Jozi to host reality show

Hip hop act Jozi are set to release a reality television show called The Moving City. Describing the show, Jozi rapper Da L.E.S. told the Sowetan: "As part of the reality show we visit various villages in a bid to find an authentic traditional sound. We also create a song that reflects the sound of the area, which will be included in a compilation. The reality show will be a 13-part series that will be aired towards the end of the year. Though we have not signed any broadcast deal we know that it will be on the air. We are tracing the roots of the motherland's sound."

Kylie extends SA tour

Pop superstar Kylie Minogue has added an extra date to the South African leg of her Aphrodite tour due to popular demand. She will play an extra date at the Sun City Superbowl on 10 July 2011. Kylie said of her forthcoming trip to SA: "I have been looking for an opportunity to perform in South Africa for a very long time so I am really delighted that I can now confirm I will be visiting Johannesburg and Cape Town in July this year. I’ve been having a wonderful time touring 'Aphrodite' and I’m absolutely thrilled I will be able to bring Aphrodite Live to South Africa."

The full SA tour schedule is:
 
Sun City Superbowl Johannesburg
Friday 8 July 2011
Saturday 9 July 2011
Sunday 10 July

Grand Arena in Cape Town
Wednesday 13 July 2011
Thursday 14 July, 2011

Hip hop stars gather at Mbombela Festival

Hip hop stars Zakes Bantwini, Professor, Theo Kgosinkwe, and Teargas will all be in action at the inaugural Mbombela Music Festival. The new festival, presented by Hilltop Live in association with Amstel Lager and Ligwalagwala fm, will take place on 9 July at the Mbombela Stadium Precinct, in Nelspruit.

In addition to the live talent, a line up of Mpumalanga DJs - DJ Chrizozo, DJ Madumane, DJ Stax, and DJ Sdoko - will also be performing.

Gates open at 11am and the event ends at 11pm. Tickets are available at: www.ticketbreak.co.za.

Jub Jub to record song for drag racing victims

Hip hop artist Jub Jub is reportedly recording a song in honour of the school children that died during his alleged drag race in Soweto on 8 March last year. Jub Jub, real name Molemo Maarohanye, and Themba Tshabalala face charges of murder, attempted murder and driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. The pair were allegedly drag racing in Soweto when they crashed into the children, killing four of them.

Buju Banton sentenced to 10 years in prison

Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton, real name Mark Myrie, was sentenced to 10 years in jail on Thursday for conspiring to set up a cocaine deal. Banton was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and using a telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking offense.

Despite pleas for leniency from many of Banton's 15 children, a former Jamaican government official, an NBA player, other reggae artists and actor Danny Glover, who called Banton a "role model, philanthropist and spiritual leader in the community", the minimum sentence for Banton's transgressions was stipulated as 10 years and the judge duly handed down the minimum sentence.

Chris Brown in trouble, again

Chris Brown is trouble again after allegedly using a gay slur against journalists he accused of tipping off police that his car was illegally parked. The "Look At Me Now" singer has apologised for his outburst, saying: "I have total respect for Gay community and my intention was not to insult anyone in it."

Brown infamously assaulted then girlfriend Rihanna in 2009 in a fit of jealousy. He was handed a suspended sentence and community service for that misdemeanor, but it appears that the public has a longer memory than the law and since then he has been criticised at every available opportunity.  

Freshlyground in the US

Local band Freshlyground have headed off on a 17 date tour of America and Canada. The group have shows scheduled in New York, Chicago, Washington, San Francisco, Vancouver, Seattle and Boston, amongst other places.They will also appear at the Montreal Jazzfest alongside heavyweights such as Prince, Angelique Kidjo and Ben Harper.

Chevelle to play in S.A.

American metal band Chevelle have been confirmed to be appearing at the Oppikoppi Festival, which runs from 5 - 7 August in Northam. In addition to their Oppikoppi appearance, the band will also be performing at the Grand West Arena in Cape Town on 8 August.

Chevelle join other confirmed acts Sum 41, Michelle Shocked, Zebra and Giraffe, and Die Antwoord at the Oppikoppi Festival.

Amy Winehouse cancels summer tour

Following a disastrous concert in Belgrade (Serbia), Amy Winehouse has cancelled the rest of the 12 dates of her summer European tour.

Winehouse, who has a history of drug and alcohol problems and has just got out from a stint in rehab, stumbled around the stage, forgot the words to her songs and dropped the microphone in a shambolic performance in Belgrade that was roundly booed by the crowd. Serbian media declared the concert "the worst in the history of Belgrade.''

Ishmael admits drug problem

Ishmael “Ish” Morabe, one half of hugely popular hip hop outfit Jozi, on Friday revealed his addiction to cocaine on SABC1’s top music show Live.

Morabe has spent some time in rehab and has now been clean for four weeks. He said he had been taking cocaine for the past 11 years.

Morabe said: “It ruled my life and affected my work, health, finances, and caused friction between me and my family.”

Sum 41 coming to S.A.

Canadian rockers Sum 41 will be in South Africa in August to perform at the Oppikoppi Festival and at the Wavehouse in Durban. The band have had hits with songs like In Too Deep and Fat Lip and tour extensively around the world.

Tickets for the Oppikoppi Festival are available at Ticketbreak SA.

Police foil Joss Stone kidnap plot

Police have arrested two men who were acting suspiciously outside the home of pop star Joss Stone. When arrested, the men were found to be in possession of swords, rope, a body bag, detailed maps and aerial photos of the star's property, leading police to believe they were planning a raid on Stone's home.

A 20-strong team of detectives in both Devon and Manchester is now working on the case, with Stone being kept informed of developments.

DJ Kent sends Zim fans into frenzy

South African DJ Kent wowed fans in Zimbabwe, who went wild during his set at Sports 747 in Bulawayo.

Many people had predicted that his counterpart DJ Cndo would present the best performance at the show but DJ Kent came out to thunderous applause from the gathered fans, who only got more enthusiastic as the set went on. The performance proved the massive fanbase DJ Kent has, even outside our borders.

Parlotones to support Coldplay

The Parlotones have been chosen to support Coldplay at their upcoming concert dates in South Africa. Coldplay will be playing at Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday 5 October and Soccer City Complex, FNB Stadium Johannesburg on Saturday 8 October, and the Parlotones will be the support act at both concerts.

The Parlotones said: "There is only one band in the world that we would support in our home country and what an honour it was to be invited by that very band. Coldplay has been an inspiration to us and we are very excited to have the privilege of sharing the stage with the greatest band in the world."

Westlife coming back to SA

Irish boy band Westlife are returning to South Africa in September. The group will play at Supersport Park in Centurion on Saturday 17 September, 2011. Tickets are available at www.ticketbreak.co.za

Jennifer Lopez sex tape recovered

A sex tape featuring Jennifer Lopez and ex-husband Ojani Noa, which he had tried to sell, has been recovered and will be locked in a safe deposit box at the City National Bank in Century City, California to which Lopez's attorney, Jay Lavely, will maintain possession of the key.

Before the tapes are locked up, Jennifer will be allowed to view the footage as will Noa and his current girlfriend Claudia Vazquez.

Police assault Locnville

Brian and Andrew Chaplin of Locnville fame have claimed they were attacked by police after another group of people insulted the band at a petrol station in Claremont, Cape Town. Andrew Chaplin told Eyewitness News: "Someone said something really inappropriate to us as people but for some reason the police followed us and stopped us in the middle of the road and attacked us. I cannot stand for that." The duo said in a series of tweets that Brian was maced by police, whilst another of their friends was punched in the face.

It is unclear whether the brothers will lay charges against the SAPS.

Lil Wayne sued, again

Rap star Lil Wayne's Cash Money record label is being sued by producer David Kirkwood for unpaid royalties relating to the track Love Me Or Hate Me, which featured on the deluxe editon of Lil Wayne's album "Tha Carter III."

Kirkwood is now the third producer to sue for unpaid royalties relating to "Tha Carter III." Producer  Bangladesh was the first to claim he wasn't paid for a track from the album, Billboard Rap Songs No. 1 track, "A Milli." Darius "Deezle" Harrison also filed a lawsuit against Wayne for $20 million of unpaid royalties from sales of "Tha Carter III" relating to his work on Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 track, "Lollipop."

Jackson insurers refuse to pay out

Lloyds of London, who insured Michael Jackson's 50 night residency at London's O2 arena, are refusing to pay out on the policy. They insist the document is invalid because promoters AEG Live failed to supply details of the apparent "prescription drug use and/or addiction" which caused the megastar's death before the concerts were due to start.

Lawyers for Jackson's estate insist the claim should still stand. Attorney Howard Weitzman told TMZ: "This legal action is nothing more than an insurance company trying to avoid paying a legitimate claim by the insured."

Noel Gallagher wants Liam at his wedding

Noel Gallagher wants his brother Liam to attend his 18 June wedding to Sara MacDonald despite not having spoken to him since a huge bust up in 2009 that led to the break up of their previous band Oasis.

Noel told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "He is my brother. He is a tit but he's my brother so I guess he should be there. Yeah, I would want him there. Family is family on days like that and it would make a lot of people happy. But he'll always be a complete t**t."

So not quite an olive branch then, but it's a start!

Lauryn Hill pregnant again

Hip hop star Lauryn is pregnant with her sixth child. The ex-Fugees rapper and singer announced at a concert in Detroit that she was "taking time off to give birth." Hill is married to Stephen Marley, son of the late reggae singer Bob Marley.

Sean Kingston's condition improves

Sean Kingston's condition has been changed from critical to "serious" according to a statement issued by his rep to Billboard.com Monday (June 6). The pop singer, who has been in Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital since a jet ski accident on May 29, is also "breathing on his own and walked for the first time this morning. Sean thanks his friends, family and fans for their outpouring of prayers and well wishes."

Warning for Winehouse

Amy Winehouse has been warned that if she doesn't stop drinking she will die. The wayward singer checked into the exclusive Priory Clinic rehab centre last week, and was reportedly warned that if she carries on the way she is she won't have long to live.

Winehouse was reportedly seen buying a bottle of vodka on her way to the clinic last week and drinking it before she checked herself in. Good start then!

Born This Way sells over 1m copies in first week

Lady Gaga's new album, Born This Way, has sold over 1,108,000 copies in the U.S. in it's first week of release to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. According to Nielsen Soundscan, 662,000 of those purchases were digital, a record in the Soundscan era.

Sean Kingston still in critical condition

Pop star Sean Kingston remains in 'critical but stable' condition after he crashed his jet ski into Miami Beach's Palm Island Bridge on Sunday (29 May). With Kingston was a female passenger, Cassandra Sanchez, who escaped from the accident relatively unscathed.

Jackson Memorial Hospital, where the 21-year-old singer is recuperating, issued the following statement to Billboard.com: "Sean Kingston is currently in critical but stable condition at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida. Sean's family asks for privacy at this time but is thankful to his friends, family and fans for their outpouring of prayers and well wishes."