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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Lil’ Kim will be ‘Dancing with the Stars’

On Monday, March 9, Lil’ Kim will join the new cast of the ABC series, “Dancing with the Stars.”  Other cast members include:

Former NFL star Lawrence Taylor

Actor David Alan Grier

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NBA Slam Dunk Champ Got Hops

Check out NY Knick Nate Robinson on “The Late Show with David Letterman” showing off the skills that earned him the NBA Slam Dunk Champ title at this year’s NBA All-Star event.

Russell Simmons to sell clothing in Wal-Mart

Hip-hop Russell Simmons, who designs Phat Farm apparel, will bring his fashion sense to a Wal-Mart near you.  The American Classics clothing line will launch in 350 stores nationwide within the next few weeks and is available on walmart.com, reports the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper.  The clothing appears to be preppy urban with prices ranging from a $9 T-shirt to a $29 hooded jacket.

It’s Hammertime

MC Hammer now has his own reality show, “Hammertime,” which will premiere later this year on the A&E network.  The show will follow the rapper and his family, reports Variety.  Hammer will also be an executive producer of the show.