JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr.

B.o.B, “Strange Clouds” (Grand Hustle/Atlantic Records)

B.o.B is a rapper who has totally gone pop, but that’s completely OK because it suits him.

The Atlanta-based artist fused elements of hip-hop, R&B and rock on his 2010 debut album, “The Adventures of Bobby Ray,” which produced the chart-topping “Nothin’ On You,” featuring Bruno Mars, and the top 10 hit “Airplanes” with Hayley Williams.

The rapper-singer-producer sticks with the same formula on his sophomore album, “Strange Clouds,” while tapping pop’s most successful hitmakers, including Taylor Swift, Lil Wayne, T.I., Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj, for collaborations.

He gets production help from Ryan Tedder and Dr. Luke, but he showcases his own production skills on the album’s opening track, “Bombs Away,” featuring a voiceover from Morgan Freeman. It’s filled with operatic vocals and a melody that sounds like it could be used in a horror show.

On “So Hard to Breathe,” B.o.B starts off the song on Read more

Since the death of his ex-wife, Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown has been targeted by those who believe his “negative influence” on the legendary singer led to her tragic end. Now, Brown is speaking out for the first time since Houston’s death, telling NBC’s “Today” show anchor Matt Lauer, “I’m not the reason she’s gone.”

Brown had dinner with Houston and the ex-couple’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina, a week before the singer’s death and remembers a glowing Whitney who “looked really well” and exhibited a positive demeanor that left Brown even more shocked upon news of her death.

“I was hurt. I was hurt … Because, you know, me being off of narcotics for the last seven years — I felt that she was, you know, I didn’t know she was struggling with it still. But at the same time, you know– listen, it’s a hard fight,” Brown told Lauer. “It’s a hard fight to, you know, maintain sobriety that way.”

But Brown doesn’t blame Houston’s longtime battle with drug use for her death.

“From what I Read more

DJ Khaled missed a gig late Sunday night, but he has a pretty good excuse: The rapper/producer/radio personality’s tour bus exploded in flames.

The “Way Too Cold” hypeman tweeted a photo of what appears to be the bus in flames on the highway. In a video log posted on his website, Khaled speaks about the incident while fire crews in the background attempt to snuff out the blaze.

The cause of the fire is not known and no one was injured in the blaze.

Khaled, perhaps best known for introducing rappers on track’s (he’s the one who yells things like “WE THE BEST” at the beginning of a track), said $500,000 worth of jewelry, his entire wardrobe and countless other items were destroyed in the blaze. He repeatedly said that he would not cancel any shows and that the blaze, though shocking, would not slow him down. Though he said he will continue to tour and that his upcoming album, Kiss the Ring will not be delayed, he admitted he was a little unnerved.

“Basically what I’m trying to tell Read more

“Battleship” hasn’t even debuted in the U.S. yet, but that’s not stopping Rihanna from continuing her big screen takeover. According to U.K. paper The Sun, the “We Found Love” singer has been cast as a villain in the sixth installment of “The Fast and the Furious” franchise.

The pop music hitmaker will make her film debut in “Battleship” — out May 18 — but The Sun reports that Rihanna will play a dangerous femme fatale alongside regulars Paul Walker and Vin Diesel, and will film her part in London.

A source tells the newspaper that Rihanna’s “Fast 6″ character “has plenty of bite.”

“Fast and Furious 6″ is expected to begin production in May, with shooting to take place in the U.K. The Sun doesn’t specify whether Rihanna is currently in talks or if her involvement in the sequel is already locked down, so we’re going to file this under rumor until RiRi confirms the news.

If she does find herself back in the U.K., perhaps she’ll reunite with her “We Found Love” music video co-star, Read more

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Court records show Martin Lawrence has filed for divorce from his wife of nearly two years.

The actor-comedian cited irreconcilable differences in his filing Wednesday. He and Shamicka Lawrence married in July 2010.

The couple dated for years and have two daughters together, ages 9 and 11. The 47-year-old star of “Big Momma’s House” and the sitcom “Martin” is seeking joint custody of the children.

The filings state the couple separated last week and they have a prenuptial agreement.

The divorce was first reported Monday by celebrity website TMZ.

LONDON (AP) – Would a red-soled stiletto by any other name than Christian Louboutin look as sweet?

Certainly not for the luxury French shoe designer, who passionately defended his court battle to protect his famous glossy red-soled shoes Monday.

Louboutin was in London to open a museum exhibition marking his brand’s 20th anniversary, talking to reporters about his inspirations and his rise to global success. But he also hit out at fellow French fashion house Yves Saint Laurent and its parent company PPR, whom he is suing for trademark infringement in a U.S. federal appeals court. A panel of judges has yet to issue a decision.

“What PPR does via Yves Saint Laurent is breaking my trademark, which I find incredibly offensive,” Louboutin told The Associated Press.

Louboutin’s lawyers have compared his shoe trademark to a similar one held by Tiffany & Co. for blue boxes -sparking a wider debate on whether a designer can own a color.

The 49-year-old designer, dressed in a red tweed Read more

The Associated Press

Cute, but potentially dangerous “sippy” cups and defective components that could render a fire sprinkler system useless are among a list of consumer products recalled this week. Other recalled products include jackets with waistband drawstring issues, computers that pose a fire hazard, and knives with a faulty folding mechanism.

Here’s a closer look at the recalled products:

‘SIPPY’ CUPS

DETAILS: Target Home Bunny Sippy Cup with handles on both sides in pink and blue, female and male. Each contains a corresponding white bunny head screw-on lid and one bent ear and one straight ear. The cups can be identified by imprints on the bottom: “TARGET 200020683″ for pink and “TARGET 200020884″ for blue. They were sold at Target Corp. stores from Feb. 2012 through April 5, 2012.

WHY: The ear on the cup can poke a child in the eye area during use, possibly resulting in an injury.

INCIDENTS: Six reports of the plastic ear poking children during routine use of the cup, Read more

Mo. woman wins $5.8M in ‘Girls Gone Wild’ case

JIM SALTER

ST. LOUIS (AP) – The company that makes “Girls Gone Wild” DVDs is seeking to overturn a verdict awarding nearly $6 million to a St. Louis-area woman who claims her bare breasts were recorded without permission.

St. Louis Circuit Judge John Garvey last month sided with Tamara Favazza in her suit against Mantra Films Inc. and MRA Holdings LLC, awarding her $5.77 million. She was a 20-year-old college student in 2005 when someone lifted her tank top during a party at a St. Louis bar, exposing her breasts. Another person filmed it. She later discovered the recording was part of the “Girls Gone Wild Sorority Orgy” DVD series.

Favazza claimed in the suit originally filed in 2008 that she did not give consent and the resulting DVD damaged her reputation. A St. Louis jury sided with the DVD makers in 2010, but a retrial was granted.

Garvey issued his ruling on March 5. On Wednesday, the defendants filed motions asking that the judgment Read more

Idaho man accused of using gun to force ‘moonwalk’

SANDPOINT, Idaho (AP) – An Idaho man has been charged with assault after authorities say he ordered another man to perform the “moonwalk” at gunpoint.

The Bonner County Daily Bee (http://bit.ly/IGAoPn) reports 30-year-old John Ernest Cross was charged with the felony Tuesday in 1st District Court and appointed a public defender.

Police say they were called Monday to Cross’ home in Clark Fork after getting a report that he pointed a rifle at another man and demanded that the man perform the dance move popularized by Michael Jackson in the 1980s.

Investigators accuse Cross of using a semiautomatic rifle during the episode, but Cross claimed during his initial court appearance this week that the firearm was simply a pellet gun.

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Information from: Bonner County (Idaho) Daily Bee, http://www.bonnercountydailybee.com Read more

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon say “I do” – again.

A publicist for the pair says they renewed their vows Friday at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.

Spokeswoman Cindi Berger said the couple celebrated with an “intimate ceremony after a romantic dinner at the beautiful Jules Verne restaurant” just after midnight local time.

Carey, 42, and Cannon, 31, married in the Bahamas in 2008 after a whirlwind romance that began just months earlier. Carey gave birth to their twins, son and daughter Moroccan and Monroe, last April.

Cannon was hospitalized in January and later diagnosed with inflammation of the kidneys. He resigned from his New York City radio show in February to help his recovery. Earlier this month, he said he’d document his return to health on his website in a show called “NCredible Health Hustle.”