July 2004

'lewd' TV act - Posted by Denz on Monday, July 26 2004

Rapper Eminem has been criticised after a performance on BBC One's Top of the Pops on 9 April led 12 viewers to complain he was "lewd" and "offensive". The complaints about the star grabbing his crotch were upheld by the BBC. "The performer had been asked to tone his act down after rehearsal but ignored this request during the live broadcast," a BBC statement read. "Although his gestures were part of the rap culture, they had gone beyond what is expected," it continued.

'Lean Back' Even Hotter? - Posted by Denz on Thursday, July 22 2004

When it came to toasting his new Terror Squad single, "Lean Back," with a dance of the same name, Fat Joe wasn't one for extravagance. With a simple bounce of the knees and a pullback of the shoulders, the "lean back" is as economical a dancefloor move as they come. He was obviously saving the excess for the remix. Fat Joe has recorded a new version of "Lean Back" that features a verse from one of hip-hop's biggest superstars, Eminem. Also rhyming alongside Fat Joe, Remy Martin and Slim Shady will be the comeback kid — Mase. Fat Joe confirmed the lineup on Wednesday. The remix is expected to be released to DJs within days. The Terror Squad's latest album, True Story, is due Tuesday.

Eminem Boxing - Posted by Denz on Wednesday, July 14 2004

Rapping sensation Eminem is reportedly brushing up on his boxing skills for a new movie role. The rapper plans to follow his acting debut in 8 Mile by playing the part of undefeated 22-year-old Ukranian-born Jewish boxing phenomenon, Dmitry Salita. Salita, who lives in Brooklyn and is studying to be a rabbi, is tipped be the next world champion with an unbeaten run of 17 fights. Boxing legend Lennox Lewis' former trainer Emanuel Steward has been hired to help Eminem perfect his punches for the role.

Eminem Radio - Posted by Denz on Tuesday, July 13 2004

Eminem is planning to launch a 24-hour hip-hop radio station soon, with no censorship. Eminem will be a host on the station, along with DJ Green Lantern. The music will be from new acts, along with established acts from his Shady Records stable. "Once upon a time not too long ago, the Feds wanted all my music off the air. Now we'll be on Sirius 24 hours a day, playing the best hip-hop - not just from Shady Records, but from everywhere," he said. "We'll deliver an uncut hip-hop radio station like never before. I can't wait to start dropping new material, exclusive tracks and uncensored hip-hop featuring me and everyone else, freely saying whatever the hell we want," he added.

Eminem works with 2 pac - Posted by Denz on Wednesday, July 7 2004

More proof, if proof were needed, that being dead can be a surprisingly positive career move, often attracting the most impressive of collaborators, as Eminem lines up to work with Tupac Shakur. Tupac Shakur may have died over seven years ago, but that hasn’t stopped a multimillion dollar industry arising around him, with more than 12 albums being released under his name since being shot dead in Las Vegas in 1996. Many of these records were comprised of unreleased demos or rhymes from partial completed songs reworked by his contemporaries. Now an as-yet-untitled new album, featuring a selection of previously unheard Tupac material produced by some of raps biggest names is on the way. According to MTV, Interscope Records and Afeni Shakur (Tupac's mother and executive producer) have confirmed that Eminem will be one of the producers working on the project , due out in the US in November this year. Eminem previously provided his studio skills on last year’s posthumous Tupac compilation ‘Tupac Resurrection’, producing three tracks including the single, ‘Runnin' (Dying To Live)’ which also featured vocals from the equally dead Notorious B.I.G.

Ex-wife sentenced to jail - Posted by Denz on Thursday, July 1 2004

Eminem's ex-wife was sentenced Wednesday to at least four months in jail for leaving a court-ordered drug treatment program without permission. Macomb County Circuit Judge Edward Servitto sentenced Kim Mathers to a year in jail, but she only will have to serve 140 days. Then, she will be released to a drug treatment program in Hazel Park. If Mathers successfully completes the program, the remainder of her jail time is suspended and she will be placed back on probation, said Russ Marlan, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Corrections. If she doesn't complete it, she will have to serve an additional one year in jail and then will be placed back on probation, Marlan said. Mathers twice has dropped out of a court-ordered drug treatment program. She served some jail time earlier this year after dropping out the first time. Police arrested Mathers in an Ann Arbor hotel room on June 15 after a caller reported she was staying there. A warrant for Mathers had been issued in April. Mathers was placed on probation after pleading guilty to charges of possessing 25 grams or less of cocaine and failing to give adequate space to an emergency vehicle. The charges stemmed from a 2003 traffic stop in St. Clair Shores. Mathers and rapper Eminem, whose legal name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III, have a daughter, Hailie Jade Mathers.