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RIHANNA: Not Cooperating With Police?(Posted 3:00 AM, 2/27/2009)



Rihanna's recent appearance at a Mexican resort has caused some to wonder if she's refusing to cooperate with the Los Angeles Police Department's investigation of her alleged beating at the hands of Chris Brown. Though she's expected in court on March 5th for a hearing in the case, prosecutors might have a hard time pursuing a case without her. Rihanna hasn't been back to L-A since heading home to Barbados shortly after the incident.

A spokesman for the Los Angeles District Attorney concedes that the hearing "may not happen," unless prosecutors can gather more evidence against Brown. Spokeswoman Jane Robison tells E!, "We don't have the evidence yet. [Detectives] are still investigating. If [they] determine they need more time, they'll set a new date for him to come into court." --Chris Morrow


JENNIFER HUDSON: Stops by Oprah(Posted 3:00 AM, 2/27/2009)



Jennifer Hudson is forging ahead on the comeback trail with a live appearance on Oprah today. She'll perform "If This Isn't Love," the latest single from her Grammy-winning self-titled debut disc.

Comedian Steve Harvey will also appear on the episode. -- Jamila Daniel


KANYE WEST: Has a Story to Tell (Posted 3:00 AM, 2/27/2009)



V-H-1's Storytellers with Kanye West premieres Saturday. Taped on February 13th at the Sony Stages in Los Angeles, the eccentric rapper performs and reveals the inspiration for such hits as "Flashing Lights," "Stronger," "Good Life" and "Heartless." -- Jamila Daniel

T.I.: Ordered to Pay More Child Support(Posted 3:00 AM, 2/27/2009)



An Atlanta judge has ordered T-I to increase the child support he's paying to the mother of two of his sons. Tip had been paying LaShon Dixon three-thousand dollars a month for the two kids, ages seven and nine, but now he'll have to pay five grand. He also has to pay for half of the children's extracurricular activities and all their medical expenses.

T-I also has two sons with fiancee Tameka "Tiny" Cottle. --Chris Morrow


INDIA ARIE: Announces Small Tour(Posted 3:00 AM, 2/27/2009)



India Arie is hitting the road for a brief tour in support of her latest disc, Testimony, Volume Two: Love and Politics. The Soul Bird tour kicks off April 1st in Berkley, California and will hit cities including Seattle and Los Angeles before wrapping April 19th in Anaheim, California.

Testimony, Volume Two debuted at the top of the Billboard R-&-B chart last week. -- Jamila Daniel

4/1 - Berkley, CA - Zellerbach Auditorium

4/15 - Los Angeles, CA - Club Nokia

4/3 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom

4/18 - San Diego, CA - House of Blues

4/4 - Seattle, WA - Paramount Theater

4/19 - Anaheim, CA - The Grove

4/5 - Vancouver, BC (Can) - Commodore Ballroom

All dates subject to change


50 CENT: Eminem Goes First (Posted 3:00 AM, 2/27/2009)



50 Cents says Interscope plans to push back the release of his Before I Self-Destruct until Eminem has put out his new disc, Rehab. Fif' tells the Associated Press, "Right now I'm on the train and the Em choo-choo car goes first. I think that people forget that I'm actually Eminem's artist because I've had so much success on my own and I moved away from it."

Surprisingly, the usually antagonistic 50 doesn't have a problem putting things on hold for Slim Shady. "I said my goal was to fit in with Eminem and Dr. Dre. I didn't mean to fit in under Eminem and Dr. Dre -- I meant to fit in as an equal party. And that's what I achieved over this time period. So, because Dre is mixing Em's album, Em will be completed entirely before we get a chance to finish up the pieces me and Dre did together." --Chris Morrow


RAPHAEL SAADIQ: Kicks Off Tour, Talks New Group (Posted 3:00 AM, 2/27/2009)



Raphael Saadiq kicks off his first headlining tour -- in support of his Grammy-winning disc The Way I See It -- tonight in San Diego. Other stops include Chicago, Boston, New York and a tour wrap-up on March 28th in Atlanta.

Saadiq -- who was the brain power behind Tony Toni Tone and Lucy Pearl -- is developing another group called The Boogie. He tells us, "It's two guys and a girl. It's gonna be a nice group." Saadiq says he may play some instruments on their debut album (which he'll put out on his own Pookie Records), but he won't be an actual member.

Saadiq's The Way I See It is at number-47 on the Billboard R-&-B chart. -- Jamila Daniel

JAY-Z: Khloe Says Nothing's Up (Posted 3:00 AM, 2/27/2009)



Khole Kardashian says there's zero truth to the rumor that she and Jay-Z hooked up after partying at a New York City nightclub. She tells HipHollywood-dot-com, "It's just crazy. You go out to a club and you're even in the same vicinity of someone and they put you together."

Khole adds that she's sorry Jay's wife Beyonce had to hear the rumors. "I love you, Beyonce -- I would never do that to you.I'm a Beyonce fan. And a Jay-Z fan. I love them both." --Chris Morrow


MUSIQ: Jazzed About Jazmine (Posted 3:00 AM, 2/27/2009)



Musiq sends kudos to tourmate Jazmine Sullivan. He tells the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "I'm mostly proud, in like a big brother way, of Jazmine Sullivan. Just watching her grow and come into her own in this industry as a young black girl -- and for the industry to be really excited for her -- is cool... We all kind of represent soul music from back in the day. And to be appreciated by our generation in our own time is a blessing."

Ne-Yo is also on the tour with Musiq and Sullivan -- they'll play the Chicago Theater tonight. -- Jamila Daniel


THE GAME: Short on Cash? (Posted 3:00 AM, 2/27/2009)



Is The Game about to go broke? According to 24HourHipHop-dot-com, the rapper is short on cash after having "balled a little too hard last year, buying up all sorts of [toys], ranging from private jet rides to the purchase of three new luxury whips, including a drop top Phantom." The Game is allegedly looking to restore his finances through touring, as well as recording a new disc for his label Geffen. --Chris Morrow