Tag: Legal Troubles (71-80 of 163)

Oct 13 2011 07:09 PM ET

Big Boi avoids jail time for drug bust in plea deal

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A few months back, Atlanta rapper Big Boi — one half of the legendary Outkast crew — got into a somewhat embarrassing scrape with the law when he was arrested in Miami for possession of a number of drugs, including ecstasy and Viagra, as he was leaving a cruise ship.

He was almost immediately release on bail, and now the 36-year-old rhymer (Antawan Patton to his mom) will also avoid jail time. Earlier today, Big Boi struck a deal that will see his two felony charges dismissed provided that he submit himself to drug testing, $2,000 in charitable donations, and three months of community service.

With that behind him, Big Boi can focus on musical endeavors. Last month, Outkast followed L.A. Reid, their former label boss at LaFace, to Epic Records, and rumors are floating around that both Big Boi and his tag-team partner Andre 3000 are working on solo projects as well as the beginnings of a new Outkast album.

The pair last appeared together on 2006′s Idlewild, the soundtrack to the high-concept film of the same name, and Big Boi most recently dropped his oft-delayed Sir Lucious Left Foot: Son of Chico Dusty in 2010, which landed on EW’s list of the best 10 albums of 2010; in keeping with his penchant for amazingly awesome names, his new solo collection is supposedly called Daddy Fat Sax: Soul Funk Crusader.

Read more on EW.com:
OutKast’s Big Boi busted for drugs in Miami
Cee Lo Green, Big Boi announce co-headlining ‘Georgia Power’ tour
Review: Big Boi, Sir Lucious Left Foot: Son of Chico Dusty

Sep 28 2011 09:25 AM ET

Jurors presented tales of Michael Jackson's promise, pain

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conrad-murray

Image Credit: Al Seib/Pool/AP Images

Jurors in the involuntary manslaughter case against Michael Jackson’s personal physician were presented with two portraits of the pop superstar during the first day of testimony — one of an entertainer motivated to succeed at his first concerts in nearly a dozen years and the other of a man too damaged at times to perform.

The panel that will determine Dr. Conrad Murray’s fate also got a sense of Jackson’s international stardom after one of the promoters testified that after the singer’s 50 comeback shows planned for London sold out, there was still demand for 50 more.

Jackson would never return to the stage, dying unexpectedly in June 2009 at age 50. Prosecutors drove the point home early in opening statements Tuesday, showing jurors a picture of a lifeless Jackson laying on a hospital gurney.

Hours later they played four minutes of Jackson’s final rehearsals of two songs. His mother, Katherine, dabbed her eyes with a tissue as video of her son singing “Earth Song” filled the courtroom. READ FULL STORY »

Sep 21 2011 07:20 PM ET

Usher accused of stealing his hit 'Burn' from another songwriter

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usher

Image Credit: Lyle A. Waisman/Getty Images

Nearly seven years after his 2004 smash “Burn” topped the Billboard charts, R&B superstar Usher is facing accusations that he stole the track, according to Billboard.com.

In August, a California federal judge found sufficient evidence that Usher and co-producer Jermaine Dupri had access to songwriter Ernest Lee Straughter’s 1998 track “Reasons,” and accepted a musicologist’s report that pointed out substantial similarities between the two.

As Billboard reports, an expert testifying on behalf of Straughter showed that both tracks “shared measurable similarities, including a ‘highly unusual’ 18-bar introduction, musical instruments that enter at the exact same bars, similar guitar and vocal stylings, the pitches and phrasings of certain melodies, and other compositional congruity.”

The possible link between Usher and Dupri and Straughter? Warren G, who had collaborated with both parties, though not on these specific songs.

The judge will consider several arguments put forth by the defense; if she chooses to pass, the case will now likely go in front of a jury.

More on EW.com:
Timbaland, Pitbull, and David Guetta enjoy sun and exotic ladies in ‘Pass at Me’ video”: Watch it here
Demi Lovato covers Lil Wayne’s ‘How to Love’ in NYC: Watch it here
Selena Gomez’s performance of ‘Love You Like A Love Song’ on ‘The Tonight Show’: Watch it here

Sep 8 2011 03:37 PM ET

T.I.'s sent back to federal prison for violating parole terms once again

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Clifford-Harris

Image Credit: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Cruising in style wasn’t the reason T.I. got sent back to the bing last week, just two days after being moved to a halfway house. It’s who was on the bus with him that got him in trouble.

Yahoo reports that the rapper was sent back to federal prison after officials found out an unauthorized manager and a TV producer were traveling with him on his way home to Atlanta.

As we reported, T.I., 30, is set to debut a VH1 reality show on Dec. 5 at 10 p.m., chronicling his life after serving nearly a year of hard time for parole violation, which stemmed from a 2008 weapons conviction.

T.I. had his wife, Tameka Cottle Harris, manager Brian Sher, and producer Cris Abrego, the co-president of 51 Minds Entertainment, which handles several reality TV shows (Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business, La La’s Full Court Life) in attendance during the ride.

However, Abrego insists that no business was being handled on the bus, as the TV deal had been negotiated and agreed upon earlier in the summer.

At press time reps from VH1 did not respond to inquiries regarding how these recent events would effect the show.

Read more on EW.com
T.I. released from Arkansas prison
Review: T.I., No Mercy

Sep 6 2011 10:55 AM ET

My Chemical Romance drummer fired after allegedly being caught in 'red-handed' theft

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Michael Pedicone has unjoined the Black Parade.

The drummer for New Jersey rock lords My Chemical Romance—the band’s third since their 2001 inception—was summarily fired following an incident of alleged theft following a concert in Washington state.

The story, according to a blog entry posted by guitarist Frank Iero Sept. 2 on the band’s official website:

Some s– happened last night and before the blogosphere gets all crazy with false statements and ridiculous opinions we want the true story to come from us… But please listen close because this is the only time we are ever going to talk about this. The relationship between My Chemical Romance and Michael Pedicone is over. He was caught red handed stealing from the band and confessed to police after our show last night in Auburn, Washington. We are heartbroken and sick to our stomachs over this entire situation. The band has no intention of pressing charges or taking this matter any further than we have to. We just want him out of our lives. The people who play in this band are a family, and family should not take advantage of each other like he did. We are currently moving forward, and hope to have a new drummer in place for our show in Salt Lake City, Utah. The show must go on.

XOMCR

Pedicone, who replaced longtime drummer Bob Bryar last year (Bryar, in turn, replaced original drummer Matt Pelissier), came to MCR from Arizona hardcore outfit The Bled.

He tweeted his own response to the incident, saying somewhat cryptically: “What happened is more complicated than it sounds but I did make a mistake. It was never my intention to hurt this band or all of you. … It was an error in judgment based on a whole other situation that’s way deeper but this does not define me.”

MCR quickly carried on, playing a show Saturday night in Utah with replacement drummer Jarrod Alexander.

More on EW.com:
Spotify stalking: Everything I never wanted to know about my Facebook friends’ taste in music
Kristen Stewart makes her music video debut in Marcus Foster’s ‘I Was Broke’: Watch it here
‘Moves Like Jagger’ hits number one on Billboard, continues tradition of singles you can only get on deluxe albums

Sep 2 2011 12:56 PM ET

T.I. boards a party bus to a halfway house, ends up back in federal penitentiary

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Clifford-Harris

Image Credit: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

If T.I. isn’t careful, his entire life is going to be like The Godfather Part III, both in the sense that just when he thinks he’s out, he gets pulled back in, but also in the sense that it’s becoming a terrible series of borderline-ridiculous contrivances that end in sadness.

The Atlanta rapper, born Clifford Harris, was released from the Forrest City Correctional Facility in Arkansas on Wednesday, where he was supposed to be transferred to a halfway house to serve the remainder of his sentence for probation violation (which stems from the weapons charge that put him behind bars the first time). After exiting the prison, he hopped aboard a party bus with his entourage and took off for his home city.

Apparently that didn’t sit well with prison authorities, who sent him to a different federal prison in Georgia, where he currently resides (officials didn’t specify where). It’s unclear whether or not he would be finishing his sentence there or moved to another halfway house. The rapper has one month remaining on his sentence. READ FULL STORY »

Aug 31 2011 11:04 AM ET

T.I. released from Arkansas prison

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Image Credit: Arnold Turner/WireImage.com

Rapper Clifford “T.I.” Harris is a free(r) man, released from prison a month before his scheduled late-September discharge date.  The Atlanta native left the Forrest City Correctional Facility in Arkansas early this morning.

T.I., 30, and wife Tameka “Tiny” Cottle were arrested September 1, 2010, on suspicion of drug possession during a traffic stop in Los Angeles, violating the terms of his probation following his term behind bars for a 2008 weapons conviction.

This morning’s leave ends his 11-month sentence. MTV reports that he’s on his way to a halfway house, though his publicist would only confirm that he’s left jail.

In any case, T.I. is glad to get back to his family and work.

“Feels great to be back where I belong…Back in the arms of those who need me the most,” he tweeted at 9:30am today.

“The storm is over & da sun back out,” he continued. “IT’S OUR TIME TO SHINE SHAWTY!!!!! Welcome to the beginning of our Happy Ending!!!!”

(Follow The Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

Read more:
T.I. releases ‘No Mercy’: Can he make his new album a hit from jail?
T.I.: District attorney drops drug case
T.I. sentenced to 11 more months in prison

Aug 25 2011 03:38 PM ET

Gossip site accuses Christina Aguilera of child abuse, her lawyer responds accordingly

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Hannes Magerstaedt/Getty Images

Christina Aguilera’s lawyer sent a strongly worded letter to a celebrity gossip site after a photo of the singer holding her three-year-old son Max, who appears to have a black eye, showed up online with a more than suggestive headline.

The title above the photo on MediaTakeOut.com read, “CHILD ABUSE???? CHRISTINA AGUILERA’S SON IS PHOTO’D WITH A BLACK EYE!!!” without producing any real proof.

“To imply that she had something to do with this incident, without any investigation on your part whatsoever, is reckless and unconscionable,” Aguilera’s attorney, Eric Greenspan, writes in a letter. “Christina is a wonderful mother and was not present in the park when Max fell and hurt himself.”

MediaTakeOut has since removed the child abuse portion of the headline and added Greenspan’s explanation for the black eye.

Greenspan does not see the matter going any further, but has not spoken with Aguilera directly about the incident. “There are lines you’re just not supposed to cross, and that’s one of them,” he says exclusively to EW. “Accusing a mother—even hinting that a mother is guilty of child abuse, that’s a line you don’t cross.”

Aug 25 2011 02:48 PM ET

Pitbull invites litigious Lindsay Lohan to the VMAs, says lyric about her is positive: Watch the video statement here

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In an exceptionally strange turn of events last week, Lindsay Lohan heard a lyric from Pitbull’s massive worldwide hit “Give Me Everything,” didn’t like that her name was referenced, and decided to sue the rapper for defamation.

Pitbull isn’t the sort to take this kind of thing lying down, which is why he crafted a video statement that explains his stance on the issue and how he hopes to resolve it.

In the video below, Pitbull notes that the offending lyric in question (“I got it locked up like Lindsay Lohan”) is actually a compliment, as having something “locked up” means you are in charge.

He also apologized for any mental anguish he may have caused her and, in an interesting twist, invited Lohan to come with him to this Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards, where he will be performing live (and will likely be busting out “Give Me Everything”).

Check out the entirety of his statement after the jump. READ FULL STORY »

Aug 15 2011 10:51 AM ET

Rapper Game pulls Twitter prank on Compton sheriff's office -- the police are not amused

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Image Credit: D Dipasupil/Filmmagic.com

Twitter is a handy tool for complaining about Starbucks baristas and writing extremely short album reviews, and now rapper Game (born Jayceon Taylor) has proven it can also be useful for playing possibly felonious pranks.

On Friday night, a message was blasted from the Compton MC’s Twitter account that encouraged his followers to call a phone number to request a presumably Game-related internship. The phone number in question? The line for the Compton sheriff’s department, which saw its switchboard light up all at once.

Bureau Captain Mike Parker figured out what was wrong and sent a message to the rapper to request the number be taken down (the tweet finally vanished around midnight). “It was almost like a symphony of misery,” Parker told The Los Angeles Times. “You’ve got a multitude of phones ringing simultaneously.” He noted that it was the sort of response the station usually gets in the wake of a major earthquake.

According to the Times, Game may now face criminal charges in relation to the tweet (which he blamed on a friend who got control of his account), including counts of obstructing a peace officer in the performance of their duties and disrupting or impeding communication over a public safety radio frequency, with each call possibly resulting in a new count.

The Game didn’t seem too concerned about the possibility of legal trouble, which he expressed (where else?) on Twitter. “I can see it now: ‘What u in 4 homie.. robbery. What about u dog… Murder. Aye… What u in here 4 game… (Pokes Chest Out) A TWEET’ !!!” the rapper wrote. His fourth release, The R.E.D. Album, hits stores next Tuesday, August 23.

Now if you’ll excuse us, we’ll be off reading Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland one update at a time.

Read more on EW.com:
Jay-Z and Kanye West release ‘Watch the Throne’ ‘Otis’ video — Everybody’s all-American! Watch it here
OutKast’s Big Boi busted for drugs in Miami
Justin Bieber and Chris Brown trade rap verses on ‘Ladies Love Me’: Hear it here

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