LIL WAYNE MAKES NY COURT DATE: But ’scheduling conflict’ kept rapper from Fashion Rocks taping; ‘SNL’ appearance set for this weekend September 9, 2008

Lil Wayne made his scheduled court date in New York early Monday despite hitting MTV’s Video Music Awards afterparty circuit in Los Angeles the night before following his performance.

 

       The rapper was said to be “attentive” and “wide awake” during the hearing regarding his weapons possessions case, reports TMZ.       

       Meanwhile, Weezy was a no-show at this year’s Fashion Rocks concert at Radio City Music Hall on Friday due to a “scheduling conflict.” Allhiphop.com says he was scheduled to close the Fashion Week kick-off event, which will air in a two-hour special tomorrow night (9-11 p.m.) on CBS. But, his appearance was cancelled at the last minute due to a change in the show’s line-up.       

       “They were looking for Wayne to appear earlier than he was set to perform,” Young Money Entertainment rep Cortez Bryant told AllHipHop.com. “He was five blocks away, caught in traffic in the Lincoln Tunnel. They said they wouldn’t hold the audience and they were cutting his show.”       

       Hopefully he’ll make it to “Saturday Night Live” this weekend, where he’s been tapped as the musical guest for its season premiere.

DAMON DASH FILES MOTION OVER SON: Mogul says his baby mama is holding the boy hostage September 9, 2008

The legal drama between rap mogul Damon Dash and his son’s mother Linda Williams continues on with a fresh filing this week.

 

      According to TMZ.com, Dash is accusing Williams of holding his son “hostage” and refusing to bring him to court.

 

       Dash has filed a motion hoping to force Williams to physically bring Damon Dash II to the hearing so he can see the boy.

 

      Williams has accused Dash of failing to provide running water and electricity at his house during visits from their son, Damon Dash II, aka “Boogie.” Damon’s lawyer says Williams’ claims are untrue. 

THE GAME BEATS BOW WOW IN ‘MADDEN 09′: Chad Moss owes Compton rapper $100,000 after losing bet September 9, 2008

Bow Wow owes The Game $100,000 after losing a bet over who is the best celebrity player of Madden NFL ‘09.

 

       The Game had been claiming he was the Madden king, so Bow Wow challenged him to put his money where his mouth is.        

       At Friday’s Konsole Kingz “Madden Showdown” in Los Angeles, The Game’s New England Patriots were up 28 to nothing over Bow Wow’s Cincinnati Bengals after only the first quarter. Bow Wow ended up losing 55 to 23.      

       “I’m the s**t, man. I don’t know what else to say,” The Game boasted afterwards.      

       Bow Wow jokingly blamed the videogame’s weather conditions for his failure, saying: “I don’t care what they say, it was in the snow, first of all. Second of all… nah, I’m just playing. We had a lot of fun doing it. …Money going to charity. We both winners at the end of the day.”      

       The full Madden Showdown Video is available for viewing here: www.konsolekingz.com/gamebowwow_video  

ERIC BENET FILMS DUET WITH DAUGHTER INDIA: Sixteen-year-old sings on dad’s current single September 9, 2008

Eric Benet’s upcoming R&B album, “Love & Life” will double as the official singing debut of his 16-year-old daughter, India.

 

      The teen lends vocals to the first single “You’re the Only One,” which is No. 1 this week at Urban (A/C) Radio. The duo recently sang a rendition of the song for a video clip featured on YouTube. [Scroll down to view.]      

      “She just brings me so much joy and inspiration,” he tells People.com of India, whose mother died in 1993. “She’s been the best thing that’s ever happened to me. But parenthood has its challenges…”

 

       Like? “India is now dating,” he says with a sigh.       

       Benet said a gut reaction about one of India’s boyfriends led him to sit his daughter down and have a little heart-to-heart.       

       “Basically it was poetic justice because I was 16 before and my mind definitely wasn’t on the most honorable…” he says. “We talked and she made the choice herself but through parental openness. He got edited. He’s out of there!”

 

       As for the other woman in his life, girlfriend Manuel Testolini, Benet says she inspired many of the sensual songs on “Love & Life,” which is due tomorrow (Sept. 9) on her birthday.      

       “She’s a wonderful person,” he says. “She’s always thinking about how to make the world better. And she’s very easy on the eyes.”            

       The couple met at a charity event in Los Angeles two years ago and became “really good friends,” he says. “It naturally progressed into something else. We’re feeling good. We are really enjoying each other’s company.”       

       As for his girlfriend’s famous ex-husband, Prince, Benét says, “I met the guy years and years ago and he was very gracious and cool.” He adds with a laugh, “But there’s no double dating going on.”

 

 

MICHELLE OBAMA DANCES WITH ELLEN: First Lady hopeful helps newly-married host kick off sixth season September 9, 2008

Michelle Obama got her groove on with newlywed Ellen Degeneres during Monday’s broadcast of the talk show host’s sixth season premiere.      

       During her dance to the chair, the wife of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama broke into The Prep and Jay-Z’s “Dirt Off Your Shoulders,” which her husband did famously before a speech during the primaries.       

      Mrs. Obama agreed with Ellen that she has better dance moves than her husband, who cut a rug with the TV star when he appeared on “The Ellen Degeneres Show” in October. 

CHRIS BROWN WRITING SONGS FOR BRITNEY: He hopes tunes will be included on pop star’s upcoming album September 9, 2008

Chris Brown, 19, says he’s been busy writing material for pop star Britney Spears to consider using on her upcoming album.

 

      “I actually wrote a couple songs for her now,” Brown told the Associated Press, noting that Spears has yet to hear them. “We’re on the same label, so all the executives heard the records and they love the records, so hopefully she’ll cut it. But if she doesn’t, oh well, we’ll go back in the studio and still do some more records for her.”

 

      Brown, who won best male video for “With You” at Sunday night’s MTV Video Music Awards, wrote “Disturbia,” the current single from his rumored girlfriend Rihanna.

 

      As a vocalist, Brown will appear on forthcoming tracks from rappers Nas and Ludacris.

JURY SELECTION BEGINS IN NEW O.J. TRIAL: Judge warns pool against using case to punish Juice for murder trial September 9, 2008

Jury selection began yesterday in the Las Vegas robbery and kidnapping trial of O.J. Simpson with the judge asking prospective panelists to ignore the former NFL star’s 1990s murder trial.

 

      “If you think you are going to punish Mr. Simpson for what happened in L.A. … this is not the case for you,” Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass said as the case opened, according to the Los Angeles Times.

 

      She added that she didn’t want jurors who were “looking to become famous … write a book or be on TV.”

 

      Simpson, 61, is currently accused of leading the 2007 robbery of his own sports memorabilia from a Las Vegas hotel room. He and a co-defendant, Clarence Stewart, could face life in prison if they are convicted on all the charges against him.

 

      Four of Simpson’s original co-defendants have pleaded guilty in the case and have cooperated with the prosecution.

BERRY, HOUNSOU AT CALVIN KLEIN BASH: Sunday event marked label’s 40th anniversary September 9, 2008

Halle Berry, Djimon Hounsou and his girlfriend Kimora Lee Simmons were among the celebs attending Sunday’s 40th anniversary celebration for the designer label Calvin Klein.

 

      The event was held at the High Line, a former elevated rail line in New York that’s been converted into a park on the city’s west side, reports the Associated Press. Berry attended with her boyfriend Gabriel Aubrey.

 

      Other famous faces at the event included Rosario Dawson, Naomi Watts, Martha Stewart, Cynthia Nixon, Brooke Shields and Vogue Editor-In-Chief Anna Wintour.

 

       This is a New York moment right now,” said Dawson, who wore a black-and-white patterned gown. “This is absolutely incredible.”

JORDIN SPARKS DEFENDS PROMISE RINGS AT VMAs: Singer takes a moment to school host after numerous jokes September 9, 2008

Before introducing T.I.’s performance at Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards, Jordin Sparks took an unscripted moment to address host Russell Brand’s numerous jokes about teen trio Jonas Brothers and their rings that symbolize virginity until marriage.

 

       “I just have one thing to say about promise rings. It’s not bad to wear a promise ring,” Sparks, 18, told the crowd, “because not everybody – guy or girl – wants to be a slut.”

 

      During his opening monologue, Brand teased the Jonas Brothers, suggesting that they should be taking advantage of their celebrity status to score dates with women. Sparks, who also wears a promise ring, has been open in past interviews about her desire to hold onto her virginity.

 

      Brand returned to the stage later in the ceremony and offered an apology of sorts.

 

       “I didn’t mean to take it lightly,” the host said about promise rings. “I don’t want to piss off teenage fans.”       

       Still, Brand, whose apology soon morphed into a series of off-color jokes, said, “Promise rings, I’m well up for it. [But] a bit of sex, it never hurt anybody.”

OBAMA TO LUNCH WITH PRES. CLINTON IN HARLEM: Plus, senator to tape ‘Letterman’ Wed; appear with McCain Thurs at Ground Zero September 9, 2008

Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton are scheduled to have a lunch meeting Thursday afternoon at Clinton’s Harlem office, according to reports.

 

       The pow-wow will be the first private meeting between the two Democrats since the hostile primary campaign. Clinton extended the invitation after learning Obama would be in town this week.     

       Obama is expected to appear on CBS’ “Late Show with David Letterman” on Wednesday in New York. The following day, both Obama and Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain are scheduled to make a joint appearance at Ground Zero to mark the seventh anniversary of the terrorist attacks.       

        Both are also due to appear on a forum regarding 9/11 Thursday night on CNN.