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SEAN ‘DIDDY’ COMBS’ former protege LOON has quit rap and converted to Islam, announcing his religious crusade on a leading Arabic news network.
The star, real name Chauncey Hawkins, released his self-titled 2003 album on Combs’ Bad Boy Records, but he has since decided to turn his back on a career in hip-hop to focus on his faith.
He has abandoned his stage moniker, changed his name to Amir Junaid Muhadith, and now dons traditional Islamic dress.
And he’s sealed his dedication to the religion by making the holy trip to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, using the opportunity to appear on the Middle East’s only independent news channel, Al Jazeera, to tell fans of his lifestyle change.
He says during the broadcast, "Loon is working his way out of my system. (I’m) happy to be accepting Islam, and finding the peace of mind I was always searching for in the music business… Thanks to Islam I was able to complete my search and now I’m very much at peace. (My) Bad Boy days are over, I’m now what you call a good boy." But the artist formerly known as Loon is refusing to rule out a return to the microphone in the future, adding: "Right now I’m focusing on studying Islam… But Allah knows best, maybe I will (return to rap)." He’s not the first star to turn his back on a music career to follow his faith - Cat Stevens became Yusuf Islam when he converted to Islam in the 1970s, Brian ‘Head’ Welch quit rockers Korn to become a born-again Christian and Loon’s rap peers Mase and DMX have both stepped away from the limelight to preach.
All four have staged recent musical comebacks.

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Rap superstar LIL WAYNE is facing a lawsuit from gig promoters in the Bahamas after allegedly failing to honour a concert commitment - because he was too tired.
The Lollipop hitmaker, real name Dwayne Carter, Jr., was hired by Red City Entertainment and given a $210,000 (£140,000) advance to perform on the tropical island last September (08).
But, when Wayne didn’t show for the performance, police were called to investigate and he was found passed out in his hotel room, reports TMZ.com.
The promoters filed suit in a Bahamas court on Thursday (09Jul09). They are asking for the return of the advanced pay cheque, in addition to the $222,000 (£148,000) they paid in expenses and other concert costs.

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JAY-Z has re-affirmed his position as the King of Hip-Hop - his past year earnings of $35 million (£23.3 million) have placed him at the top of a new Forbes magazine fortune list.
The Big Pimpin’ hitmaker, real name Shawn Carter, raked in the cash from his various music, fashion and lifestyle ventures, including his new Roc Nation record label and his Rocawear clothing line.
He beat pals Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and Kanye West to the top spot - they ranked just behind Jay-Z with $30 million (£20 million) and $25 million (£16.7 million), respectively.
The Forbes magazine Hip-Hop Cash Kings 2009 honour comes just weeks after Jay-Z was named the most powerful person in the rap industry.
He claimed the number one position on hip-hop magazine The Source’s Power 30 list in June (09), while his wife, R&B superstar Beyonce, was declared the Best Paid Celebrity Under 30 with a 12-month total of $87 million (£58 million) in earnings in another Forbes poll earlier this week (begs06Jul09).
The top 10 stars in the Hip Hop Cash Kings 2009 list are as follows:
1. Jay-Z - $35 million
2. Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs - $30 million
3. Kanye West - $25 million 4= 50 Cent and Akon - $20 million (£13.3 million)
6. Lil Wayne - $18 million (£12 million)
7. Timbaland - $17 million (£11.3 million)
8. Pharrell Williams - $16 million (£10.6 million)
9. T-Pain - $15 million (£10 million)
10. Eminem - $14 million (£9.3 million)
.

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Actress HAYDEN PANETTIERE struggled with early acting success in high school because jealous classmates hated her and made her life a misery.
The Heroes star insists she was "tortured" by kids in middle school - because they wouldn’t let her join in their fun.
She tells the upcoming issue of Details magazine, "I was tortured, emotionally tortured by these girls. Every time I came back from filming, it would be me trying to find my way back into the clique. And they weren’t having it." But she started realising she was a little "different" years before the problems started: "I remember hearing in first grade, ‘Oh, why does she get to skip school?’ It wasn’t like I suddenly started feeling different. I always knew that I was." Panettiere was just six when she landed her first U.S. TV role.

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TV star TOM SELLECK plants a tree on his California ranch every time a close friend dies.
The actor decided on the gesture after crooner Dean Martin, who once owned the estate, died - and he has quickly created a mini forest of remembrance.
The former Magnum, P.I. star reveals, "I plant trees for people - oak trees, sycamores, California peppers.
"I planted a tree for Dean. And I planted one when my friend Frank Sinatra died. President Reagan and Nancy have a tree, because I knew them pretty well.
"On my own I’ve probably planted over 2,000 trees." And the gesture appears to be paying off for the actor - his ranch has become a successful avocado farm.

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PATRICIA ARQUETTE has officially reconciled with her actor husband THOMAS JANE, six months after filing for divorce.
Arquette cited "irreconcilable differences" as she sought to end her two-year marriage to the The Punisher star in January (09) - but she has had second thoughts.
The couple reportedly reunited just weeks after the split and marked the reconciliation by sending out joint invitations to friends and family for a party at their Los Angeles home.
And now Arquette has formally asked a Los Angeles court to dismiss her divorce petition, according to TMZ.com.

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Socialite PARIS HILTON will take the stand in a Miami, Florida court on Friday (10Jul09) to testify against allegations she failed to adequately promote her 2006 movie flop PLEDGE THIS!.
The hotel heiress is being sued for breach of contract by bosses at Worldwide Entertainment Group Inc., who claim she neglected to honour promotion and publicity agreements for the film, insisting she owes investors a massive $8.3 million (£5.5 million).
The movie executives claim Hilton was paid $1 million (£666,670) for her acting services and for "reasonable promotion and publicity" for the film, which featured the socialite/actress as the president of an exclusive sorority.
A judge rejected a motion by Hilton’s legal team to dismiss the lawsuit in May (09) and the trial began on Thursday (09Jul09).
Hilton, who maintains she did her best to promote the picture, is expected in court on Friday.
Pledge This! failed to set the box office alight upon its release, garnering just $2.9 million (£1.93 million) worldwide.

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Director SPIKE LEE lost his composure during MICHAEL JACKSON’s Los Angeles memorial on Tuesday (07Jul09) when the King of Pop’s daughter PARIS voiced her devastation at the loss of her beloved father.
The filmmaker was one of many celebrities who joined Jackson’s family, friends and fans at the Staples Center to mourn the late superstar. Lee admits he managed to hold off the tears throughout the emotional ceremony - until 11-year-old Paris stepped forward and addressed the audience in the closing moments of the event.
Fighting back sobs, she told the crowd, "Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine and I just wanted to say, I love him so much." Lee, who directed Jackson’s They Don’t Care About Us music video in 1996, insists no one in the stadium could stop the tears from flowing, and he can’t imagine what the singer’s three children are going through.
He tells People.com, "How can you even comprehend a young daughter bemoaning the loss of their dear father, their daddy. We know Michael the entertainer, but to her, that’s just Daddy.
"That (Paris’ speech) was raw. Raw emotion. Nobody had a dry eye. That was a killer." And Lee is still in awe of Jackson’s status as a global icon: "I’m not trying to disrespect anybody, Elvis or Frank Sinatra, but what Michael did globally - there wasn’t anybody in the world who did not love Michael Jackson."

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Filmmakers behind SACHA BARON COHEN’s new comedy BRUNO have officially axed scenes featuring LA TOYA JACKSON from the movie’s final cut in the wake of her brother MICHAEL JACKSON’s death.
Jackson made an accidental cameo in the film after British funnyman Cohen convinced her he was an Austrian fashion journalist, called Bruno, for a skit in his new film.
During La Toya’s appearance, the comedian jokes about the Thriller hitmaker and attempts to steal his contact details from his sister’s cell phone.
Producers omitted the scene when it was screened at the Los Angeles premiere on 25 June (09) - the same day the King of Pop died.
And they’ve decided to leave it out altogether, fearing its inclusion would be in bad taste.
A spokeswoman for the Bruno movie says, "Out of respect for the Jackson family, the filmmakers have decided to remove a small scene involving La Toya Jackson." Meanwhile, a similar move has been made by producers of new Bollywood movie Short Kut: The Con Is On - they’ve removed a scene ridiculing Jackson’s dance style after receiving complaints about the sketch.

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BEN AFFLECK has spoken out about his high-profile relationship with former girlfriend JENNIFER LOPEZ - insisting it was bad for his movie career.
The actor began dating the singer in 2002 after starring in Gigli with her, and the pair later became engaged before splitting up shortly before their scheduled wedding in 2004.
Affleck is adamant he should never have got involved in the first place - because the publicity surrounding their romance tainted his career.
He says, "I was no longer in control of my life. I thought I wanted certain things, but I didn’t. I got lost. I felt suffocated, miserable and gross. I should never have gone down that route or got sucked in to all the publicity.
"I was typecast as myself. Too many people weren’t getting past what they read about me. That was damaging. I can tell from experience it’s bad for you, and bad for your career. So I took a break, went away for a while and let things calm down." And he admits he is much happier with his wife Jennifer Garner and their two daughters, three-year-old Violet and six-month-old Seraphina to look after.
He adds, "Work has taken a back seat. My job is not as important as it was. Saying that having a family changed my life is a cliche. But it’s true - it re-arranged my life and made me see clearly."

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AVRIL LAVIGNE’s venture into the fashion industry has been so successful, she’s extending her Abbey Dawn collection to include children’s clothing.
The Sk8er Boi hitmaker launched her own designs last year (08) and young fans of the singer will soon be able to dress like their idol too.
Lavigne admits some of the kids’ pieces are so adorable, she wants to wear them herself: "We have a really cute zebra hoodie with ears, and I’m like, ‘Can I fit into the extra large? Because I really like these!’" But Lavigne isn’t stopping there - she’s building on her fashion empire with her own perfume too, named Black Star, which was two years in the making.
She adds, "It’s really me in a bottle."

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EMMA WATSON has brushed off her embarrassing wardrobe malfunction at Tuesday’s (07Jul09) HARRY POTTER premiere in London - insisting it could have been a lot worse.
The 19-year-old star braved torrential rain on the red carpet during the world premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, alongside co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint.
She was snapped by photographers accidentally flashing her panties to hundreds of fans and the world’s press as she tried to gather her dress up to avoid stepping on the hem.
But she has laughed off the incident and insists it could have been worse: "This was a small wardrobe malfunction; that happens. I don’t actually remember it happening. At least I’m wearing underwear!"

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MICHAEL JACKSON will be buried with his iconic white glove - at the request of his sister LA TOYA JACKSON.
The King of Pop’s longtime costumers, Dennis Tompkins and Michael Bush, designed the Thriller hitmaker’s burial suit, and it has now emerged the superstar’s look was completed with a single white leather glove created by Dorothy Gaspar, who was commissioned to design the gloves for Jackson’s ill-fated This Is It comeback tour.
According to TMZ.com, the accessory chosen by the Jackson family was one covered in Swarovski crystals that Gaspar made for the singer over a decade ago.
Jackson’s brothers, who served as pallbearers at his Staples Center memorial service in Los Angeles on Tuesday (07Jul09), all wore matching yellow ties, sunglasses and the late pop superstar’s trademark glittering glove.
The singer’s gold casket took centre stage at the ceremony and his body is currently being held at a top secret location.
His final resting place remains a mystery, but reports suggest the pop star’s remains have been returned to Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills, where family members staged a private service before the public memorial.
A burial permit has reportedly been filed by the family in Los Angeles County, suggesting Jackson’s remains will be interred in Los Angeles.

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A criminal who inspired JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE’s movie ALPHA DOG is facing a death penalty after he was found guilty of murder.
Drug dealer Jesse James Hollywood was convicted of kidnapping and killing 15-year-old Nicholas Markowitz in 2000 over a debt owed by his half-brother.
Markowitz’s sibling, small-time drug dealer Ben, owed Hollywood more than $2,000 (£1,333) worth of marijuana.
Nicholas was held hostage for several days, before being hit over the head with a shovel, bound with duct tape, and shot several times.
Hollywood went on the run following the murder, until he was caught in Brazil in 2005. The crime inspired the 2007 film Alpha Dog, starring Timberlake, Sharon Stone and Bruce Willis.
A jury at Santa Barbara Superior Court, California also found the 29 year old guilty of being a principal in a murder committed in the course of a kidnapping, and being involved in a crime in which an assault weapon or machine gun was used.
The guilty verdict means Hollywood could be eligible for the death penalty.
Four others have already been convicted in connection with the crime.

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Celebrated Jewish singer JO AMAR has died of complications from Parkinson’s disease. He was 79.
The Morocco-born entertainer, a popular performer in Jewish communities around the world, passed away on 29 June (09) after several months of ill health.
He emigrated to Israel in 1956 and quickly became a star in the country - just last year (08), a musical tribute evening was held in Jerusalem in his honour.
Both a singer and composer, Amar recorded over 20 albums throughout his career and his hits included Yismah Moshe, Shalom LeVen Dodi, Barcelona and Song of the Drunkard.
Amar is survived by his sons David and Ouri, two daughters, Esther Umanoff and Madeleine Labovitz, 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

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Rocker JACK WHITE is so used to playing the guitar at deafening noise levels, he can no longer tell how loud it is.
The White Stripes and Raconteurs star always cranks his amp up to the max - but only realises the exact volume when sound engineers show him decibel readings on a meter.
He tells Rolling Stone magazine, "I need to feel it (volume). I’ve gone through things where I go onstage and the sound guy at soundcheck comes over and he’ll hold the decibel meter and show it to me while we’re playing - and it’s 127 decibels.
"That’s not good. And I can’t even tell. If it’s not right there, it feels wimpy, it feels uninspiring."

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Rocker NOEL GALLAGHER has berated his brother LIAM for ordering fans to stop clapping at OASIS gigs.
During a concert earlier this week (07Jul09) in Coventry, England frontman Liam shouted at the 50,000-strong crowd and ordered them not to applaud during the performance.
But guitarist Noel is fuming at his brother’s antics, insisting fans should be able to enjoy themselves when they have paid for a ticket.
He says, "In the middle of The Shock Of The Lightning, 50,000 people have got their hands in the air and he starts shouting at them to stop clapping. I was thinking, that’s nice - you pay 70 quid (pounds) for a ticket to be told what to do by the singer. ‘You! Stop enjoying yourself - no clapping in between these songs’."

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LUCY LIU’s family refuse to admit they’re related to the star - because they’re embarrassed by her fame.
The actress shot to stardom in U.S. TV show Ally McBeal and has since appeared in hit movies including Charlie’s Angels, Kill Bill and opposite Keira Knightley in Domino.
But her older brother and sister, along with her parents, refuse to let anyone know she is part of their family - because they don’t want to be judged by her high profile status.
Liu says, "There’s always sacrifices. My family don’t generally say that they’re related to me - my sister doesn’t say she’s my sister - because they don’t want to be judged or lauded based on who I am." And the 40 year old admits it took her parents a while to get used to her choice of career, because they never wanted her to be an actress.
She adds, "I think my parents are happy about my career now, but originally I was like, ‘Why don’t you support whatever I want to do? If I wanted to sell beef on the street why wouldn’t you want to support me?’ But it’s not about that. Parents never stop being parents, and yet you want them to be your friends at a certain age and that’s just not going to happen."

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