October 2004

Yearns for less fame - Posted by Denz on Saturday, October 30 2004

Eminem says that fame makes him feel like he is living in a cage and that he never knows whether a woman is interested in him or in his success. In an interview to be published in the December issue of Vanity Fair, Eminem said he could live without his huge fame. "I would take it back to where I made a comfortable living. To where I would just make music, have people appreciate it, even if it's a few people who appreciate it, and be able to walk to a mall, walk to a store. "When you get fame and fortune and you make something of your life and become successful ... But (there is a) whole new slew of problems that I never expected that come along with it," he said, adding: "Sometimes I battle with these demons that make me say in my head, 'I'm not going to be locked in a ... cage, I'm .... gonna walk in this place and I'm not going to sign any autographs." As for women, the rapper said, "Do they truly, genuinely love me for me? The reason they're approaching me is because I'm Eminem. And I will never be able to get over that insecurity ... Does this person care about me for me, or is it too late in the game now? Because I have money, I have fame, and I'm who I am." Asked if he had considered dating a fellow-celebrity, Eminem said, "Tried that, that didn't work. I've dated a few famous women and gone that route thinking that would work, and they ended up being crazier than I am."

Radio Channel Sets Debut Date - Posted by Denz on Friday, October 15 2004

Eminem will launch his widely expected satellite music radio channel called Shade 45 on Oct. 28 with a live broadcast of a concert from New York, the Sirius network said on Thursday. In July, Eminem, his Shady Records label, Interscope Records and Sirius Satellite Radio Inc said they would launch the channel, but a date had not been announced at that time. Sirius recently made headlines when it signed another controversial figure, shock jock Howard Stern, to a five-year, $500 million contract to move his show from Infinity Broadcasting to satellite radio, which is subscription-based and free from government restrictions on the content it airs. In a statement, Sirius said the new channel, Shade 45, will feature a full lineup of hip hop music, stars and song mixers, and it will have no filters or commercial restrictions. Infinity is a unit of media giant Viacom Inc

Jackson Seeks Ban - Posted by Denz on Tuesday, October 12 2004

Michael Jackson is reportedly angered by the way he is portrayed in rapper Eminem's recently released video "Just Lose It." The pop singer is said to be so upset that he has asked networks to remove the video from their rotations. "Michael Jackson is very angry. He feels that Eminem has crossed the line," Jackson representative Ramone Bain told the Daily News in Tuesday editions. "Michael is calling on all networks to pull the video." In the video, Eminem appears dressed mockingly as Jackson with a group of boys in the background, jumping. Then he sings the lyric in reference to Jackson's child molestation allegations: "Come here little kiddie, on my lap. Guess who's back with a brand new rap..." Later in the video Eminem also ridicules plastic surgery done on Jackson's nose, and an accident in which Jackson's hair caught on fire while filming a Pepsi commercial in 1984. So far, Black Entertainment Television has agreed to pull the video, and was expected on Tuesday to announce that it is removing the video. "Michael feels the video is disrespectful and offensive...it's one thing to spoof someone, it's another to be completely insensitive and disrespectful," said Bain.

Jackson to sue - Posted by Denz on Monday, October 11 2004

Michael Jackson is considering suing Eminem over his new video. Eminem's new video 'Just Lose It' video features Eminem dressed as Jackson, losing his cosmetically enhanced nose and jumping on a bed with young children. The Jacko character is also vomited on by the real Eminem and also douses his flaming hair by sticking his head down a toilet. Jackson branded the video 'disrespectful' and is determined to have it banned, reports the Daily Star. A source close to Jacko said: "The entire video is a send-up of Michael Jackson. Michael is very upset and is going crazy over it. Don't be surprised if he sues over this."

Madonna's bra on fire - Posted by Denz on Friday, October 8 2004

Rapper Eminem is back to doing what he does best i.e. making fun of celebrities. The 31-year old singer, who famously made fun of Christina Aguilera in his Slim Shady video is now going to be seen taking a dig at pop icons Madonna and Michael Jackson in his new video Just Lose It. In the video, he will dress up like the Material Girl, complete with the conical bra she is famous for wearing and then set fire to the bra. He will then take a dig at Michael Jackson's child molestation cases, as the video will show him sitting on a bed with a group of boys. Then he re-enacts the time when Jacko's hair caught fire. Eminem, however, will not stop there, he will also appear running naked in the video, which also features Paris Hilton.

'Encore' special - Posted by Denz on Thursday, October 7 2004

Although details remain under wraps, we have learnt that Eminem's upcoming album, "Encore," will be available in a special collector's edition. Due Nov. 16 via Shady/Interscope, the set will come in a telescoping box and feature 25 photo inserts. Album lyrics, an exclusive Eminem photo and an exclusive free ringtone round out the bonuses. "Encore" is tipped to include a bonus disc of songs that have been leaked online. First single "Just Lose It" bowed last week at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100, its 52 million listener impressions making it the highest-debuting airplay-only track of the year to date. The new set is the followup to 2002's "The Eminem Show," which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and has sold more than 9.2 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Eminem doing World Cup 2006? - Posted by Denz on Sunday, October 3 2004

Soccer's world governing body, FIFA, will have full responsibility for a pre-opening ceremony on the eve of the 2006 World Cup instead of the German government, a member of the organising committee said yesterday. OC supervisory board member Engelbert Nelle told deutschlandfunk radio that FIFA had objected to a show run by the government of chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on June 8, 2006, in Berlin. The World Cup kicks off the following day in Munich and runs until the final in Berlin on July 9, 2006. "FIFA insisted that it opposed a state-run event," Nelle said. FIFA seemingly aims to generate marketing and licensing income from the show which is to be broadcast worldwide. The German government has set aside 22 million euros for the huge party with a host of international stars in the Olympic stadium. Austrian artist Andre Heller has been approached to sign the likes of Robbie Williams and Eminem for the show. A spokeswoman for the interior ministry said that her body was in talks with FIFA and that the event would take place as planned. "We are talking about the conditions with FIFA and the organising committee. We will release further details in the near future," said spokeswoman Gabriele Kautz.