said the “data moshing” technique was used to convey the haunting element of the song.

“I wanted to use it more of strategic way, using calculated moshes, colors and textures to compliment the effect,” the director told MTV News. “Different parts of the songs represented different feelings, and I wanted to come with a visual representation of the flow and textures that are I feel are very important in this song. I shot different things in super-slow-motion with the Phantom just for transitional movement and textures.”

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