Rapper T.I. will serve his sentence of one year and one day at a low-security prison in Forrest City, Arkansas, reports the Associated Press. Born Clifford J. Harris Jr., the 28-year-old pleaded guilty to weapons charges and must turn himself in to authorities by May 26.
Rapper DMX was released Thursday from a Phoenix jail after serving a 90-day sentence for drug, fraud and animal cruelty convictions.
He will return to court May 19 for an aggravated assault charge for allegedly throwing a tray of food at a prison guard in February. DMX plans to work on his new album,You’ll Fly With Me Later, and is interested in doing guest appearances on artists’ songs.
“He’s in good spirits,” DMX’s publicist told MTV. “He won’t focus on the past; he’s very optimistic about the future.”
R&B crooner John Legend signed his brother Vaughn Anthony to his record label, HomeSchool Records, two years ago and now plans to drop his new album, reports Billboard.
“Just being on the road and watching John, it helped me develop a lot,” says Anthony, whose first single will be “In Your Shoes,” a song co-written with his brother and currently featured on his MySpace page. “It’s been longer than I’ve wanted to wait, but now I feel like it’s really my time.”
On June 28, Jamie Foxx will emcee the BET Awards live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The O’Jays will receive a lifetime achievement award. Maxwell and Ne-Yo will also perform.
Irv Gotti, president of Ashanti’s record label Murder, Inc., said he will drop the singer.
“Our relationship has run its course. We’re in two totally different places,” the Queens-born producer told MTV about his current relationship with Ashanti this week. “We don’t really speak or talk and it’s sad, but in another way it’s like its all good. I don’t think she could win – she needs some guidance, but she’s not thinking that and honestly, I’m going to drop her.”
Check out Gotti’s chat with MTV:
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With Tuesday’s release of her new “Fantasy Ride” album, Ciara decided to keep the song she recorded with Chris Brown. Despite Brown’s recent legal troubles, Ciara thinks that “Turntables” is a great collaboration.
“You know what it is?” Ciara told MTV News. “Honestly, with that record, it’s just more about the music for me. I wanted to focus on the music and leave it at that, because it’s a record that I’ve had for a while, I love the way it sounds and it’s one of my most favorite records on the album. And if I alter it, it’s not gonna sound the same. So for me, really it’s nothing more than about the music, so I kept it there.”
Rapper Nas and his wife, “Milkshake” singer Kelis are calling it quits after five years of marriage, reports Vibe.com. Kelis, who is seven months pregnant with the couple’s first child, filed divorce papers April 30. The couple separated April 20.
Check out the divorce papers:
Singer and producer The Dream announced that he will tour with R&B singer Keyshia Cole this summer, reports Billboard. The tour will kick off May 13 in Cincinnati and conclude in Las Vegas on June 21. On May 15, the two will perform at the Chicago Theater.
Check out Maxwell’s video for his new single, “Pretty Wings.” He will begin touring in support of his new album, “BLACKsummers’night,” June 20th in Milwaukee and end August 2nd in Orlando, reports Billboard.
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Our favorite velvet teddy bear, Ruben Studdard, hopes that his fourth album, “Love IS,” will connect him to all of his “American Idol” fans. The May 19 release features production by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Studdard said his switch from J Records to Hickory Records, both distributed by SonyBMG is more in line with his fan demand for ballads sung by the reality competition winner.
“I think J Records didn’t do a good job with connecting me to my ‘American Idol’ fan base,” said Studdard to Billboard, whose 2006’s “The Return,” sold less then 240,000 copies. “I wanted to make sure we had an opportunity to make the music they want to hear, and we got that.”