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Snoop LionSnoop Lion might return to rap music. The controversial artist - formerly known as Snoop Dogg - reinvented himself with his latest album Reincarnated after embracing Rastafarian culture and music on a trip to Jamaica, but has hinted he could return to his former vocation.

The laid-back icon told NME magazine, "I don't know if I want to repeat the same process as far as going to Jamaica and making a reggae album. I may wanna go to another country and make a reggae album. I may wanna make a rap album. I don't know."

The "Drop It Like It's Hot" hitmaker could also be contemplating yet another radical overhaul and is open to the idea of traveling to a foreign country to immerse himself in a new sound and image: "I definitely feel like I'm gonna make more music but I don't know if I'm gonna go to Jamaica, I may wanna go somewhere else. I may wanna venture into another part of the world. Some things you let them be what they are. That was a priceless moment. I may wanna do something different next time."

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MorrisseyMorrissey has been hospitalized with pneumonia in both lungs.

The former Smiths frontman - who has suffered a string of health problems in recent months, including a bleeding ulcer, throat condition Barrett's oesophagus, and anaemia - was forced to cancel a show in San Francisco on Saturday due to the potentially life-threatening condition.

However, Morrissey - who only returned to the stage last month after axing a string of US dates because of his health woes - is hopeful of being well enough to perform at the Vive Latino Festival in Mexico on Thursday. A statement on fan site True to You said, "Morrissey is presently being treated in San Francisco for 'double pneumonia,' but remains on course to headline the Vive Latino festival in Mexico City on March 14. Morrissey's show at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco will now take place on May 1."

Meanwhile, Morrissey also hit out at "extreme and silly" security at the Arlene Schnitzer Theater in Portland, where he performed on Friday: "Place an obese McDonalds fry-girl into a venue security uniform and she is suddenly Eva Braun."


Frank OceanFrank Ocean is being sued over his track "Lost." The singer, his record label Def Jam, and producer Malay are being sued by songwriter Micah Otano, who claims the song is too similar to his composition "Daylight."

Micah filed a lawsuit in California last week, seeking compensation for back royalties and damages. In the suit he claims he wrote the track "Daylight" with Malay, which the producer then copied for "Lost."

The track was the fourth single from Frank's breakthrough Channel Orange debut album in the US, which was won a Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album earlier this year.

Frank has also recently said he is hard at work on the follow up to his highly acclaimed debut and already has a concept and a number of songs ready: "I'm 10, 11 songs into this next thing. It's another cohesive thing bordering on a concept album again. At the end of Channel Orange there's "Golden Girl" and I kind of want to extend that feeling into the next record."


RihannaRihanna has been forced to cancel her concert in Boston tonight.

The "Stay" singer - who kicked off her new Diamonds world tour on Friday night - has come down with a severe case of laryngitis but is hoping a two day break from performing will cure her in time for her next concert in Baltimore on Tuesday.

Live Nation shared the 25-year-old star's disappointment with gossip website TMZ.com earlier, saying, "Unfortunately, following her sold out concert on Friday, Rihanna has contracted laryngitis and per doctor's instruction is unable to perform this evening." But they said she is still scheduled to play a show in Baltimore on Tuesday, and her Boston show will be rescheduled.

A source previously claimed that Rihanna couldn't wait to get out on tour and took it easy in rehearsals so she could save her energy for her fans. "She's good, excited to kick off this [tour] and do it big. She's already hyped up and doing some light rehearsals but other than that, she's taking it easy. Saving all the energy for the show," an insider said.

Click to continue reading Rihanna Cancels Concert


AdeleAdele is set to perform at Michelle Obama's birthday next year.

The "Skyfall" singer - who won Best Original Song at the Academy Awards last month - will reportedly join a string of other entertainers including Beyonce to help celebrate the US First Lady's 50th birthday bash at the White House in Washington DC on January 17, 2014.

"America's First Lady will be holding a huge celebrity-packed party for her birthday at the White House next year and, as she adores Adele and Beyonce, she has asked them both to sing. Adele has graciously accepted and waived her usual fee for the high-profile private performance. She will sing a selection of her most-loved hits for the First Lady and her friends. The Obamas will pay Adele's expenses as it's a private party, not a State one," a source said.

The 24-year-old British singer wowed the audience with a paired down performance of "Skyfall" at the Oscars last month, her first live performance since giving birth last October. She was previously said to have celebrated her prestigious win by presenting her five-month old son Angelo with his very own mock statue of an Academy Award from a souvenir shop.


Jack WhiteJack White thinks it's a songwriter's job to be "against the world." The "Freedom at 21" singer credits his career to the delta blues musicians of the 1920s and 1930s, and believes all artists should stay true to the honest, confessional style of songwriting they pioneered.

"As a songwriter, even if you're singing about other people or making up characters, it's still your job to be against the world and that all began in the 1920s and 1930s with these blues singers. It was the first time in history that a single person had been recorded to tell whatever story they had to the world," White told The Guardian.

The 37-year-old from Michigan rose to fame in 2000 as half of The White Stripes with drummer Meg White and admits he was surprised they rose to international fame, as he thought the style of music they played was old and forgotten.

"It was always shocking that people started caring after three albums. We'd assumed it was a style of music that nobody would be into and had resigned ourselves to always playing to 50 people. It was good for us, because we'd made up our minds to never care about that, and that's when success happened. It was sorta weird like that, but I think if we'd have watered it down it wouldn't have worked," he added.


Ne-YoNe-Yo surprised new artist Sonna Rele by signing her to Motown Records Thursday night.

The "Closer" star invited the London-born singer - whom he discovered on Facebook - on stage with him at Under the Bridge venue in Chelsea where he offered her to opportunity to join the iconic label, which has been home to Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and the Temptations.

Speaking about Ne-Yo - who is Vice President of A& R at Motown - Sonna exclusively told BANG Showbiz, "I have a lot of respect for him, he's an amazing artist, an amazing songwriter. I feel like I've got a really good team around me where I can kind of grow as a songwriter and an artist. I'm smiling from ear-to-ear right now. I'm really, really excited."

The 25- year old has already worked with Fugees star Wyclef Jean and music producer Dallas Austin, who between them have worked with likes of Michael Jackson, Madonna, TLC, Boys II Men and Gwen Stefani.

Click to continue reading Ne-Yo Signs Artist During Gig


The KillersThe Killers were turned down by every major record label in the US.

The "Somebody Told Me" band found it hard to get a deal in their home country at the start of their career, but a good review and radio play in Britain helped kick started their career.

"Every major label in America turned us down, then we got a glowing review in NME magazine and every single one of those labels offered us a record deal. So I will always be thankful to the NME," frontman Brandon Flowers said.

The band were awarded the Best International Band trophy at the recent NME Awards, and said they were amazed to be at the ceremony alongside their hero, guitar player Johnny Marr. Referencing two of Johnny's bands, Brandon added to NME magazine, "It's a big honor just to be here with Johnny Marr. I mean have you ever heard Electronic? But The Smiths were a staple for so many of us that were in that room. It's incredible, the influence they had."


Taylor SwiftTaylor Swift wants to collaborate with Eminem.

The "I Knew You Were Trouble" singer is famed for her country-pop songs but she is also a huge fan of hip-hop and would love to do a song with the "Stan" rapper.

"I love hip-hop so much. There's something so honest about it," she said. When asked if she would jump on a track with Eminem, she added to InStyle magazine, "Nobody wants to hear me rap but I'd sing a chorus for someone for sure. I would sign up for that in a heartbeat."

Taylor, 23, is famed for her clean-cut image and while she admits people would be shocked if she started swearing in her music, she insists she has the final say on what she writes and releases and could do what she wants: "I don't have a big scary management situation where I have to ask them. If I wrote a song called 'F**k' I think people would kind of raise their hand and go, like, 'Maybe swear less?' But I just don't really feel the need to swear in my music."


One Direction with Matthew Fox inset

Matthew Fox despairs of his daughter's love for One Direction.

While the Alex Cross star's 15-year-old daughter Kyle is a huge fan of the boy band, Alex doesn't rate their music and is trying to convince her to change her musical tastes. "She's a huge One Direction fan. She's got this major crush on Harry Styles. And I'm a huge music fan and we're having that classic father-child argument about music right now. So I'm trying to encourage her to explore music that's outside of the boy bands," he told chat show host Conan O'Brien.

Click to continue reading Matthew Fox Blasts One Direction


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