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Hip-hop icon RUSSELL SIMMONS has teamed up with U.S. supermarket chain Wal-Mart to launch a new budget fashion range.
The Def Jam Records co-founder and former Phat Farm head has taken charge of American Classic, with items priced between $9.99 (£7) and $29 (£20).
The line, featuring items including knit and woven shirts, sweater vests, denims and casual sports shoes, made its debut at a Chicago, Illinois Wal-Mart on Sunday (15Feb09), and will be stocked in a total of 350 stores across the States.
Simmons stepped down as CEO of Phat Farm in 2007 and has been focusing his fashion efforts on his other brands Russell Simmons-Argyleculture and Atman.

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JIM JONES is facing legal action from a producer amid allegations the hip-hop star stole rap beats and used them on his last collaborative album, A TRIBUTE TO BAD SANTA.
Producer Ivory Keys has filed a lawsuit against Jones and E1 Music - the label formerly known as Koch Records - alleging the Byrd Gang star has failed to properly compensate and credit Keys for his work on the 2008 festive rap album, which also features the Skull Gang and comedian Mike Epps.
Keys’ spokesperson Deonta Cummings tells HipHopDX.com, "Jim stole my producer’s beats along with every other producer on the project by mastering the MP3s without written or oral permission.
"Ivory produced (the song) Byrd Gang Christmas, and (Jones) mastered every song using only MP3s of the instrumentals, and has not paid anyone a penny. His manager Yandi Smith has been lying telling everyone that they are still waiting on Koch to pay the budget… (They) said it would have been taken care of by the end of January.
"I called up Koch and talked to numerous people who then said they had paid Jim Jones and Jones Family Productions the entire budget months ago, and that part of that money was supposed to be allocated for production." And Cummings is convinced Jones will continue to treat producers in a similar way in the future: "This was supposed to be Ivory’s first placement (credited as a producer). Chris Luck, Jim’s assistant, hype man and beat collector, called me wanting sessions for four beats, so I can assure you those three other tracks will show up on other Byrd Gang/Skull Gang albums."

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British rocker BERNARD BUTLER has killed off rumours his former band SUEDE will reform - insisting the current wave of Britpop reunions is "embarrassing".
Fans of the Animal Nitrate hitmakers have campaigned for Butler and ex-bandmate Brett Anderson to re-team and follow in the footsteps of fellow 1990s chart-toppers Blur, who are plotting a 2009 comeback.
But Butler, who now works as a music producer for the likes of Tricky and Duffy, insists Suede are dead.
He says, "There’s an awful lot of Britpop reunions going on at the moment and I find it embarrassing personally. I think it’s got no relevance to what’s going on at the moment. I’m obsessively opposed to nostalgia. I hate the idea of it. It doesn’t work. And it doesn’t interest me at all. What’s important is not what I did last week, it’s what I’m going to do next week. I made great records - I love them. My kids play them now. But that’s for them and everyone else."

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DIPSET affiliate KING TUT is wanted by police in connection to a brutal stabbing just hours after he was released on bail for drug charges.
The rapper, real name Darnell Brittingham, and his promoter Brandon Buckley were arrested by New Jersey cops last Tuesday (10Feb09) after officers caught them trying to hide a stash of cocaine inside a teddy bear.
They were charged with manufacturing and intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, in addition to possession of drug paraphernalia, and released on bail on Thursday (12Feb09) morning.
But Brittingham, who has worked closely with Dipset’s Freekey Zekey, is now wanted for questioning in relation to another crime, reports New York news network 1010wins.com.
The MC is alleged to be the prime suspect in a New Jersey incident last Thursday (12Feb09) which left one woman needing treatment for seven stab wounds.
The unidentified victim is expected to recover from her injuries.

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Veteran singer PATTI LABELLE stunned fans at a recent concert when she interrupted her set to launch a vicious attack on the venue where she was performing.
The Lady Marmalade hitmaker was in the middle of her Sunday concert (15Feb09) at the Boisfeuillet Jones Civic Center in Atlanta, Georgia when she kicked off her heels and walked across the stage, prompting her rant about the 40-year-old building’s cleanliness.
She requested a towel to wipe her feet before asking the crowd: "When is someone going to take the time to fix up this theatre? "I’ve been coming to this city for 50 years. This isn’t right. You’ve got Mickey mice back there (backstage) and roaches. I’m a diabetic, and I couldn’t eat back there." The R&B singer’s voice broke as she added: "I’m up here looking all cute, but I’m suffering inside. You all deserve to be sitting in better seats. I can’t stand this place." City commissioner Dianne Harnell Cohen has since defended the venue, insisting: "We are baffled by Ms. LaBelle’s comments.
"The civic centre is not a new building, and no public money is spent to upkeep it. All money raised for the venue’s upkeep comes from revenue generated from the shows booked there."

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AMY WINEHOUSE’s mother has dismissed reports the star is ending her extended holiday in the Caribbean to return to Britain - insisting the singer needs more time to recover from her battle against drugs.
Winehouse has been enjoying a sunshine break in St. Lucia since December (08) following numerous health problems throughout 2008.
She was rumoured to be eyeing a return to London to begin plotting her chart comeback before she was hospitalised on the island last week (13Feb09).
The emergency is said to have been triggered when Winehouse ran out of prescription medication used in her battle against drink and drugs.
And the star’s mum, Janis, insists that although the holiday is having a positive affect on her daughter’s health, she still has a long way to go before she is ready to return home.
Janis says, "Amy is in a really good place at the moment. She’s eating well and has put on some weight, which I’m really pleased about.
"She’s also been doing so much out there to clear her head. She has no plans to come back home right now and definitely doesn’t want to go back to (her home in) Camden. Who knows where she’ll go, but for now she wants to be away from it all." And Janis admits she’s pleased the star agreed to the break - because it removed her from her negative influences in London.
She adds, "She just needed to get away from certain people around her who were bringing her down. She’ll be OK, she just needs to stay away from those people and her family will do everything we can to ensure she does."

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AMY WINEHOUSE’s mother is adamant her daughter will divorce her jailed husband - despite recent rumours of a reconciliation.
Lawyers for Winehouse’s spouse, Blake Fielder-Civil - currently in prison for causing actual bodily harm and perverting the course of justice - filed papers last month (Jan09) in a bid to bring the couple’s marriage to an end.
The Back to Black hitmaker was subsequently reported to have had second thoughts about the break-up, planning a trip back to Britain from her current sunshine break in the Caribbean in a final effort to salvage their relationship.
But Winehouse’s mother, Janis, has confirmed the couple is pressing ahead with making the split official.
She tells British magazine Heat, "The divorce proceedings are still going ahead. Her dad Mitch deals with that side of things." Internet gossips have speculated that Fielder-Civil could receive a multi-million dollar pay out in the divorce, and Janis Winehouse admits she doesn’t know how much money Fielder-Civil could be awarded.
She adds, "As for the money, I don’t know what is happening with regards to Blake. All I know is that we have always looked after her finances. We have a company where all of Amy’s money goes. We’re a family and we make sure we look after one another." Winehouse married Fielder-Civil in Miami, Florida in 2007.

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Another family member of RIHANNA has downplayed her alleged fight with ex-boyfriend CHRIS BROWN - insisting the pop star’s injuries are not "as bad as people make them sound".
Rihanna returned to her native Barbados last week (begs09Feb09) after she was reportedly assaulted by her then-boyfriend Brown in the early hours of 8 February (09). The incident is said to have left her in need of hospital treatment.
Brown is facing possible jail time after he was charged by Los Angeles police with making criminal threats following the heated argument.
Rihanna’s father, Ronald Fenty, confirmed on Sunday (15Feb09) the incident has put an end to the superstars’ relationship, insisting his daughter was focusing on making a recovery.
In a statement to People.com, he added, "There is some bruising. She will be all right. I think so." But Rihanna’s cousin, Yvonne Fenty, has urged the singer’s fans not to worry, adding the star is getting "her life back on track".
Yvonne tells RadarOnline, "Rihanna is holding up well. Everyone is looking after her. Her injuries weren’t near as bad as people make them sound." Brown released a statement on Sunday (15Feb09) admitting he was "saddened" by the incident, and that he was seeking solace in getting counselling from his pastor and his family.
Rihanna has yet to issue an official statement about the incident.

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An ambulance driver accused of attempting to extort millions of dollars from JOHN TRAVOLTA in the wake of his son’s death has been released from jail in the Bahamas.
Tarino Lightbourne was arrested on 23 January (09) for his alleged involvement in a reported $25 million (£17.6 million) plot to bribe Travolta and his grieving wife Kelly Preston in the hours after their teenage son Jett died.
Lightbourne allegedly conspired with former Bahamas senator Pleasant Bridgewater to release a document related to the teenager’s January (09) death, and was charged with attempted extortion and conspiracy to extort money.
Last week (11Feb09), a Bahamian judge denied Lightbourne’s requests to lower his $50,000 (£35,000) bond - but he managed to come up with the cash and was freed from Fox Hill Prison on Monday (16Feb09), according to TMZ.com.
Prosecutors plan to bring the case to trial as soon as the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas in Nassau reconvenes on 16 April (09).

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Memorabilia collected by pop icon MICHAEL JACKSON is expected to fetch at least $1.5 million (£1.1 million) when it goes to auction in April (09).
The pop superstar is selling off more than 2,000 personal belongings from his debt-ridden Neverland Ranch estate at the Julien’s Auctions sale in Beverly Hills.
Investors at the Sycamore Valley Ranch Co. - a joint venture between Jackson and an affiliate of Colony Capital LLC - agreed to take over the singer’s $24.5 million (£17.2 million) debt on the property after Jackson failed to keep up with the $3 million (£2.1 million)-a-year running costs and was forced to sell the $25 million (£17.5 million) estate.
Items to be sold include a glittering white glove covered in Swarovski crystals that Jackson wore for a stage performance of Billie Jean - estimated to sell for as much as $15,000 (£10,510) - and the gates to the 120-acre ranch, which are expected to go for at least $20,000 (£14,015).
Jackson’s 1999 Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph limo, decorated in 24-karat gold, is expected to fetch another $140,000 (£98,110).
Julien’s Auctions president Darren Julien tells the New York Post, "Michael Jackson was a collector of everything. We’ve never seen a collection that is as extensive and eccentric as his." Jackson plans to donate a portion of the proceeds from the auction to MusiCares, a charity which aims to help musicians in need.
A preview of the auction items will be held from 24 to 29 March (09) at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York’s Times Square. The sale itself will take place from 22 to 25 April (09) and will be broadcast on U.S. TV.

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JULIA ROBERTS is happiest as a full-time mother - because her three children keep her so busy, she’s "never bored".
The Hollywood actress has taken a step back from the limelight in recent years to raise her kids with husband Danny Moder; four year old twins Hazel and Phinnaeus, and Henry, 20 months.
Roberts has made just one movie a year since 2007, but she insists she doesn’t miss life as a high-profile star - because she simply doesn’t have time to think about it.
She tells Allure magazine, "I will never be bored again. Danny and I talk about, ‘What did we do with all the time we must have had?’ Because you don’t recognise it as such until you have all these little… time thieves running around your house." And being a stay-at-home mum has turned the Pretty Woman into a domestic goddess with a remedy for all ailments: "We get a lot of splinters in our house. A (trick for a) splinter is just a good light, a pair of tweezers and a lot of singing songs and passing the time: ‘La-la-la, now listen, if you eat all of your dinner, it’s distraction and extraction.’" Roberts also reveals the key to her family’s happiness, adding: "The coolest thing you can do for your children is to love each other in their presence. I’m the luckiest girl in town, I really am."

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Basketball icon CHARLES BARKLEY is teeing up to star in a new golf-themed reality TV show.
Retired Barkley is currently off the air, after bosses at network TNT suspended him from his job as a basketball analyst following his 31 December (08) arrest in Scottsdale, Arizona for driving under the influence (DUI).
But producers at The Golf Channel have negotiated a deal with the star to return to U.S. television - he’s been booked to star in The Haney Project next month (Mar09), reports the New York Post.
Barkley, an avid golfer, will appear in the seven-episode series with legendary instructor Hank Haney "to improve a swing that has been laughed at by millions and ridiculed by his closest friends".

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Hollywood starlet TARAJI P. HENSON has found the perfect way to keep her feet on the ground - she cooks breakfast for her son every day.
The actress is tipped for a glittering movie career and is nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her turn opposite Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
But she is determined not to let success go to her head - and loves caring for her teenage son Marcel by sending him off to school each day with a stomach full of "brain food".
She tells USA Today newspaper, "My son gets breakfast every morning. I don’t buy cereal. Sometimes he wants scrambled eggs. Sometimes he’ll have bacon. Or pancakes. He gets home-cooked meals every day.
"Even if I have a 5am call, I’ll cook and leave his food in the microwave before I leave. You expect a child to succeed and do well in school, but how are they going to do that if they have no brain food?"

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Former HI-DE-HI! star DIANE HOLLAND has died, aged 78.
The British actress passed away on 24 January (09) following a battle with bronchial pneumonia.
A private family funeral will be held on 28 February (09), followed by a public memorial service later this year (09).
Holland started her career in musical theatre and went on to appear in a series of successful U.K. TV shows.
She was best known for her role as dance instructor Yvonne Stewart-Hargreaves in the 1980s sitcom Hi-De-Hi, set in a British holiday camp.
Paying tribute to the late star, her agent Bo Keller says: "She had a very dry sense of humour, extremely kind hearted. I miss her very much. She was a real trooper. You could throw anything at her and she’d do it.

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Actor SHIA LABEOUF is heading to law school - he’s to star in a big-screen adaptation of renowned crime author JOHN GRISHAM’s book THE ASSOCIATE.
The Transformers star will portray a Yale Law School student with a sordid secret that leaves him vulnerable to blackmail.
The script will be adapted for Hollywood by The Departed writer William Monahan for studio giant Paramount, reports industry paper Daily Variety.

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Billionaire real estate mogul DONALD TRUMP has been hit by the global economic downturn - one of his companies has filed for bankruptcy.
Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc., of which Trump served as a boardmember, struggled to combat debts of $1.25 billion (£880 million) and filed for Chapter 11 in a New Jersey bankruptcy court on Tuesday (17Jan09).
Trump stepped down from the board last Friday (13Feb09).

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Pop star LADY GAGA has offered the starring role in her next music video to any sharp-eyed fan who can locate her missing sunglasses.
The singer is rarely photographed without a pair of funky frames - and she was left "devastated" after misplacing her favourite designer shades while on a European tour with the Pussycat Dolls.
In a desperate bid to get the eyewear back, the Just Dance hitmaker has put up a unique reward for anyone who manages to find them.
She says, "The only downer (of the tour) was that my Versaces were stolen. I’m so devastated I can barely talk.
"If anyone knows where my Biggie Smalls Versace glasses are I’ll make them the star of my next video."

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CHARLOTTE CHURCH’s rugby star boyfriend GAVIN HENSON has been questioned by police after a disturbance at a Welsh pub on Sunday (15Feb09).
Welsh ace Henson was celebrating a recent win against England’s rugby team with fellow players Lee Byrne, Mike Phillips and Andy Powell when authorities were alerted to his "particularly rowdy" behaviour.
Witnesses claim Henson first angered patrons at the Queen’s Vault pub in Cardiff, Wales, by "jumping up on the pool table and taking people’s cues off them", prompting teammate Phillips to pick up a microphone to apologise to other revellers.
A source tells the South Wales Echo: "I thought Gavin Henson’s behaviour was a disgrace. He was abusive to people in the pub and was fooling around with pool balls. Lee Byrne was good as gold and took Henson out of the pub." The pub’s manager has confirmed Phillips took to the stage to excuse his teammate’s behaviour.
After Henson was escorted out of the pub, he and Byrne reunited with their two pals on the street - only to be confronted by police, who reprimanded the men.
A spokesman for South Wales Police said: “Officers from South Wales Police were called to St Mary Street, Cardiff, at around 9.15pm on Sunday to reports of a disturbance." The matter has now been passed on to the Welsh Rugby Union for investigation.
A spokesman for Henson was unavailable for comment as WENN went to press.

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