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Rapper N.O.R.E. has accused hip-hop mogul JAY-Z of sending him into a spiral of depression and obesity - by offering him a job and then handing it to someone else.
N.O.R.E. recently revealed he has turned vegan in a bid to shed the pounds after piling on weight over the past few years.
He claims he turned to eating after Jay-Z lied to him about a job offer back in 2005, when he launched Roc-La-Familia, a subsidiary of his Roc-A-Fella record label.
The Nothin’ MC says, "The only problem that I had. He (Jay-Z) said, ‘Yo N.O.R.E. I’m gonna make you the president of Roc-La-Familia. So here I am, I’m like, that’s big for me.
"And then the next week, Juan Perez is the president of Rock-La-Familia."

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The actor playing SEAN ‘DIDDY’ COMBS in the new NOTORIOUS B.I.G. biopic has made a public plea to BIGGIE SMALLS’ former mistress LIL’ KIM - urging her to pay close attention to the moving performance by the actress playing her in the film.
Kim - real name Kimberly Jones - has slammed the slain rapper’s widow, Faith Evans, and his mother, Voletta Wallace, insisting the pair helped producers of Notorious portray her in a negative light.
And although the female MC admits she will watch the film to ensure she hasn’t been defamed, her disdain for the project has prompted her to begin writing her own life story.
But Derek Luke, who portrays Combs in the movie, is convinced she’ll be stunned by the final product, thanks to actress Naturi Naughton.
Luke says, "Kim if you’re watching: I’ve never gotten a chance to meet you but I just want to big up this actress by the name of Naturi.
"I didn’t know anything about you, but I believe in this film, that a lot of it was real. She made you so human, she explained any type of pain you were going through. So sweetheart, check it out. I don’t know what the deal is, but I just want to salute you and say you are a hip-hop giant." The film tells the story of rap legend Smalls, also known as Notorious B.I.G., who was killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles in 1997.

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CHRISTINA AGUILERA threw a star-studded birthday party for her son MAX - basing the event on classic children’s tale WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE.
The singer and her husband Jordan Bratman hosted the event at their Beverly Hills, California home on 17 January (09) to celebrate the tot turning one earlier that week (12Jan09), according to People.com.
The party, which was full of costumed mythical characters from the book and decorated with festive blue, green and pink balloons, was attended by 40 guests, including Aguilera’s friend Nicole Richie and her boyfriend Joel Madden.
The couple welcomed their own daughter, Harlow, just a day before Aguilera gave birth to Max (11Jan08) at the same Los Angeles hospital.

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Actor DEREK LUKE initially rejected his role as SEAN ‘DIDDY’ COMBS in new BIGGIE SMALLS biopic NOTORIOUS until he received a telephone call from the hip-hop mogul urging him to sign on to the project.
Luke immersed himself into the new movie, playing Bad Boy boss Combs, in the story of rap legend Smalls, also known as Notorious B.I.G., who was killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles in 1997.
But the actor admits he was reluctant to take on the film, fearing he’d never have enough time to prepare for the weighty role.
He says, "I was the last person cast. I had a week, Jamal (Woolard, who portrayed Smalls) had like six months. I wish I had six months. As a matter of fact, I kind of turned the project down a few times because I felt like I didn’t have enough time… I wanted to do it right.
"It wasn’t until I got the call from Mr. Combs that I decided this was the thing to do. I didn’t want to mess it up.
"I’ll do anybody else’s story, but I did not want to do this story because it’s like Biggie’s not dead, so I didn’t want to touch it."

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TOM HANKS has hit out at Mormon supporters of the gay-marriage ban in California - calling it "un-American" for homosexuals to be denied the right to wed.
Hanks, who executive produces hit TV series Big Love about a polygamous Mormon family, is convinced U.S. politicians will eventually step in and change the country’s laws regarding same-sex unions.
And while he calls polygamy a "bizarre offshoot of the Mormon Church," the actor has hammered some of its followers for their alleged involvement in passing controversial bill Proposition 8 - outraged that modern society can still be prejudiced against gay relationships.
He says, "The truth is that a lot of Mormons gave a lot of money to the church to make Prop-8 happen. There are a lot of people who feel that is un-American and I am one of them.
"I do not like to see any discrimination codified on any piece of paper in any of the 50 states in America.
"A little bit of light can be shed and people can see who’s responsible and that can motivate the next go around of our self correcting constitution and hopefully we can move forward instead of backwards. So let’s have faith in not only the American, but Californian constitutional process." Homosexual couples in California were granted the right to wed last year (08) but had their rights revoked just months later after the passing of the bill, which reversed the previous ruling permitting the unions.

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SHARON STONE and the OLSEN twins have seen their stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame defaced by anti-fur protesters. The shared star belonging to Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, unveiled in April 2004, was vandalised with the words "FUR HAGS!", while Stone’s marker on the Hollywood Boulevard, which she received in November 1995, is daubed with "OLD FUR HAG!".
It is not the first time these celebrities have come under fire for wearing fur - campaigners for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) frequently hold protests outside the stars’ signings and public appearances in a bid to rid fur from fashion.

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KELLY OSBOURNE has been released on bail after she was arrested for allegedly slapping a woman who insulted her fiance LUKE WORRALL.
The daughter of rocker Ozzy Osbourne is accused of confronting Sunday Mirror journalist Zoe Griffin at London nightclub Punk in August (08) over an article in which the gossip columnist teased model Worrall over not knowing how an earthquake is caused.
Griffin wrote in her column shortly after the incident, "She (Kelly) shouted loudly in my ear: ‘I have an issue with you. My boyfriend knows what an earthquake is and everyone has been laughing at him and he’s upset.’ "(Then) I felt a hard slap to my right cheekbone. I put my hand to my face while my friends looked on aghast.
"Soon Kelly came rampaging back over with a female friend jabbing a finger in the air, telling me that I’d have to watch my back if I shared my story with readers of this column. Well sorry Kelly, I won’t be silenced by bullies." Griffin called in cops over the incident and the matter is now under investigation.
Osbourne went with her lawyers to a central London police station and handed herself over voluntarily earlier this month (Jan09).
A Metropolitan Police spokesman says, "We can confirm a 24-year-old woman attended a central London police (station) by appointment on 2 January. She was arrested for common assault relating to an alleged incident in Soho in the early hours of 29 August 2008." Osbourne has been released on bail until March (09).

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Singer MARY J. BLIGE and filmmaker TYLER PERRY were among the recipients of the BET Honors on Saturday (17Jan09).
The awards ceremony - which pays tribute to the achievements of African American stars - took place in Washington, D.C. and was hosted by actress Gabrielle Union.
The show saw performances from acts including Ne-Yo, Queen Latifah, Keyshia Cole, Stevie Wonder, Anita Baker and Monica, while Joss Stone and Yolanda Adams teamed up for duet, singing Just a Prayer Away for Perry, who was honoured for his contribution to theatre and film.
Pop superstar Whitney Houston also made an appearance at the event and received a standing ovation from the crowd as she took to the stage to present an award.
Other honourees at the 2009 ceremony included dancer and choreographer Judith Jamison, basketball legend Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson, entrepreneur B. Smith and Congressman James E. Clyburn.

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JAMES EARL JONES still struggles with the debilitating stutter which prompted him to give up speaking as a teen - 60 years after a dedicated teacher pushed him to overcome the impediment.
Jones, 78, has become known in Hollywood for his booming basso voice.
But the actor admits he’s still fighting to overcome his speech problems after stumbling through his early years as a mute.
He says, "I am still a stutterer. As a child, when articulating, I began to trip all over myself and I had to get to high school before I learned how to deal with it. I gave up talking.
"In high school I had an English teacher who discovered I secretly wrote poetry, and he challenged me to read one of my poems to the class to prove that I wrote it…
"I had to prove myself. That’s how I began to address (the) problem of not being able to talk. So I got up and read the poem without stuttering, and he said, ‘OK, we’ve got something here.’"

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JAMES McAVOY is disgusted when he sees fellow thespians spread over the pages of glossy magazines, insisting stars who court fame are "not actors to me".
The Atonement star refuses to become a regular fixture on the Hollywood party circuit because he fears the public will become more interested his personal life than his acting ability.
And McAvoy hates seeing his Hollywood colleagues swarm to red carpet events or reveal too much about themselves in interviews.
He says, "There comes a point where, you just can’t watch an actor without… I just know so much about them. So how can I accept them in a role? There are just some people, they’re not actors to me. They’re chip paper. Just glossy paper.
“If I’m in a film, or a telly, or a play, then why should people come and see it? Because you know, they can just pick up some f***ing rubbish magazine, and see me in that.”

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IRONSIDE star DON GALLOWAY has died, aged 71.
Galloway, best-known for his role as Detective Sergeant Ed Brown in TV crime drama, died on 8 January (09) in a Reno, Nevada, hospital following a stroke.
The actor began his television career with a role in 1962 soap opera The Secret Storm; he appeared on Ironside opposite Raymond Burr between 1967 and 1975 and more recently returned to the small screen on daytime drama General Hospital.
His other TV credits include roles on Marcus Welby, M.D., Love, American Style, Fantasy Island, Hotel, Charlie’s Angels, Dallas, MacGyver and Murder, She Wrote.
His film credits include 1983 comedy The Big Chill.
Galloway is survived by his wife, Linda Marie, two daughters from his first marriage, Tracy and Jennifer, two stepchildren, Sheila and Robert, and three grandchildren.

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OUTKAST star ANDRE 3000 is reportedly struggling to sell items from his luxury clothing line - with the brand falling victim to the current global economic downturn.
The star launched the Benjamin Bixby label in September (08) but the company is now said to be facing financial difficulties due to falling sales.
The business has reportedly seen profits plummet due to a combination of the international economic crisis, the label’s high prices, and soaring production costs, according to Wooha.com.
The collection, which contains 70 pieces, ranging from wide-brimmed fedora hats to pink sweatshirts, is now reportedly being sold off at vast discount in a bid to shift stock and boost profits.
Despite the setback, the Benjamin Bixby range has been nominated for GQ magazine’s Best New Menswear Designers Award, in which the winner will land a $50,000 (£34,000) cash prize and the chance to design a collection for jeans manufacturer Levi.

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American songwriter CLINT BALLARD JR. has died, aged 77.
Ballard Jr. died on 23 December (08) at his home in Denton, Texas, after a long battle with ill health which followed a stroke in 2006.
After serving as a radio operator in the U.S. army, Ballard Jr. began his career in music by discovering and managing pop duo the Kalin Twins.
His most famous songs include 1965 tune The Game of Love and Linda Ronstadt’s 1975 number one single You’re No Good - also recorded by Dee Dee Warwick, Betty Everett and The Swinging Blue Jeans.
Jimmy Jones took Ballard Jr.’s hit Good Timin’ to the top of the British and U.S. charts in 1960.
Other tunes written by Ballard Jr. include Frankie Avalon’s Gingerbread, Ricky Nelson’s There’s Not a Minute, the Zombies’ Gotta Get a Hold of Myself and Frankie Lane’s track Journey’s End.
He left no immediate survivors.

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British rockers OASIS have been forced to scrap a gig in Dusseldorf, Germany after frontman LIAM GALLAGHER was diagnosed with a severe throat condition.
The Wonderwall hitmakers were due to play at the city’s Philipshalle on Monday (19Jan09) night but have now cancelled the concert after doctors discovered an oedema on Gallagher’s vocal chords.
The condition is not serious, but means the singer will have to rest his voice before tackling another live show.
A message sent out through the band’s official website has apologised to fans for the cancellation.
The statement reads, "Oasis have been forced to postpone the show at the Philipshalle in Dusseldorf on medical advice. Liam Gallagher who has had a sore throat for the past few shows was examined by a doctor this morning. The doctor has diagnosed an oedema on Liam’s vocal chords and has advised total rest for 48 hours.
"The concert has been rescheduled for the 4th of February. All tickets will remain valid for the new date.
"Oasis are disappointed that they cannot continue with tonight’s show as planned and would like to apologise to their fans for the inconvenience. All other dates on the Oasis European tour will go ahead as planned."

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Supermodel KATE MOSS is reportedly set to try her hand at music with the help of her rocker boyfriend JAMIE HINCE.
The British beauty has previously provided vocals for Primal Scream tracks and Babyshambles, a rock group fronted by her ex Pete Doherty.
And the blonde stunner, who turned 35 on Friday (16Jan09), will be able to focus on her passion for music with her new birthday present from Hince - a $38,000 (£26,000) Steinway grand piano.
A source tells Britain’s Daily Express, "Kate can’t play a single note on the piano but Jamie has promised her that he will teach her to play and they’ll form a duo together as he did with his (The Kills) bandmate Alison Mosshart.
"She has mentioned wanting to name it The Mossys for a laugh. It will be completely different music, though, to his Kills stuff - something much more romantic and ballad-based."

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Rapper 50 CENT ensured JIM CARREY’s 47th birthday was an event to remember by inviting him to join his G-UNIT entourage onstage during a live performance.
The Yes Man actor celebrated his big day by catching the rapper’s performance at Sundance Film Festival’s Vitaminwater house in Park City, Utah, on Saturday (17Jan09).
The birthday boy, along with his actress girlfriend Jenny McCarthy, headed directly for the balcony where the star was performing with his hip-hop group G-Unit, reports the New York Daily News.
A source tells the newspaper, "Jim and Jenny were dancing and really getting into the music, so 50 decided to bring him out to the balcony for a special rendition of In Da Club (which repeats the line "It’s your birthday").
"When Fiddy told the crowd, ‘I have a very special guest for you’, everyone was floored because he had just done a duet with Robin Thicke. They thought the surprises were over. Then 50 started singing and Jim appeared, and the crowd just lost it." Carrey didn’t show off his rapping skills - but he did win laughs after lip-synching along with 50 Cent and showing off his hip-hop dance moves.
The witness adds: "Jim was bumping and grinding with (G-Unit member) Lloyd Banks. It was pandemonium in the best way."

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TOM CRUISE was "too small" to play CLAUS VON STAUFFENBERG in new movie VALKYRIE - according to a relative of the would-be assassin.
The film tells the story of von Stauffenberg’s plot to murder Nazi leader Adolf Hitler during World War II, with Cruise taking the lead role - prompting criticism from some of the history-making colonel’s children that the casting wasn’t realistic.
And another family member has now spoken out - Franz von Stauffenberg insists Cruise has failed to capture his great-uncle’s "charisma" in the movie.
He tells German newspaper Welt am Sonntag, "Tom Cruise seems terribly cautious, almost as if he were afraid of playing the role. He tries to seem elegant but comes across as extremely stiff.
"He seems not at all decisive in the role and above all not charismatic enough. On the whole he just seems too small… From what I’ve learned about Claus von Stauffenberg from the literature, history books and family stories, he is meant to have been a charismatic man. Someone who inspired people with his smile, his humour and charm."

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KATE WINSLET was so focused on accurately portraying her character in THE READER she struggled to return to day-to-day life after filming wrapped.
The actress plays a former Nazi concentration camp guard in the post-war drama, and put all her emotions into the intense role.
And Winslet, whose performance in the film won her a Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe last week (11Jan09), admits it took months for her to bid farewell to the character.
She says, "It’s like I’ve escaped from a serious car accident and need to understand what has just happened.
"When I leave a character, I have to analyse the trance through which I have just passed. It can take me several months to say goodbye to them." And she has credited her filmmaker husband Sam Mendes with helping her back to reality: "My husband is a fantastic support. He knows when to leave me alone with a cup of tea and a pack of cigs, and, if I break down in tears, he takes me in his arms. He knows that I have to go through all that in order to ‘come back’."

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