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Rapper LUDACRIS has vowed never to fall foul of America’s Internal Revenu e Service (IRS) because he always stays on top of his taxes.
Hip-hop stars including Nas, Snoop Dogg and Method Man have all been na med and shamed as tax dodgers - but the Stand Up hitmaker, real name Chri stopher Bridges, insists he has no intention of adding his name to that l ist.
He tells Fuse TV, "I pay more in taxes than most people would ever imag ine. I guarantee you, you will never hear about Ludacris owing the damn I RS no damn money (sic)." Nas reportedly owes $3.4 million (=C2=A32.1 million) in taxes, while Sn oop Dogg is alleged to owe almost $600,000 (=C2=A3375,000).
Method Man failed to file income tax returns for three years from 2004, leading to the Wu-Tang Clan star being arrested and charged with tax eva sion in New York last year (09).

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Rap newcomer DRAKE has another hip-hop superstar to turn to while his men tor LIL WAYNE serves time in prison - JAY-Z has been providing him with w ords of advice too.
The Lollipop hitmaker took Drake under his wing and signed him to his Y oung Money record label last year (09), but earlier this month (Mar10) he was sentenced to 12 months behind bars for weapons charges.
But Drake has found another mentor in Jay-Z after working with the Empi re State of Mind star on the icon’s The Blueprint 3 album and teaming up for a collaboration for his own upcoming debut, Thank Me Later.
He tells MTV News, "He definitely has guided me a lot, as far as his wo rds and his advice. We have a real funny rapport. I always enjoy my conve rsations with Jay. It’s good.
"When Jay says something, it’s different from anyone else. It just mean s that much more. Jay just has this aura about him. It’s like, ‘That’s wh y you’re Jay-Z.’ For a guy like me who grew up wanting to be Jay-Z, it’s influential - it’s very, very influential. We have great conversations. J ust life. I’m not (the) type of character that you have to sit down and i nstruct. I’m pretty aware of myself and how to go through this whole proc ess (music business). The conversations are just funny and good and settl es my mind."

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Imprisoned rapper GUCCI MANE is helping his fellow inmates turn their liv es around while behind bars by sharing the lessons he’s learned from his own troubled background.
The hip-hop star, real name Radric Davis, was freed from the Atlanta Co unty Jail in Georgia in March 2009 after serving six months for breaking the rules of his probation, relating to previous charges of assault and d rug possession. He was ordered back to jail in November (09) on another c ount of parole violation and is currently serving a 12-month prison sente nce.
But he’s using his brushes with the law to school others and help his c ellmates learn how to stay out of trouble when they walk free from jail.
He tells the Associated Press, "I try to take a couple of these young g uys under my wing and tell them what I’ve learned, because you can’t teac h nobody if you don’t know anything." The rapper admits he’s adopted a new motto to live by: "Before I make a n action, think about the consequences. … Any decision I make is a heav y decision. I got a lot of people who depend on me. Everything I do has s o much weight on it." And Mane has found other productive uses for his time in prison: "Unfor tunately I’ve been to jail a couple times. Anytime I come in it’s difficu lt to make music, write songs. This time, I have a peace within me. I’ve been so excited to get out. I’ve written about 50 to 60 songs." (MT/WNWA/

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JESSICA SIMPSON has warned fans not to expect any new music from her in t he near future - because she’s focusing all her efforts on turning her re ality TV show THE PRICE OF BEAUTY into a successful series.
The programme follows the singer/actress on her travels across the glob e as she learns about local beauty regimes and glamour culture in differe nt countries, documenting the ideologies of African tribeswomen and Japan ese Geishas.
And Simpson, who stars in the show with her longtime hairstylist Ken Pa ves and pal Casey Cobb, is hoping VH1 network bosses give her the green l ight to proceed with a second series.
She tells MTV News, "Right now, I’m promoting this (show), and hopefull y we’ll be doing a season two and hopefully just travel more." Simpson coyly reveals she’s also working on a number of other TV projec ts, the content of which may come as a surprise to her fans: "I’m putting my hands in different things, trying to executive-produce some show idea s. I think people will be very shocked to see what might happen in my lif e next."

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ATONEMENT author IAN MCEWAN is turning the bestselling book into an opera following the success of its 2007 film adaptation starring KEIRA KNIGHTL EY.
The book, which was released in 2001, follows a love affair doomed by a child’s misunderstanding.
Director Joe Wright’s movie, also starring James McAvoy, landed seven O scar nominations and won the Academy Award for Best Original Score.
Now writer McEwan is working on an operatic version with composer Micha el Berkeley and poet Craig Raine - and he promises the finished show will be a grand affair.
He says, "It’s not a chamber piece, that’s for sure." Theatre owners in the U.K. Germany and the U.S. are reportedly interest ed in staging the Atonement opera and are eyeing a 2013 premiere. (MT/WNB

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LINDSAY LOHAN’s mother DINA is launching her own environmentally-friendly toothbrush in a bid to raise awareness about water conservation.
The Lohan Green Tooth Brush is a liquid-free device that claims to save the user two gallons of water a day.
Dina Lohan unveiled the toothbrush at the Go Green Expo in New York on Friday (19Mar10), when she joined environmental campaigners to highlight the millions of people in less economically developed nations who don’t h ave access to clean water.

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SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE star JOSEPH FIENNES has nicknamed his newborn daughte r Baby Love, because he and his wife have yet to settle on an official na me.
The actor and his wife, Swiss model Maria Dolores Dieguez, welcomed the ir first child last week (08Mar10) but admit they are still searching for the perfect moniker.
However, the couple has set Sunday (21Mar10) as a deadline - because Fi ennes needs to apply for the tot’s first passport next week (begs22Mar10) before they can fly to his native England.
He says, "(We had a) baby girl, (we’re) looking for names so any sugges tions would be welcome. It’s Baby Love right now, but I’ve got to get her passport together because we’re going back home soon, so I think by the weekend we’ll have something." And Fiennes has revealed more details about the "beautiful" birth - his wife decided on a natural birth without the use of painkillers.
He adds, "It was amazing. In the (birthing) pool, no drugs, nothing. Am azing midwife, amazing obstetrician, and hypno-birthing, she was just ama zing, breathing… The last 10 minutes went a bit primal, I have to say, but it was a beautiful, beautiful moment." Fiennes, whose brother is actor Ralph, wed the former Miss Switzerland beauty pageant contestant in Tuscany, Italy last summer (09), before anno uncing the pregnancy in the fall.

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SANDRA BULLOCK’s troubled husband JESSE JAMES has something to smile abou t amid the cheating scandal hanging over him - his beloved dog CINNABUN h as been found safe and sound just hours after the pitbull was reported mi ssing.
The TV mechanic, who was accused of cheating on the Oscar winner earlie r this week (begs15Mar10), was left with another problem to deal with whe n his pet pooch wandered out of sight from his West Coast Choppers bike s hop in Long Beach, California on Thursday (18Mar10).
Initial reports suggested the dog had been missing since Monday (15Mar1 0) but a rep from the store claimed Cinnabun disappeared on Thursday.
A plea for help in tracking down the stray was issued to local resident s, and the canine was soon discovered in one of the shop’s quiet storage rooms.
It’s the second missing dog scare James has had to deal with this year (09) - Cinnabun went missing for three weeks in January (09). (MT/WNWCZM/

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A New York art dealer who conned clients including acting legend ROBERT D E NIRO and tennis star JOHN MCENROE is facing up to 18 years in prison af ter pleading guilty to masterminding a $100 million (=C2=A362.5 million) investment scam.
Lawrence Salander, 60, confessed to selling shares of the same artwork to multiple art lovers and pleaded guilty to 28 counts of grand larceny i n New York’s state Supreme Court on Thursday (18Mar10).
Retired sportsman McEnroe lost $2 million (=C2=A31.25 million) in the c on after investing in Arshile Gorky’s Pirate I and II paintings, while se veral creations by De Niro’s late father, Robert De Niro, Sr., were sold by executives at Salander-O’Reilly Galleries without the Taxi Driver star ’s permission.
The mother of Beastie Boys star Mike D also fell victim to the scam, co sting her $6 million (=C2=A33.75 million).
Salander struck a plea deal with prosecutors which will see him serve a lesser sentence of between six to 18 years and pay $120 million (=C2=A37 5 million) in restitution to his victims.
Without the plea agreement, he faced 25 years behind bars if convicted.
He is due back in court on 20 May (10).
De Niro managed to reclaim some of his dad’s artwork earlier this week (begs15Mar10) after brokering a deal with the administrators of the now-b ankrupt Big Apple gallery.

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Actresses DEMI MOORE and NIA VARDALOS have helped Florida authorities sta ge an intervention to save an allegedly suicidal man after they responded to his worrying message on social networking site Twitter.com.
The stars were among hundreds of people who replied to a post from a yo ung man who threatened to hang himself in Casselberry, near Orlando in th e early hours of Friday (19Mar10).
Moore appealed to the youngster with the username ‘jeremyllynch’ by wri ting, "R U rlly (really) asking 4 (for) help?", after he posted a note th at read, "i’m going 2 (to) send a live feed of me hanging myself. No 1 (o ne) cares if I die or not." Vardalos also heard about the tragic message and phoned a suicide hotli ne for advice before being connected to Florida police, leading them to t he man’s home.
Updating fans about the situation, the My Big Fat Greek Wedding actress wrote on her Twitter page, "I gave his name+city. They went to home, hel ped him." Lieutenant Sonia Pisano from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office confi rmed an uninjured juvenile male had been taken to hospital by the cops, a lthough she refused to reveal any further details.
Moore later thanked her followers for aiding the intervention. She wrot e, "Thank you twitterverse for your help supporting someone in pain last night." It’s the second time Moore has used her internet prowess on the social networking site to save a troubled soul after sparking a similar interven tion by California police last year (Apr09).

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British singer BILLY BRAGG is to curate his own stage at the U.K.’s Glast onbury Festival this summer (10) - and has pledged to include daily debat es as well as music performances.
The 52-year-old musician is known for his political activism, and he’s set to take his interests to the stage at the legendary event in south we st England in June (10).
Bragg will be in charge of booking acts for the Leftfield tent, which r eturns in 2010 after it was axed last year (09).
He says, "(I will be) a bit of everything - curator, MC, performer, gui tar roadie (and) juggler. (Glastonbury) has always had that political edg e since its rebirth in the 1980s as a gathering for dissidents and dancer s. Leftfield’s mixture of red and green politics aims to reflect the way activism plays an important part in the festival as a whole." (KD/WNWCCB/

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British musician PETE DOHERTY has branded the U.K.’s prison system a succ ess, insisting jailing criminals stops them offending.
The Babyshambles frontman has spent several periods behind bars during his seven-year battle against heroin and crack cocaine addiction, includi ng a stint in 2003 for burgling his former The Libertines bandmate Carl B arat’s apartment.
He is adamant time in prison won’t help to reform criminals, but insist s jailing them works because crooks can’t offend while they’re locked awa y.
In a video interview for political/music organisation Instigate Debate, Doherty says: "It keeps you off the street, doesn’t it? It works in that way. But it doesn’t stop you offending… Not through rehabilitation. Pr ison works, because it stops you committing crime."

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JAY-Z and WILL SMITH’s Broadway musical FELA! is to move to London later this year (10).
The rapper and Smith, along with Smith’s wife Jada, stepped in to save the New York show - about the life of revered African world music star Fe la Kuti - in September (09), after rehearsals were halted due to financia l concerns.
Fela! eventually opened on Broadway in November (09), with the trio sha ring producing credits.
Now the show is set to transfer to the British capital’s coveted Nation al Theatre venue in November (10) for around 60 performances until Januar y 2011. It is then hoped the musical will move to the West End stage.
And Fela!’s lead producer, Stephen Hendel, is hoping the famous investo rs will turn up to the opening night.
He tells Britain’s Daily Mail, "I can’t imagine that they will not come to the first night in London. I can’t imagine that Jay -Z , and probably Beyonce, too, and Will and Jada will not come… In the theatre world it ’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to have your production honoured on th e National Theatre stage."

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BLUR guitarist GRAHAM COXON has risked incurring the wrath of fans in the U.S. - he dreams of "burning" the entire country and completely rebuildi ng it.
The British rocker made a string of controversial comments about Americ a during a recent interview, including a jibe that officials Stateside ar e "policing" the planet.
He is adamant the world would be a better place if the U.S. had "no imp ortance", and insisted a new infrastructure for the country would be bene ficial for climate change.
In a video interview for political/music organisation Instigate Debate, Coxon says: "Part of me wants to kind of clear America like an old overg rown field that needs the stubble burning, and start again. Just keep all the nice Americans somewhere while we do it. I think there’ll be a lot l ess oxygen being used, a lot less greenhouse gasses…
"That’s my little dream fantasy, that they have no importance in the wo rld, they’re not some sort of power, they think they’re policing the worl d, and we can actually get back to how it used to be when us and Persia w ere good mates."

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MGMT has paid tribute to late BIG STAR rocker ALEX CHILTON - dedicating a London gig to the musician, who died on Wednesday (17Mar10).
The 59 year old passed away at a New Orleans, Louisiana hospital after suffering heart problems.
Primal Scream frontman Bobby Gillespie paid tribute to the star on Thur sday (18Mar10), calling Chilton a "genius of rock n’ roll".
Now MGMT has given its own tribute to the legend at a concert in the Br itish capital.
Speaking before one of their songs, singer Andrew VanWyngarden said, "W e’d like to dedicate this set to Alex Chilton." The group then launched into new track It’s Working from their upcoming second album Congratulations.

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Rap mogul SEAN ‘DIDDY’ COMBS’ ambitious plans to buy a soccer team in the U.K. are gathering pace - officials at the club have vowed to fly to the U.S. to discuss a possible deal.
British newspaper The Sun revealed on Thursday (18Mar10) that the hip-h op star is eyeing a bid for troubled London side Crystal Palace.
A rep for the star told the tabloid Combs is keen to purchase the club - and now an administrator for the bankrupt soccer team has admitted he w ould be delighted to do a deal with the rapper.
Brendan Guilfoyle says, "I am a big hip-hop fan and I would be delighte d if P. Diddy wanted to buy Crystal Palace. I would welcome an approach a nd would willingly fly to New York to discuss purchase."

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JANET JACKSON’s struggle with her figure began at the age of 10 - when TV producers asked her to lose weight for a role.
The former child star established herself as an actress on family varie ty show The Jacksons in 1976, before finding superstardom as a singer.
She went on to land a role in U.S. sitcom Good Times - and she believes her experience on the 1970s series sparked her ongoing battle with the b ulge.
Jackson, 43, says, "When I was younger on Good Times, I was asked to lo se weight. I wasn’t a heavy kid on the show but I was 10 years old and de veloping very quickly so they would put gauze around my chest to make me smaller, and I think that has an effect on you as a child as if who you a re isn’t good enough." The youngest of the Jackson clan has famously struggled with weight pro blems throughout her career and has previously admitted to being an "emot ional eater".

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Reality TV star KATIE PRICE has been ordered to pay "substantial" damages after falsely claiming her ex-husband, Aussie singer PETER ANDRE, was ro mancing his manager.
Price targeted the Mysterious Girl hitmaker in an interview with U.K. c hat show host Graham Norton last year (09), insisting Andre was dating hi s manager/agent Claire Powell.
The allegation was not broadcast but was later reported in the British tabloids.
Powell’s solicitor Mike Brookes said the accusation was "very damaging and distressing" as well as being "completely untrue", and on Friday (19M ar10), a judge at London’s High Court ordered Price, who was not present, to pay undisclosed damages for the remark.
Powell says, "I didn’t really want to be in court but if something bad is said, which is going to trash your reputation, you have to clear your name." Price, whose divorce from Andre was finalised in September (09), has si nce apologised for the comment. (CL/WNWCCB/ZN) ————————————————————————-

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