Music News Blog

If Mariah Carey keeps up her current chart-topping ways, music historians are going to have to rewrite the Glitter star's story.

This week, Carey just scored her 16th number one single on Billboard's Hot 100 with "We Belong Together"--putting her in rarefied company indeed.

Only the Beatles, with 20, and Elvis Presley, with 18, have had more Billboard number ones.

As rumors swirl about 50 Cent's G-Unit signing multiple veterans, one more has added his name to the list of artists slated to be signed. West coast vet Kokane said he's about to be the next artist signed to G-Unit. "I've stepped into the right position...They don't have hidden agendas, they've got they paper," Kokane told AllHipHop.com.

If you've ever wanted to get a peek into the lives of one of the most venerable punk bands of all time, you're in luck.

The Sex Pistols, the influential British punk band that was formed in the 1970's, recently released a movie on DVD entitled, “The Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle”. The movie was originally released in U.K. Theaters in 1980, after the band separated.

The DVD features some of their greatest hits that includes, “Anarchy in the U.K.”, “Pretty Vacant” and “God Save the Queen”.

The movie, a fictional documentary done by British film director, Julien Temple, follows the band's manager, Malcolm McLaren, as he schemes and craftily books the band's shows on a goal to transform an unknown band into a success.

McLaren boasts and is found saying that the Sex Pistols will, “swindle our way to the top of the rock'n'roll industry," with the help of a 10-step plan. Throughout the movie, a cash register rings up a running total of money taken in by the band.

Little of the band is seen in the movie, as it is more of McLaren's story in which he divulges what he wants the public to know.

The film includes other footage of backstage havoc that consists of midgets, sex acts, exercising on naked beaches and porn stars, just to name a few.

LOS ANGELES (UMe records) - The soundtrack album to The Devil's Rejects, the follow up to Rob Zombie's gritty, violent smash horror hit, HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES. Written and directed by Zombie, THE DEVIL'S REJECTS reunites the homicidal members of the Firefly family, tracing their bloody flight from an outlaw sheriff hell-bent on revenge...
Deftly blending classic western violence with macabre humor and terrifying suspense, THE DEVIL'S REJECTS is a shocking portrait of outlaw justice and the soundtrack album is as twisted and fascinating as the film itself - bringing together '70s rock classics, tracks from long-forgotten rocker Terry Reid, country and blues gems, and a rarity from Banjo & Sullivan, the country duo who disappeared following a grisly murder committed by killers depicted in the film. Lions Gate Films will release the film on July 22, 2005 nationwide.

Presented as a dualdisc (one side CD, other side DVD), a first ever for soundtracks, The Devil's Rejects (Hip-O/UMG Soundtracks/UMe), released June 28, 2005, is available in explicit and edited versions. The DVD side includes a 20-minute "Making Of The Devil's Rejects" feature, trailers, a photo gallery and the album in High Resolution Stereo (DVD-Audio players) and Dolby Digital Stereo (standard DVD players). Dialogue snippets and two vintage Banjo & Sullivan radio ads are interspersed on the CD album side.

The rock classics are 1970's "Midnight Rider" from The Allman Brothers Band; "Shambala," the gold Top 5 pop smash from Three Dog Night; "Fooled Around And Fell In Love," Elvin Bishop's gold Top 5 from 1976; "Funk No 49," The James Gang's 1970 fave; the Top 40 "Rocky Mountain Way" from Joe Walsh's 1973 post-James Gang solo debut; "Rock On," the 1973 Top 5 from cult pop star David Essex, and "Free Bird," Lynyrd Skynyrd's 1973 cut that is one of the most requested in album rock radio history.

During the mid 1990s 31-year-old Andrew Bird played violin with North Carolina hot-jazz oddballs the Squirrel Nut Zippers. Today, on his family's farm in Illinois, he records solo records full of ghostly acoustic guitars and unusually precise whistling. A few months ago, he told me over the phone that his idea when he moved into the place was that he'd bring his band, the Bowl of Fire, to the barn and they'd make music together; instead, he ended up settling into a vacuum where he allowed himself to run wild with his own ideas. For Bird's latest album, The Mysterious Production of Eggs, "the story would usually go that I went back to civilization and started collaborating with people again," he laughed. "But that wasn't really true."

Performing rights organization BMI honored 3 Doors Down with its Song of the Year Award for "Here Without You." King of Crunk Lil Jon received the Songwriter of the Year, and songwriter and performer Paul Simon was named a BMI Icon. The writers and publishers of the 50 most performed songs of the past year were also recognized during the event held at the Regent Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills.

3 Doors Down's "Here Without You" won BMI Pop Song of the Year, and songwriters and band members Brad Arnold, Todd Harrell, Chris Henderson, and Matt Roberts were on hand to accept the award. The Pop Song of the Year award goes to the song that received the most feature broadcast performances during the eligibility period. "Here Without You" is from the 3 Doors Down album, "Away From the Sun."

Lil Jon, who wrote four songs on the most performed list of 50, received the BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year award. Lil Jon's four songs included "Damn!" (YoungBloodZ featuring Lil Jon), "Freek-A-Leek" (Petey Pablo), "Get Low" (Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz featuring the Ying Yang Twins) and "Yeah!" (Usher featuring Ludacris and Lil Jon). Some of the other artists who received awards were Nickelback's Chad Kroeger, Linkin Park, Sarah McLachlan, Maroon 5, the White Stripes, Mario Winans, Black Eyed Peas, and Los Lonely Boys.

The CMA Music Festival is the summer musical event of the year, with artists continuing to join the activities. "Country Music's Biggest Party" takes place Thursday-Sunday, June 9-12, in Downtown Nashville.

Superstars Alan Jackson, Dolly Parton and Wynonna have been added to the artist lineup for the Nightly Concerts at The Coliseum. Jackson will perform on Friday, June 10. The Arista Nashville recording artist has received 16 CMA Awards, including 3 wins as Entertainer of the Year. His current album is the Platinum-certified What I Do, featuring the hits "The Talkin' Song Repair Blues," "Too Much of a Good Thing" and "Monday Morning Church."

The legendary Parton will be performing with The Grascals, one of today's hottest new Bluegrass bands, on Thursday, June 9. The Country Music Hall of Fame member has received 8 CMA Awards, including Entertainer of the Year. Her most recent projects include her live album Live and Well, featuring several members of The Grascals as part of her band, and For God and Country. The Grascals' self-titled debut album on Rounder Records features their duet with Parton on "Viva Las Vegas."

Wynonna will perform on Saturday, June 11. The Curb recording artist has received 9 CMA Awards during her time with The Judds. The fiery-haired diva will release both her autobiography, Coming Home to Myself, and her 20th anniversary hits CD/DVD package, Her Story: Scenes from a Lifetime, in September.

McGraw, Evans and Rascall Flatts are Red Cross members.
Tim, Sara, and the Rascals are all members of The American Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet, committing to volunteer to promote awareness of Red Cross services and activities nationwide and to encourage individuals to donate time, blood and money. Celebrity Cabinet members help the Red Cross in a variety of ways such as taping public service announcements, participating in select Red Cross functions and donating items to auctions.

"Rabindra Sangeet, Nazrul Sangeet, songs of Atul Prasad, Rajanikanth, DL Roy and folk songs once reigned supreme in our culture. These songs reflect our lives. However, traditional and creative Bangla songs are on the verge of extinction. We aim to bring out the latent talents of creative Bangla songs across the country," said a spokesperson of Bengal Foundation. A talent hunt for creative musical artistes all over the country, titled Bengal Bikash was launched recently by the organisation.

As part of the campaign, the organisation exchanged views with the local news media and cultural personalities in an extensive visit to the northern districts of Rajshahi, Bogra, Rangpur and Dinajpur.

The winners of the talent hunt will be awarded with remuneration, stipends, certificates. Albums of their songs will also be released by Bengal Foundation.

The director of Bengal Foundation, Subir Chowdhury along with Dr Sidhartha Sanker Talukder, Osthad Rabiul Hossain, Monjusree Roy, Kanu Mohon Goswami and cultural personalities attended the press briefing.

Esteemed U.K. ska act Madness has signed with V2, which is eyeing a July 19 North American release for an as-yet-untitled new album from the original lineup of the group. Although details are scant at deadline, the set is tipped to consist of ska, punk and reggae covers the band performed last summer when it toured as the Dangermen.

However, since the sessions began, original member Chris Foreman has exited Madness, citing "the petty, time consuming bollocks that goes on in the band" in a statement announcing his departure.

Hailed as music prodigies in their native homeland of Britain, Kasabian failed to conjure up the same media excitement with their North American debut. It seems, however, that only a few months after their initial debut with their self-titled record, the group is making a significantly larger impact.

The underground group recently catered to a sold out crowd at the Bowery Ballroom in New York. Living up to the reputation they’ve built overseas, Kasabian delivered a knock-out performance that had the New York hipsters dancing and calling out for more.

The mother of Michael Jackson's accuser complained that she and her children were being kept away from the pop star during the time period prosecutors say one of her sons was being molested, a witness testified today (May 19).

The testimony came after the judge refused to allow the defense to call CNN's Larry King as a witness. The talk show host was in court but left without taking the stand. The defense wanted to present testimony by King that attorney Larry Feldman, who once represented the accuser's mother, had told him the mother was "wacko" and out for money.

KYLIE MINOGUE has thanked fans for their support following her diagnosis for breast cancer earlier this week.

The star has been forced to cancel the Australian leg of her ’Showgirl’ tour - which was due to kick of tonight at the Sydney Superdome (May 19) - and her headlining appearance at this year’s Glastonbury festival while she receives treatment for breast cancer.

The singer is undergoing tests at “a first class medical facility” in Melbourne, and will be operated on this week by “one of Australia's leading surgeons”, her record company have said.

Tests so far have confirmed the earlier diagnosis that the cancer appears to be confined to the breast.

LAS VEGAS: Newlywed Kenny Chesney took home entertainer of the year honours at the 40th annual Academy of Country Music Awards.

Chesney's win over leading nominee Tim McGraw came just eight days after his surprise marriage to actress Renee Zellweger, but he focused his speech on the fans, not his new wife.

Zellweger was not at the show because she was working on a new movie, Chesney said. But his earnest performance of Anything But Mine during the show evoked his Caribbean island wedding, at which the couple was photographed barefoot on the beach. The song includes the line “she has to feel the sand beneath her feet.”

McGraw took top single and song honours for his hit Live Like You Were Dying. Most of his six nominations came from the song about living life to its fullest. It has special meaning for the singer because his father, former New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Tug McGraw, died of cancer last year.

Newcomer Gretchen Wilson, who had the breakout hit of the year with Redneck Woman, took home honours for top new artist and female vocalist.

Veterans Brooks & Dunn beat out several newcomers for top vocal duo, their record 19th career award.

Downtown Toronto will soon be the home of Canada’s Music Hall of Fame, which is set to be located in a tourist heavy area, just north of the Eaton Centre shopping mall.

After inducting 57 artists and music-industry leaders since 1978, the hall of fame, dedicated to Canadian musicians including rock singer Neil Young and band leader Guy Lombardo is scheduled to be opened in 2007, and will share it’s location with a Virgin record store.

The Toronto location beat out bids from Hamilton, Ontario, and Winnipeg, Manitoba, because it's in a high-volume tourist area, the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences said in a statement.

“Our mandate is to promote Canadian artists internationally too, so the fact (the Eaton Centre) is the top tourist destination in Canada, drawing over 17 million tourists annually, was also key,'' said Melanie Berry, president of the academy.

Details regarding funding for he project and its cost have yet to be disclosed.

The CARAS has utilized a makeshift hall of fame for almost three decades by posting photographs on the wall at the academy's Toronto offices and on their website. Other members of the academy include the rock groups Rush and the Guess Who, pop singer Joni Mitchell and folk singer Gordon Lightfoot.

Suze Orman knows how to make money grow. Not only does the financial guru know hip-hop but she also knows who 50 Cent is and can tell a group of teens that they are tripping when it comes to thinking they have to “keep up with the Joneses.”

Orman spoke Saturday to a sold-out crowd at the Max M. Fisher Music Center at the 2005 Hip-Hop Summit hosted by MC Serch of WJLB. This year's theme was “Get Your Money Right: Hip-Hop Summit on Financial Empowerment.”

The belated return of Billy Idol

In 1993, Billy Idol’s Cyberpunk CD, along with his dreadlock hairdo, were greeted with near-universal ridicule. Ever since Idol, who’d been a latecomer to the original wave of British punk with his band Generation X, had hit MTV with his tight leather pants, trademark sneer, and rebellion-for-the-masses fist pumping, he’d been an easy target. And releasing Cyberpunk in the wake of a wave of electronica hype only confirmed that Idol (born William Broad) was a fraud willing to jump any trend for another shot at stardom. But in the early days of MTV, Idol’s high-concept, gloriously debauched productions were if not quite groundbreaking at least on the cutting edge of what was then the cutting edge. In the clip for the ballad "Eyes Without a Face," which followed "Rebel Yell" and "White Wedding" into heavy MTV rotation, Idol practiced cathartic kung fu moves while being inundated by a smoke machine, spat out a colorful rap in the middle of a flaming hexagon surrounded by monks, and pumped his fists against a backdrop of red sparklers as a woman in a black dress writhed sensuously while being sprayed with water.

Grindcore. The term conjures up images of a metallic sub-genre that does nothing but grate away endlessly like some tool toiling in a dirty factory. It makes you think of same old, same old; a place where nothing ever changes and what was once shocking is now just a dingy, repetitive skeleton of its former self.

And until the release of Napalm Death's latest album The Code Is Red... Long Live The Code, you'd be spot on. Grindcore — and in effect death metal — were going through the motions over the past, oh, decade.

South Florida’s "Black Violin" Duo Claims Title for the Third Time in Harlem NYC at the World Famous "Showtime at the Apollo"

Watch for "Black Violin" on Showtime at the Apollo to Air on UPN at 11pm- Saturday, May 28th, 2005

Miami-Fl- May 2005-South Florida’s classically trained, violin stroking duo "Black Violin" has once again claimed their third win at New York City’s legendary Showtime at the Apollo. "Black Violin" performed a melody of songs by Michael Jackson, Usher and Biggie Smalls and clinched the 2005 Apollo Legend title. South Florida natives Wil-B and Kev Marcus make up this dynamic duo and are leveling the playing field for South Florida as it relates to the music industry.

M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Don't be alarmed if one morning you wake up to Mozart's Sonata for Violin and Piano in E Flat Major blasting from your stereo with an unbelievably clear sound as if you fell asleep inside a concert hall the night before.

It could happen if you set your dial on 99.9 MHz FM, the wavelength of CNJ, a new radio station in town with only classical music and jazz on its playlist.

To double listeners' pleasure in savoring classical and jazz tunes, almost no advertisements -- not as we know them in the traditional format -- are to be heard during the radio station's 24-hour broadcast.

Russell Simmons has long reigned as one of the entertainment industry's most capable promoters. At 47, as the co-founder of the Def Jam Recordings label, Mr. Simmons still tirelessly hawks a portfolio of ventures, from financial services to an energy soda.

His best-known recent success has been Phat Farm, the hip-hop-flavored clothing line he founded in 1992. Early last year, the Kellwood Company, an apparel maker based in Chesterfield, Mo., purchased the firm for $140 million, retaining Mr. Simmons as chief executive of the division.

** /*Lucinda Moore opens for Wyclef Jean Saturday, May 21st - The Rev. Jesse Jackson is a special guest*/ /

(May 15, 2005 -- Indianapolis, IN) -- Tyscot Records' dynamic Gospel recording artist *LUCINDA MOORE *will share the stage with one of hip-hop's brightest stars, WYCLEF JEAN for a rally and free concert & march Saturday, May 21st. The rally will take place on the grounds of Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven, CT. _The rally is to demand responsible development, good jobs and justice from *Yale New Haven Hospital.*_ **

*Lucinda Moore, *a native of nearby Bridgeport, CT believes that "If you just trust in God - he will make a way." She also supports a community benefits agreement and believes that we should have a seat at the table. This free concert, rally & march begins at 2:30 PM and runs until 5:00 PM and highlights a special appearance from *The Rev. Jesse Jackson.* **

*Wyclef Jean, *an original member of the hip-hop group THE FUGEES, also became hip-hop's unofficial multicultural conscience; a seemingly omnipresent activist, he assembled or participated in numerous high-profile charity benefit shows for a variety of causes, including aid for his native Haiti. Clef is also a noted producer and re-mixer who worked with an impressive array of pop, R&B, and hip-hop talent, including *Whitney Houston, Santana, Destiny's Child *among many others.

*Lucinda Moore* is one of the featured artists on Tyscot's *Gospel Next album* (national hysteria where fans vote on their next Gospel Star - blackgospelpromo.com). Her hit songs include "Unlimited Praise" and "Jesus I Come To Thee." Lucinda's humble beginnings took place in church, singing at the young age of four. She credits much of her training and upbringing to her grandmother.

Brent Staples worries that hip-hop music feeds inner-city youth "rap cuts that glorify murder and make it seem perfectly normal to spend your life in prison" ("How Hip-Hop Music Lost Its Way and Betrayed Its Fans," Editorial Observer, May 12). In doing so, he ignores a basic precept of modern music: it's about escape.

When busty pop stars sing that they love me, I, like every teenager in America, know that they are not being serious. To treat hip-hop stars any differently is to enforce a double standard. Though rappers create a fantasy that is often violent and upsetting, adolescent listeners recognize that it is a fantasy nonetheless. It's only adults who miss the big picture.

Glenn Thrope
Westport, Conn., May 12, 2005

The Beatles have achieved yet another milestone with their 2000 compilation '1' reaching Diamond status in the USA.

Diamond is awarded for sales of 10 million plus in America.

'1' has become the sixth Beatles album to achieve that status following 'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band', 'Abbey Road', 'The Beatles', 'The Beatles 1962-1966; and 'The Beatles 1967-1970'.

To date, The Beatles cumulative US sales are 168.5 million.

Their biggest album is 'The Beatles' with sales over 19 million

NEWARK, N.J. - In a high school auditorium in Newark last week, the finale of a little-known play called Gemini Rising exploded with the amazing sounds of the hip-hop violin.
Known as the “Hip-Hop Violinist,” Grammy award-winning Miri Ben-Ari grew from her reputation and talent as a classical and jazz virtuoso to gain access to the urban mainstream of R&B and hip-hop.

“I had to fly all the way from Israel to the States to study jazz because I wanted to know how to improvise. I came here with no money, no family, no language… And this year I won my first Grammy,” said Ben-Ari

Even as her list of credits with artists like Jay-Z, Wynton Marsalis, Alicia Keys, Britney Spears, Patti LaBelle and Janet Jackson grows, Ben-Ari is continuing to work on what she calls her “craft.”

“My message is so much about discipline, about practicing, about not giving up your dream. If you really believe in something you should go ahead and pursue it. I was so drawn to music that I wanted to get what I wanted to get, no matter what,” said Ben-Ari.

To support its sophomore album, "Demon Days," due May 24 via Virgin, the cartoon band is in the planning stages for how to present the material in a live setting. "As for the show itself, it would be one where the lights never come up," group member Damon Albarn (aka 2D) tells Billboard.

"So, if [album guest star] Dennis Hopper were to walk on stage, you would know it's him by his voice alone -- as well as his silhouette," he continues. "It will be like those old cutout silhouette portraits everyone used to get. Yes, it will all be done by silhouette."

URBAN BOX OFFICE SIGNS HIP HOP LEGEND LUKE CAMPBELL TO EXCLUSIVE DEAL

Four-Disc Set Featuring Autobiography And Unheard Hip Hop Tracks Set To Drop In Fall 2005

Urban Box Office (UBO), an innovative entertainment and distribution company, has signed legendary hip hop sensation Luke Campbell to its newly formed hip hop label, Insurgent Records. The former front man of 2 Live Crew, Campbell is UBO’s newest FREEDOM artist. Campbell’s first project Luke Campbell’s Soup for the Freaky Soul: The Sexploits of Uncle Luke is a four-disc set consisting of a two-disc audio book of choice autobiographical moments, compilation soundtrack CD and a DVD featuring stimulating footage of his notorious Luke Girls.

The Rolling Stones (bio | music | posters & photos) officially unveiled plans for their long-rumored 2005/2006 tour during a brief Tuesday (5/10) performance and press conference in front of hundreds of fans outside New York City's Julliard School of Music.

Proving they've retained their chops after more than four decades in the business, the Stones--Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood--opened the event by playing "Start Me Up," trotted out a new song titled "Oh No Not You Again," and wrapped up with "Brown Sugar" before taking a few questions from the press.
Organizers confirmed previous reports that the North American leg of the tour, sponsored by mortgage company Ameriquest, will launch Aug. 21 at Boston's Fenway Park. The first leg wraps up Dec. 1 in Houston, and about 35 shows are confirmed so far. The itinerary is below; additional North American shows are in the works for early 2006.

After a two week courtship, country singer Kenny Chesney married actress Renee Zellweger Monday at a small ceremony in the Carribean.

The couple met in January and began dating at the end of April. Although the relationship seems extremely new, Chesney has reportedly worshipped Zellweger (without knowing her) for years. His 1999 hit “You Had Me from Hello” was based on the actress’ performance in Jerry Maguire.

The 36-year-old Oscar-winning actress wore a white gown designed by Carolina Herrera. During the 15-minute ceremony Zellweger and Chesney, 37, laughed and wept as they exchanged vows on his St. John property.

A female preacher presided over the touching nuptials, which wound up being an exclusive affair before 45 family and friends in the tiny Chocolate Hole region of the island's west coast.

After meeting at a tsunami benefit where he performed and she answered phones, the couple began a friendship that turned into “one of those things that felt good," according to a report from the New York Daily Post.

The couple has only been romantically linked since April 29, when Zellweger surprised Chesney by serving him a margarita onstage during one of his performances in Jacksonville, Fla. He had been expecting a stagehand to deliver the drink, but when Zellweger approached him she not only gave the hunky singer the drink, she also gave him a kiss.

Only three days later the pair was spotted by photographers in a lip-lock at a Tennessee restaurant.

This marks the first marriage for both Zellweger and Chesney.

The Texas-born Zellweger was first engaged to actor Jim Carrey, but the wedding, and the relationship, was called off in 2000. Most recently Zellweger ended her two year relationship with White Stripes frontman Jack White last December.

Chesney was engaged to healthcare administrator Mandy Weals in 1999 but called it off three weeks before the wedding, according to "The Insider."

Jimmy Buffett (bio | music | posters & photos) recently added several new stops to the itinerary for his annual warm-weather swing on the North American amphitheatre circuit.

Among the new dates is the tour's June 13 kick-off in Toronto, as well as subsequent June stops in Virginia and Connecticut; August stops in Ohio and Indiana; and a two-night, September engagement at Chicago's Wrigley Field, home of Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs. Details are shown below.
Last month, Buffett tackled a series of concerts in the western U.S.

On Tuesday (5/10), Sirius Satellite Radio announced that it had cut a deal with Buffett to air Radio Margaritaville. Set to debut on Sirius this summer, the 24-hour channel will feature "a wide variety of music, live broadcasts of Buffett's concerts and other unique programs," according to a press release.

In 1998, Buffett launched Radio Margaritaville as an Internet-only channel; Internet users will continue to have access to the channel via its website.

Buffett continues to back his latest album, last year's "License To Chill," which features guest appearances by several country artists, including Kenny Chesney, George Strait and Toby Keith. Included on the set is a cover of Hank Williams' "Hey Good Lookin'" (featuring Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith and George Strait) and follow-up single, "Trip Around the Sun" (featuring Martina McBride).

The employment agency that funded a $26,000 world hip-hop tour has left the Government a parting gift – $32,000 in bills for a cancelled farewell "bash".

Labour Department agency Community Employment Group was disbanded six months ago after "management weaknesses".

Its funding was split between the Social Development Ministry and Te Puni Kokiri.

As part of the handover, CEG was given approval to hold a conference with representatives from the two other agencies, Labour Department spokesman Richard Ninness said.

The conference was to be at the Millennium Hotel in Rotorua and delegates were to have their airfares and two nights' accommodation paid.

It is understood about 80 people were to attend.

In January, department officials discovered the conference had "grown in scope" and withdrew funding. But it was too late to recoup $32,000 of airfares, accommodation and venue hire already paid for.

AdvertisementAdvertisementMr Ninness confirmed that the conference appeared to have turned into a farewell party for CEG staff.

Department officials had acted quickly once they learned of the escalating cost of the conference, he said.

"We wanted to see money being used appropriately and to limit any unfair costs to the taxpayer."

The department negotiated to get back one night's worth of accommodation and arranged with the airline for some flights to be used at other times.

ACT Party leader Rodney Hide said the conference was never necessary.

It was classic use by Social Development and Employment Minister Steve Maharey of taxpayers' hard-earned dollars, he said.

"They had to abolish CEG under Maharey after it (funded) hip-hop tours," Mr Hide said.

"Now we discover their last act was to organise a flash bash."

DJ Spooky relies heavily on sampling in his work as a DJ and musician. So it shouldn't be a surprise that his new book and CD sample audio recordings of some of literature's great remixers: writers whose work "sampled" other people's material.

DJ Spooky, whose real name is Paul D. Miller, is an artist, musician and writer at the forefront of using technology to remix art and culture.

The Beatles have become the first act in the Recording Industry Association's history to earn six diamond awards after the group's number ones compilation, '1', notched up 10 million sales.

Released five years ago (2000), '1' has become the Fab Four's sixth 10 million seller, according to the RIAA.

The group's other five diamond awards were earned for sales of 'The Beatles', 'The Beatles 1967-1970', 'The Beatles 1962-1966', 'Abbey Road' and 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'.

The only act close to matching the Beatles' feat is Led Zeppelin, who have five diamond-level titles.

Meanwhile, The Eagles' 'Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975' remains the biggest selling album ever by a million sales. The hits album has sold 28 million copies, while Michael Jackson's second-placed 'Thriller' has sold 27 million.

NEW YORK (MTV announcement) - On Direct Effect, MTV News puts the spotlight on Houston – the next rap capital of the South. Featured on tonight's episode (Monday 2 May) is the one and only Mike Jones – who? – Mike Jones gives us insight into his story and showing us why Houston is on fire right now.
Also this week, Sway and the MTV News team explain the Screwed & Chopped phenomenon, goes 'tippin'' with Paul Wall on the streets of H-Town, tells the story of underground kingz UGK and gives you a heads up on some of the next artists that'll be coming out of Houston. Direct Effect airs all this week from 7pm – 8pm EST/PST.
Then, make sure you tune into the show, 'My Block: Houston,' for all these stories and more from H-Town. It debuts SATURDAY 7 MAY on MTV2 at 2:30pm.

From 50 Cent to Foxy Brown, hip hop's grimy side revealed.

Hip hop is our friend, and sometimes our friends do strange things. Since VH1 is wrapping up April by airing The 40 Least Hip Hop Moments, VH1.com decided to take a stab at hip hop's "crowning" moments

50 Cent gets "bucked"
Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson: Chubby dude gets shot nine times, gets dropped from Columbia records...you'd think that that would have been the end but nooooo. Dude gets out the hospital, works out, makes hit tunes with Dr. Dre and Eminem. Gets rich. Sells sneakers and becomes ambassador of bullet-proof vest chic. The moment Fiddy got shot was when the world realized that hip hop is hard to kill.

NEW YORK, NY Monday May.2.2005 /netmusiccountdown.com/ -- Tune in Tuesday, May 3, to catch Jennifer Lopez and rapper Snoop Dogg on "The Late Show with David Letterman."

Lopez stops by to chat with Dave about her new movie, "Monster-In-Law," which opens May 13. Meanwhile, Snoop Dogg performs a song off his latest release "R&G: (Rhythm & Gangsta) The Masterpiece."

"The Late Show with David Letterman" airs weeknights at 11:30 pm ET/PT on CBS.

You an also catch J-Lo and Snoop again on Wednesday, May 4, when the two guest on the daytime talk show, "Live with Regis and Kelly." Check your local listings for show times.