Hot Music Beat

Madonna’s rep Liz Rosenberg recently went on the record to say that the Queen of Pop and her hubby Guy Ritchie are still happily married. Everyone knows not to believe anything until they see proof and Madonna is more than happy to give us that. She and her director husband arrived arm-in-arm at upscale Italian restaurant Harry’s in Mayfair, London on Tuesday. It looks like they’re still spending time together. But again, I need some hard proof first. They could just be doing this for publicity’s sake. There were a lot of momentous events that Guy could have showed up with Madonna but he didn’t yet he chooses to go out to dinner with her on some random night after a lot of rumors came out about the 2 splitting up. Suspicious.

The guy who rapper The Game allegedly assaulted on a street basketball court has filed a civil suit against the rapper, claiming assault, battery, a civil rights violation and negligence. All that because of a pick-up basketball game – wow! Court documents elaborate on what happened prior to the rapper’s arrest – from the provoking to when a gun was pulled out of the rapper’s car. The Game was arrested after the incident and eventually pleaded no contest to felony possession of a firearm in a school zone. He served just 8 days out of a possible 60 day sentence before being released. Maybe the victim is looking for justice to really be served.

Any and all the American Idol wannabes this season might want to pay close attention especially if they want to go further than Ramiele Malubay. The Idol wannabe’s Spanish teacher at Zephyrhills High School leaked out something she distinctly remembered that could knock Ramiele off the show. Shorty is extremely allergic to peanuts! This can be some vital information for the other contestants who may feel that she’s a threat. Fortunately, based on previous performances, none of them have to resort to sabotage. Ramiele may want to eat peanuts herself just to get her out of humiliating herself any further.

I wrote about American Idol contestant – as of last Thursday, American Idol wannabe – Robbie Carrico having a full head of fake hair. Even AI judge Simon Cowell perhaps took shots at the piece when he told Robbie that his performance “just never ever felt real”. But the guy is singing a different tune. Robbie told People last Friday that he’s been growing his head of hair for a very long time and that it’s ridiculous that the media came up with something like that. So what were the spies inside Idol talking about with the Idol officials freaking out over his hair? I guess he just can’t accept the fate that gravity has given to his hairline.

Amy Winehouse should be in Norway right now but she doesn’t feel like facing the music yet. The Grammy Award winner has reportedly asked a local district court to postpone her drug possession hearing scheduled for February 29th. The charges on her stem from an arrest last October. Wino and hubby Blake Fielder-Civil were arrested in the Norwegian city of Bergen for possession of marijuana. They were then released after each paid $715 in fines.

It’s being reported that the reason Amy wants to stay in London is because Blake is supposed to be in front of a judge the same day she’s scheduled to be in Norway.

If the 17-second leak of the song Madonna and Justin Timberlake did was any indication, then the Queen of Pop is going hip hop on her new album which will be out in April. The singer has changed her style numerous times over the span of her career – a few hits and misses but not so much problems. While many are anxious about this turn in her musical direction, there are also a lot who like the songs that have been leaked thus far. Just hope that she doesn’t rap on anything, otherwise, that’s a whole other story. But if it’s any indication, Rolling Stones magazine heard 5 songs from Madonna’s new album and their in-depth review of it is quite promising!

Brandy has been deposed in the civil case which stemmed from that fatal car accident back in December 2006. The R&B singer was spotted when she was dropped off at her lawyer’s office on Thursday in a gold Range Rover. It looks like she’s not that far away from trouble yet.

Just last month, in a long-awaited decision, the LA City Attorney decided to not file criminal charges against the singer whose car struck the vehicle of Awatef Aboudihaj on December 30, 2006. Aboudihaj, a mother of two, died the next day. Her husband is suing Brandy for an undisclosed amount.

Amy Winehouse just entered rehab a week ago but the Grammy Awards ceremony where she’s scheduled to perform is already next weekend. Her dad Mitch says that he doesn’t want his daughter to attend, which is understandable really. The concerned father said “I’m not sure the Grammy’s are going to happen. I don’t want her to go – I think it might be a bit too soon for her. She’s not well – that’s why she’s in rehab. But she’s doing OK. She is getting good treatment.”

As much as I’d like to see her win some awards, I’d rather hear that she’s healthy and on the straight and narrow.

Word is that Britney Spears is being placed in a detoxification program to eliminate any drugs from her system. Doctors are currently trying to figure out what meds she might have been taking and then see which ones might best help her with what they believe is bipolar disorder.
Detox is a common practice before trying to find a possible medication regime for such a disorder.

She’s gotten very creative in making a plea to be let out of jail but it’s no use, Foxy Brown is staying in the slammer. The rapper recently asked to be release so she could see an ear specialist in Los Angeles. She claims that only a Hollywood doc could make it all better. However, a judge said on Thursday that she needed more info to determine if Foxy would really go deaf if she stays in jail. While at the hearing, Foxy pleaded to be released saying “I have too much talent to throw it away. I know I will make you proud and my family proud.” Really now.

Well this one is quick. Someone should sock Chris Daughtry for selling out on his beliefs. The American Idol alum is doing damage control over his harsh criticism of the show which launched his career on his official blog. He opens by saying that he was just being honest but that he’s sorry. He also wrote that “if you heard the whole conversation you would’ve heard all the good things I said about the show as well… I was never trying to “DISS” the show or “BITE THE HAND THAT FED ME” so to speak. I was simply giving my input on what I think would spice the show up a bit.
Sorry for being honest.”

Charlotte Church and fella Gavin Henson can breathe a sigh of relief. Gavin appeared in Cardiff magistrates court on Friday facing charges of disorderly conduct regarding an incident where the Rugby star allegedly vomited and publicly urinated while in a first class carriage, before calling a fellow passenger a “fat c**t”.

The Crown Prosecution Service decided that the 25-year-old sportsman will not face trial due to insufficient evidence.

The three other men travelling with Henson are due before in court on Monday accused of disorderly conduct. It would make sense that there isn’t enough evidence against them either surely…but then they aren’t famous Rugby players. We shall see…

Once again it’s Amy Winehouse in the headlines; this time infuriating jailed hubby Blake in the process.

While Blake Fielder-Civil is locked away in Pentonville prison; his missus is locking herself away in hotel rooms with her record boss, Mark Ronson.

Soul star Amy, 24, and handsome Mark, 32, had guzzled booze and slurped Häagen-Dazs ice cream together during a late-night studio recording session. Then at 5.30am they hurried off to the trendy K West Hotel at Notting Hill, west London, and checked into the same room, booked in Mark’s name. Amy emerged at midday yesterday. Pals say the pair are “inseparable”

A friend said: “It’s the last thing Blake needs to hear right now. He’s furious about how close they are. He’s fearful that Mark has much more in common with Amy than he does and is worried he’ll steal her away.”

Even if you claim to be all sugar, you can’t deny that you still have some spice. A Sugababe has snapped and proved just that. Amelle Berraah of the British girl group was arrested on Thursday for getting into a fight. The singer allegedly caused damage to a neighbor’s car following a fight with the vehicle’s owner.

A source told the Daily Mirror that “There’s been needle between the two families and on Thursday it hit boiling point.” Amelle was taken to a police station in Aldershot, Hampshire after the incident which took place at her sister Laila’s home. She has since been released following four hours of questioning.

Rumors have been running rampant lately that the Backstreet Boys are about to get the boot from their record label Jive Records. The reason behind the rumors is that their last two releases didn’t really perform well.

However, a Jive Records spokesperson has recently gone on the record and put an end to the rumors by saying “Reports about Jive Records dropping Backstreet Boys are completely untrue. The group is about to embark on a worldwide tour in support of their album ‘Unbreakable’ starting February 16 in Toyko, Japan as well as some high profile television appearances.” That’s a relief!

18-year old Joe Jonas from the Jonas Brothers was reportedly rushed to the emergency room on Saturday. Thankfully, it was nothing too serious and he’s doing fine right now.

The teen heartthrob was reportedly horsing around backstage at a concert in Atlantic City when he tripped and hit his head. A source says that the singer ran into a wall. Joe was taken to a nearby hospital where he received a few stitches and was released shortly after. Be a little more careful next time Joe. Tween hearts would break into million pieces if anything really bad happens to you.

Go back in the recesses of your mind and recall the 90’s hip-hop duo, Kid ‘N Play. Remember? I even remember their cartoon.

Anyway, apparently Play was caught in the middle of a car chase. He wasn’t being chased by the cops but instead was hit by the fleeing vehicle.

A man named Raul Riva Aldamo, a robbery suspect, was running from police when he slammed into Play (real name Christopher Martin). Play was taken to the hospital that day (December 29) and was released on January 2. Aldamo died from his injuries.

Martin is now teaching at North Carolina Central University.

Madonna is set to make her official debut as a director soon. It has just been announced that the Queen of Pop’s film ‘Filth & Wisdom’ is going to make its world premiere this February at the Berlin Film Festival.The movie is “Described as a comedy/drama/musical/romance, the story features a Russian immigrant, ballet school, lap dancing, cultural revolution, poetry, night club, punk rock band, book writer, dominatrix and gypsy. The Gypsy punk band that appears in the film is portrayed by real-life Gypsy punk band, Gogol Bordello, who also contributed three songs to the film’s soundtrack. The band’s lead singer, Eugene Hütz, portrays the main character — a character with a philosophical attitude towards life. Madonna allowed additional dialogue written by Eugene himself to be included in the film. Additionally, Gogol Bordello performed ‘La Isla Bonita’ with Madonna at the 2007 Live Earth benefit concert in London, United Kingdom.”

R Kelly is a wanted man once again. A judge has entered a bench warrant for the R&B singer because he did not show for a court hearing on Wednesday in Chicago. The reason for the no show was said to be because Kelly’s bus was delayed in Utah.The judge has entered the warrant but did not enforce it just yet unless of course, Kelly didn’t show up for the hearing the following morning. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Cook County prosecutors pressed the judge noting he had already shown considerable leeway in Kelly’s case. Someone has got a lot of explaining to do.

Travis Tritt is having some trouble with his record label and its president. He just filed suit against them alleging that the label was started with money Ray Termini siphoned from the nursing home company he also ran. The country crooner filed the suit in US District Court in Nashville this week, claiming that his career has suffered “irreparable damage” because of Category 5 Records’ “false, unfair and deceptive acts”. Tritt is seeking at least $10 million in damages.

Termini is the CEO of the now bankrupt Haven Healthcare which is being investigated the by State of Connecticut. So I guess Tritt’s suit may have some merit.