3LW (file)
Photo: Kevin Winter / Getty Images

It's been so long since 3LW put out their last album, their group name no longer seems to apply. At 21 and 19, respectively, Adrienne Bailon and Kiely Williams are fully grown women; along with new member Jessica Benson, they're preparing to go past The Point of No Return.

"Actually 'Point of No Return' is the name of one of the songs that Dre and Vidal produced [on our album]," Williams explained last week. "[In the song,] we're talking to our man [and saying], 'You've waited, you've been patient, and now you can get it.' But the reason I thought it was a good idea for us to have that as the album title, it leaves room for us to do everything. We've been through so much as a group, as individuals, it's time for our fans to see that we have reached the point of no return. There is no stopping us."

Last year 3LW left Sony Music and signed to Jermaine Dupri's So So Def imprint, which was then under Jive. Even though JD has since left Jive for Virgin (see "Virgin Records Snapping Up Jermaine Dupri And So So Def"), leaving the ladies on Jive, the singers say he is still heavily involved in the album, planning to finish production during the first week of August. So far 3LW have also worked with Cool and Dre, Dre and Vidal, Mike City, Rich Harrison and others. Harrison produced a go-go-flavored record called "Do Ya" that has been leaked to radio, but the trio say it may not be their first single.

"We have so many options," Williams said. "It's definitely a blend of musical styles and it's a matter of choosing what to come out with first."

"We have a whole bunch of vibes on the album," Bailon added. "We're a lot older now than the last album. Is the whole album a sexy vibe? Definitely not. There's some sexy songs, there's some fun music on there, party stuff, even songs that have a beautiful message."

One record they are particularly fond of is "It's Not All About Me," where they reflect on "the bigger picture."

"It's actually a song about someone who's driving down the highway and sees a car accident on the road," Bailon explained. "You may be like, 'Wow, I'm struggling.' You're going through your things, but then you see there's so much more going on around me, I'm just such a small part of such a huge world. Basically you realize there's a bigger story."

Bailon has more on her plate than music these days. She just finished "Rumble," a coming-of-age volleyball movie with a who's who cast of youngsters including Ciara.

"It was cool because it's hard to find six girls who get along," Bailon said of the film, due in 2006. "We had an amazing time on set. It was lots of fun. Ciara was amazing. She's pretty athletic."

Later this year, 3LW are rejoining Raven Symoné and Sabrina Bryan for a Cheetah Girls Christmas album. Point of No Return is scheduled for October.

• 3LW

Jermaine Dupri (file)
Photo: Getty Images/Sandra Rose

It looks like Jermaine Dupri is not only going to find a new home for his So So Def Records, but he's also picking up a new executive position.

On Monday (January 24) Dupri was officially named president of Virgin's urban music division and it was announced he's bringing his So So Def imprint with him.

"I gotta get acclimated to all the e-mails, meet the people, see who's gonna be in there and who ain't. I gotta do what I gotta do now," Dupri said of his first day in his new office.

He said he wasn't swayed to sign on the dotted line by the rumored $20 million (which he wasn't at liberty to comment on) he snagged or by the fact that girlfriend Janet Jackson happens to be the label's biggest act.

"Everybody believes I'm over here because of Janet and for the money. It has nothing to do with that," he insisted. "I feel like today's market is open for anything. My goal is to get Virgin poppin' just like Lil Jon did [with TVT]. He made an independent look like a major. I'm at a major that don't look like a major. I'mma try and make it look major."

In December Dupri said he was leaving Jive — which had taken over So So Def's distribution when Arista collapsed in early 2004 — for a situation more compatible with his roster.

"I'm just looking for a nice place to put out records and a place that's in love with what I do," the veteran producer of such artists as TLC, Usher and Jay-Z said at the time. "I love to put out records. I make something I believe in."

Among the acts on the So So Def roster are the Youngbloodz, Da Brat, Daz Dillinger, 3LW and of course Dupri himself.

J.D. contemplated releasing his own Green Light album first once he landed a new home, but he's decided to try his hand at breaking a new act instead. He's handing the ball to ATL newcomer T-Waters, who's been on several mixtapes rapping with the LOX's D-Block crew. Daz Dillinger will probably bat second.

"People look at Daz and say, 'He was with Tha Dogg Pound,' " Dupri said. "That era in their music has never gone. I'mma see Daz come back and you'll probably see some of them usual suspects on his album. I think him and Game got a song together, him and Snoop got a record. [Daz's] album will definitely be one of them rap records that from East to West you have to buy."

Besides the So So Def family, J.D. just finished work on new albums by Mariah Carey and Bow Wow and is going to executive produce a new one from his aforementioned main squeeze (see "Jermaine Dupri: New Janet LP's 'Gonna Be Straight 'Control' '").

• Jermaine Dupri
• Janet Jackson
• Youngbloodz
• Da Brat
• Daz Dillenger

A show on D12's current tour, scheduled for July 13 in Boynton Beach, Florida, has been canceled in the wake of a melee at the host club last weekend. Two patrons were stabbed and three others injured after several fights broke out at Club Ovation. The promoter has denied that the incident is the reason for the cancellation, citing a D12 "scheduling conflict" instead. ...

Axl Rose has been unable to obtain a preliminary injunction against Cleopatra Records to prevent the release of the album Hollywood Rose - The Roots of Guns N' Roses. On Tuesday, a United States District Court judge decided that no trademark infringement, violation of rights in name and likeness or unfair competition had taken place. Hollywood Rose features five 1984 songs from the band Rose and Izzy Stradlin formed with Chris Weber and Johnny Kreis before Guns N' Roses. ... The "Got Milk?" magazine ads featuring milk-mustached Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are being retracted, out of "sensitivity to their current situation," i.e. Mary-Kate's treatment for an eating disorder. The ads were supposed to run through the end of the month and could still run in the future, according to the director of the Milk Processor Education Program. ...

So you think Britney Spears is pregnant? Care to make a wager on that? Online sports betting site WagerOnSports.com has announced odds on the sex of Britney's firstborn, and odds on when Spears and Kevin Federline will get married. The odds that the pop star will have either a boy or girl are set at 10-11. All bets are off, however, and your money will be refunded if Spears is not pregnant by April 1, 2005. If you'd rather bet on the pop singer's wedding date, the odds that she'll say "I do" after October 31 are set at 1-6, while the odds that she'll tie the knot before Halloween are 4-1. ... Following in the footsteps of Drew Barrymore, Claudia Schiffer and Anna Nicole Smith, Paris Hilton is a now a Guess girl. The hottie hotel heiress can be seen in a series of ads for the Guess subsidiary Marciano. ...

Everyone's favorite talking aardvark is getting some star power. The voices of Clay Aiken, Kelly Ripa and Kevin Bacon can be heard on "Arthur Celebrity Audiobook," available on Amazon.com. Most of the proceeds from the sale of the audiobook for children will benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. ... Singer Syreeta Wright, ex-wife of Stevie Wonder, died Monday after a long struggle with breast cancer. Wright and Wonder were married in 1970 and split up two years later but remained close friends and collaborators. Among the many songs she co-wrote with Wonder was his 1970 hit "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours." ...

With more free time this summer than they'd expected due to the cancellation of Lollapalooza, the Flaming Lips have recorded two new songs, tentatively titled "Mr. Ambulance Driver" and "Space Bible," as well as a contribution to the upcoming soundtrack for "The Spongebob Squarepants Movie." ... Problems continue to plague the Vines. After having to cancel their North American tour with Incubus due to exhaustion, the Australian band is unable to participate in the U.K. Reading and Leeds festivals, August 28-29, because the last few months have been too physically and mentally demanding. ...

3LW have delayed their first album on Jermaine Dupri's So So Def Records until the fall. "We want it to be perfect," explained Kiely Williams, who said almost every recorded song so far has been considered as a single. "The problem is, when we fall in love with a song we're so obsessive that we'll listen to that song straight for a month and then hate it after that." ... Sevendust and Nonpoint will launch a summer tour Thursday night (July 8) in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Dates run through July 30 in Weedsport, New York. ...

Cake will release their fifth album, Pressure Chief, on October 5. The band made the record in a rented house in its hometown of Sacramento, California. ... Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders gave Procter & Gamble employees an early morning earful this week, when they found a message from the rock icon in their voicemail. The animal-rights activist asked for their help via an automated dialing service in getting P&G subsidiary Iams to stop conducting tests on dogs and cats that she considers to be cruel. "Don't think these tests are necessary or required by law. They aren't," she said in the message. "Other companies test in other ways. So, please, urge your employer to end laboratory tests and, instead, adopt in-home testing and humane studies in cooperation with veterinarians whose patients already have diseases Iams is interested in." ...

Madonna's third children's book, "Yakov and the Seven Thieves," debuts at #7 on The New York Times best-seller list, just three weeks after its release. This is the singer's third book in a row to hit the list in the children's picture book category. Her fourth book, "The Adventures of Abdi," is due out November 8. ... Hip-hop journalist Ronin Ro just sold his latest book, "Raising Hell: Run-DMC, Jam Master Jay and the Birth of the Hip-Hop Industry," to Amistad/Harper. Ro's book will detail how Run-DMC's commercial and artistic success forever transformed the expression of American pop culture, creating a multibillion-dollar industry and foretelling the evolution of hip-hop. Ro's editor said the book should be out by next fall. ...

Irish indie rock group the Thrills will release their sophomore album, Let's Bottle Bohemia, on September 14. The follow-up to the band's debut, So Much for the City, features an appearance by R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck. "Not for All the Love in the World" will be the first single. ... Free said she has put her album on hold until former Elektra head Sylvia Rhone has a new home for her to jump to. In the meantime, she's preparing to launch a makeup line in December. ...

07.07.04

Outkast have come under fire in the U.K. for a poster promoting their latest album, Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below. An image of Andre 3000 holding a smoking pink gun has been targeted by the U.K. advertising watchdog organization Advertising Standards Authority for being "irresponsible" and glorifying gun use. The image is also in the album's CD booklet. Outkast's U.K. record label, BMG, said the poster was meant to be ironic. ...

Though R. Kelly was due back in court on child-pornography charges August 13, he got the date pushed back to September 27, so that he could go on tour. ... First season "American Idol" finalist Tamyra Gray will join the third season's singers as a special guest on the American Idols Live Tour. Gray, promoting her recently released debut album, The Dreamer, will hit 42 of the 49 cities with Fantasia and the gang. ...

Farnsworth Bentley is finalizing the designs for his umbrella line, due in the fall, which he said will include a lot of fuchsia. "Fuchsia is the new pink. For those of you who have 64 crayons with the sharpener in the back, you know what I'm talking about." ... While he's on tour in England, Usher will receive an honorary diploma from London's Newham College of Further Education. On Thursday, the R&B star will be awarded for helping the school out with a program to aid troubled students find success in the music industry. ...

Will the real dog-snatcher please stand up? A suspect in a dognapping incident in Trenton, New Jersey, has been described as an Eminem look-alike. A 6' tall white male, with bleached-blond hair, tattoos and a T-shirt emblazoned with the word "Shady" (Eminem's clothing company), walked into JP O'Neill's kennel and snatched a Pomeranian-Chihuahua mix selling for $450. Police acknowledge that the suspect closely resembles the megastar rapper and hope that will help in his apprehension. ... 3 Doors Down bassist Todd Harrell is starting his own label, Imprint Records, and he's looking for a few good Southerners. So he's holding a contest in six Southeastern states, and the final 11 bands will compete in a talent show for a record contract. The label will produce and coordinate distribution of the winning band's album and will put the group on tour. The finals will take place in Gulfport, Mississippi, August 13 and 14. Interested bands should log onto www.3doorsdown.com for more information. ...

Live footage of Staind, Shinedown and Sevendust will be included in a DVD of last year's Locobazooka! festival, which comes out July 20. Proceeds will be donated to Home for Our Troops, which constructs handicapped-adjusted houses for severely disabled soldiers. Locobazooka! 2004 took place September 28 in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, at the city's Municipal Airport and drew 15,000 fans. The show also featured Smile Empty Soul, Powerman 5000, Lacuna Coil, Lo-Pro and others. ... Songs by Kid Rock, Cypress Hill, Fu Manchu and Down will be featured on the soundtrack to the movie "Motorcycle Mania 3," which comes out July 27. Jesse James, the CEO and chief designer for West Coast Choppers and the host of Discovery Channel's "Monster Garage," handpicked the tracks for the album, which also includes songs by Lou Rawls, Corrosion of Conformity, New Bomb Turks, the Supersuckers, Danzig and others. ...

The final act has been booked for the Cure's Curiosa Festival. Joining second-stage acts Thursday, Muse, Cursive, Melissa Auf Der Maur, Cooper Temple Clause and Head Automatica will be Sympathy for the Record Industry act Scarling. The Curiosa Festival kicks off July 24 in West Palm Beach, Florida. ... Paris Hilton isn't going to have to worry about people trying to figure out which perfume in stores is her brand — it'll simply be called "Paris Hilton." Parlux Fragrances is planning a soft launch for the line in November, and will start promoting it soon after for an official Valentine's Day release. ...

The last time Ready for the World had a hit record out, kids were clamoring to watch "Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends" on TV, the Mets were the baddest baseball team in New York and nobody would laugh at you if you sported a jheri curl. Well, get ready for some nostalgia. The Flint, Michigan, collective, which scored the hits "Oh Sheila" and "Love You Down" in the '80s, is trying to come back and reclaim the spotlight with the July 20 release of She Said She Wants Some. ... Gavin Rossdale, Gwen Stefani's hubby and former frontman of '90s rock band Bush, has formed a new group called Institute. Rossdale recorded 14 tracks with the band in Los Angeles, and plans to travel to New York in August to complete three more songs before releasing a full album. ...

Brides of Destruction/ Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx says he will sue Dragonfly Clothing for breach of contract as the company has reneged on payments to Sixx for his clothing line. In a post on his Web site, Sixx said that the company grossed "millions of dollars in sales" on his clothing line, but has offered the rocker "hardly a dime." ... Although Hoobastank's original treatment for their second video for "Same Direction" had a guest-star spot for the mom of the fictional lost member of their band, Joan Jett's cameo in the clip was altered in the final version so that she's now playing a sister, not a mother. ...

• D12
• Guns N' Roses
• Britney Spears
• Clay Aiken
• 3LW

3LW's Adrienne Bailon at the "You Got Served" premiere
Photo: MTV News

HOLLYWOOD — Ashanti won't have to pretend to have something in common with the girl playing her best friend in the upcoming "Coach Carter." Fellow R&B singer Adrienne Bailon of 3LW has been cast in the role.

Not that her voice had anything to do with landing the part. "This is the first movie I've done that doesn't involve singing or dancing, so it's kinda cool to get that credibility," Bailon, who played a singer in the Disney Channel's "Cheetah Girls" movie, said at the recent "You Got Served" premiere (see "B2K Members Deny Hiring Brandy's Brother To Replace Omarion").

Along with Ashanti, who makes her big-screen debut in the movie (see "Ashanti Lands First Big-Screen Acting Role"), "Coach Carter" stars Samuel L. Jackson as the title character. The film is based on real-life Bay Area high school basketball coach Ken Carter, who favored academics over athletics when he benched his undefeated basketball team for poor classroom performance in 1998.

"Where you thought the school and community would've rallied around the coach for doing such a thing, they didn't," director Brian Robbins ("Varsity Blues," "The Perfect Score") said recently. "It went the opposite, and there was an outcry to see these kids play ball."

Ashanti plays a pregnant teenager dating one of the team's stars. "Although she's so in love with her boyfriend, they're not really ready for a child," Bailon added. "That's something we can all relate to. I know several people who have gone through that. It's definitely a strong message to send out to teen girls — that it's not easy, it's a struggle, and if you choose to make a decision, it's OK."

Bailon is excited to act alongside another musician, but she's even more honored to share the screen with Jackson.

"I walked into hair and makeup the first day and Samuel L. Jackson was sitting there getting his head shaved bald and I was like, 'Oh my God! My parents are gonna freak.' Like, my dad's the biggest Samuel L. Jackson fan," Bailon recalled. "I keep on saying 'Samuel L. Jackson.' It's one of those names you can't say part of. You gotta say the whole thing."

Bailon said her 3LW groupmates, Kiely Williams and Jessica Benson, are also pursuing acting gigs, though their planned "Cheetah Girls" sitcom has been delayed (see "3LW Bringing 'Cheetah Girls' To TV, May Get Real In Atlanta").

"It's because of Raven," Bailon said of "Cheetah Girls" movie co-star Raven-Symone, of "The Cosby Show" fame. "Her sitcom ['That's So Raven'] is doing so well, ABC executives are trying to figure out where they wanna go with the Cheetahs. But it's definitely still in the works. And you'll see much more 'Cheetah Girls' stuff coming up. Maybe even a clothing line."

As for 3LW's music plans, the group recently recorded several tracks with Jermaine Dupri, who will release their third album on his So So Def label (see "3LW Sign To So So Def, Ask 50 Cent To Get 'Gangsta' With Them"). The project, titled Phoenix Rising, is due in August, with the first single scheduled to hit airwaves in June.

The single has yet to be determined, but Bailon knows what her favorite song is so far. "We did this song called 'Things You Never Hear,' a ballad produced by St. Nick, one of Jermaine's producers," Bailon said. "It's basically a song about all the things you never hear a girl say, the things that drive us crazy. It talks about what it's like to be a lady and all the things you need to know to be part of a girl's world."

3LW hope to get another Atlanta native, Ludacris, to contribute to the album but are more than satisfied with how it sounds now.

"JD was just amazing," Bailon said. "It's really cool to see a true musical genius. He's very quiet, really laid-back. And we're so different than that. He thinks we're absolutely crazy. He's like, 'Oh my God, these girls are just all over the place.' But he loves us. He's like, 'You guys are hilarious.' So we talked about the project and he definitely saw a lot of energy around us, and that's what the album's gonna have, a whole lot of energy, a lot of party songs. It's gonna be a fun album you can listen to. It's gonna be for all ages, so we're excited about that, too."

• 3LW

3LW
Photo: MTV News

HOLLYWOOD — If one little woman with a music career can star in a sitcom — that being Eve — why not two or three?

Adrienne Bailon and Kiely Williams of 3 Little Women, better known as 3LW, have signed with ABC for a TV series based on their recent Disney movie, "The Cheetah Girls."

A representative for the group and the show's producer, Debra Martin Chase ("The Princess Diaries"), said they are also discussing writing in a role for Jessica Benson, who joined the trio after Bailon and Williams made the movie.

"We're starting [to film] in April," Williams said at Teen People's recent Artist of the Year party. "We're excited."

Like the movie, "The Cheetah Girls" sitcom will be based on Deborah Gregory's four-year-old book series about a girl group of different ethnic backgrounds, similar to 3LW (see "3LW Don't Judge Others By Color Of Their Spots In 'Cheetah Girls'"). Actresses Raven (a.k.a. Raven-Symone of "The Cosby Show" fame) and Sabrina Bryan ("The Bold and the Beautiful") will reprise their roles on the show, which will shoot in Toronto.

"The Cheetah Girls" may be one of two upcoming TV projects for 3LW. Bailon said the trio are in talks about filming the recording process for their next release as a reality show.

"I think it's gonna be called 'Welcome to Atlanta' or something like that," she said. The working title refers to the home of their new label head, Jermaine Dupri, with whom they will record Phoenix Rising (see "3LW Sign To So So Def, Ask 50 Cent To Get 'Gangsta' With Them").

"We're going to Atlanta on December 8, and we'll actually be living there for two months," Bailon said.

"We finished our part of the album, all seven songs, and JD will add his four," Williams added. "We're gonna make history."

Finished tracks so far include "After This," which they performed at the Lady of Soul Awards, "Bling Bling" and "Gangsta."

Before 3LW leave for Atlanta, they hope to secure a production company for their next movie, a heart warmer they wrote themselves called "My Daughter's Keeper" (see "3LW Script Their Own Flick; New LP Keeps Rising").

The girls, who hail from different East Coast cities, have also been busy decorating a house they recently bought together in Los Angeles.

"It's the three of us and Kiely's mom always," Bailon said. "We always need a chaperon with us. My mom would be mad if there wasn't anybody watching me."

• 3LW

3LW
Photo: MTV News

MIAMI — On Monday, R&B group 3LW proved that rappers aren't the only acts who can make headlines at the Source Awards.

After Wyclef Jean cruised by them on the red carpet atop his motorcycle, the recently re-formed trio announced they'd just made another big change. Adrienne Bailon, Jessica 'J' Benson and Kiely Williams have signed a new label deal. (Click for photos from the Source Awards red carpet.)

"OK, this is the big news right here," J, the group's newest member, said as things quieted down. "We were just signed, so now we are definitely [with the] So So Def [imprint] and [its distributor], Arista."

"That's right, we're really excited," Adrienne added. "[We're] working with Jermaine Dupri. J.D. is actually gonna be doing four or five tracks on the album. We are moving to Atlanta for a certain amount of time to finish the album. It's gonna be so much fun working with him."

For fans who've been tracking 3LW for the past few months, the announcement comes as no surprise. The group, formerly signed to Epic Records, has been negotiating with Dupri for some time now (see "Jermaine Dupri To Sign 3LW, Former Dogg Pound Member Daz"). A few months ago, the producer/label exec said he wanted to sign the girls because he saw their potential and thought all they needed to really take off was the right team behind them (see "3LW Celebrate Bling Bling And A New Beginning On Next LP").

So far the women have completed 10 songs with a few different producers, according to their publicist, and will probably reach out to a few more beatmakers when they finish up their new album, Phoenix Rising, with Dupri in ATL (see "3LW Script Their Own Flick; New LP Keeps Rising"). While in the Dirty, the songbirds also want to hook up with the mouth of the South, Ludacris, for a remix of their first single, "After This," which they recently debuted at the Lady of Soul Awards.

	Nelly, Kim, LL, Sean Paul and more on the Source Awards red carpet

"[The song] is about a girl who goes to a party," Adrienne said, "and she's basically asking the guy, 'Well, where are you going after this? Before we hit the [parking] lot, you gotta tell me what you're thinking about. What are you planning on doing?' So I think it has good message, but it's a fun song. It's got an incredible track. It's gonna be hot."

The members also mentioned that they've got a song they'd like a certain Queens MC to contribute his slick talk to.

"We actually have a song that we wanna put 50 [Cent] on," Adrienne said, openly soliciting the rapper. "So if you're [listening] 50, it's called 'Gangsta.' "

"We want you, man, we want you," J interjected. "We need you."

"You gotta be on it," Adrienne said. "It's all about you."

• 3LW
• 50 Cent

David Bowie is launching his first major world tour in nearly a decade — his first U.S. tour in five years — and he's bringing Macy Gray along to keep him company. The eccentric soul singer was tapped as the opener for the Stateside portion of Bowie's A Reality Tour, set to kick off December 6 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The Dandy Warhols will open on the European leg, which runs October 7 through November 28. ...

You can add Don King, Donald Trump and Julius "Dr. J" Erving to the list of celebs who can be linked to Kevin Bacon in one way or another. Bacon and company were among the folks who came to the Hudson Theater at the Millennium Hotel in New York for Wyclef Jean's album-listening party. Not only did Clef play selections from his Preacher's Son LP (due October 28), including “Baby Daddy” with Redman and “Party to Damascus” featuring Missy Elliott, he performed “I Am Your Doctor” with Wayne Wonder and Elephant Man and "Celebrate" with Patti LaBelle. ... Erykah Badu partied up Tuesday night at New York hotspot Lobby. Dead Prez, Mos Def, 3LW and Raekwon all came down to help Badu launch her new LP, Worldwide Underground. ...

Ryan Malcolm, a 23-year-old waiter from Kingston, Ontario, was crowned the first "Canadian Idol" Tuesday during what was reportedly the most watched television program in Canadian history. Ruben Studdard also performed on the show. ... A DVD of U2's September 2001 performance from Ireland's Slane Castle will come out November 18. Titled "U2 Go Home," the disc will feature 19 songs including "Beautiful Day," "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "With or Without You." The show marked the 20th anniversary of the band's first appearance at Slane. In 1984, U2 recorded their fourth album, The Unforgettable Fire, at the castle. The "U2 Go Home" DVD includes a documentary of the making of that LP. ...

"Three Days," a warts-and-all documentary on Jane's Addiction shot during the band's last attempt at a comeback in 1997, is scheduled for release on DVD October 7. ... On Tuesday, a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals questioned lawyers on both sides of Verizon Communications Inc.'s appeal on the legality of RIAA subpoenas that order ISPs to identify suspected file-sharers. Such subpoenas allowed the recording industry to hit more than 260 online pirates with copyright-infringement lawsuits. The panel is expected to decide on the appeal this fall. ...

"Hedwig and the Angry Inch" creator John Cameron Mitchell is working on staging a performance in New York featuring the bands that will appear on the "Hedwig" tribute album, Wig in a Box, the proceeds from which will benefit the Harvey Milk School in New York. The album, which drops October 21, includes contributions from the Breeders, the Bens, Yoko Ono and Yo La Tengo, Spoon, and They Might Be Giants and Rufus Wainwright. ... Mike Smith, lead singer for the '60s British group the Dave Clark Five, was in critical condition after sustaining a spinal injury when he fell in his home in Spain on Saturday. Organizers of a nostalgia tour to mark the 40th anniversary of the British Invasion next year are confident that Smith will be aboard. ...

9.16.2003

Moore & Bode Cigars Inc. filed a suit against Sean "P. Diddy" Combs and his company, Bad Boy Entertainment Inc., earlier this month for alleged "invasion of privacy" and "theft of trade and business secrets." The cigar company claims that in June videographers from Bad Boy filmed the company's employees without permission and that the footage ended up in Diddy and Nelly's video "Shake Ya Tailfeather," thereby giving away the "secret process" in which Moore & Bode rolls its cigars. The suit seeks at least $15,000 in damages. ...

Madonna reportedly wants to have another baby. The 45-year-old pop icon told Britain's The Times newspaper that she'll make a doctor's appointment to get the green light to follow-up Lourdes, 7, and Rocco, 3, with her third child. ... DMX and Fox Searchlight Pictures have agreed on a release date of March 19 for "Never Die Alone." X is also in talks to star in an untitled supernatural-themed flick that begins shooting at the beginning of 2004. ...

Jury selection is still in progress for the C-Murder murder trial in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. Six jurors were chosen Monday, leaving six more and two alternates to be picked. The rapper, whose real name is Corey Miller, is facing second-degree-murder charges for allegedly shooting and killing a 16-year-old during an MC battle. Though the trial has yet to begin, the judge has already shot down one defense motion to keep prosecutors from telling jurors that they could find C-Murder guilty of manslaughter if they find him innocent of murder. Opening arguments are expected to begin Wednesday. ...

Often naked No Doubt drummer Adrian Young will sit behind the kit for British new wave group Bow Wow Wow's set at KROQ's Inland Invasion concert Saturday in Devore, California. Other artists on the bill include '80s faves the Cure, Duran Duran and Echo and the Bunnymen, alongside contemporary acts Hot Hot Heat, Dashboard Confessional and Interpol. ... Dirt McGirt (formerly Ol' Dirty Bastard) and Wu-Tang Clan mastermind RZA are shooting a video this week for "We Pop," the first single from the latter's Birth of a Prince, due October 7. RZA, who was recently cast in "Coffee and Cigarettes," the latest film from Jim Jarmusch ("Ghost Dog"), is planning a fall tour with Ghostface Killah. ...

Rah Digga has a release date of December 9 for her LP Everything Has a Story. The first official single will be the remix to her "Party and Bullsh-- 2003," featuring Eve and Missy Elliott. Snoop Dogg is also scheduled to make an appearance on the album. ... Elephant Man's Good 2 Go, featuring the single "Pon De River," has been pushed back to December 2. Mariah Carey, Da Brat and Lil Jon appear on the album. ...

Matchbox Twenty will launch a 31-date tour of North America on September 24 in Tallahassee, Florida. The final show is December 4 in Estero, Florida. ... The Very Best of Sheryl Crow, due November 4, will feature the new song "The Light in Your Eyes," along with a cover of Cat Stevens' "The First Cut Is the Deepest." Wayne Isham ('NSYNC) is directing a video for the latter. ...

After three years of rotating bass players, Gov't Mule have named Andy Hess (the Black Crowes, Joan Osborne) as the replacement for Allen Woody, who died in 2000. The band will launch the Rebirth of the Mule Tour with opener Chris Robinson October 10 in Philadelphia to promote The Deepest End, due October 7. The outing wraps November 16 in Denver. ... Myk Taylor, a former guitarist for influential British '80s metal band Angel Witch, died from leukemia on August 21. He was 41. Taylor, whose brother-in-law was frontman Kevin Heybourne, last played on the band's 2000 studio album, Resurrection. ...

Gerry Marsden , the lead singer for Merseybeat band Gerry and the Pacemakers, had triple-bypass surgery on Monday in Liverpool, England. Marsden discovered he needed the operation after a routine checkup proved his arteries were blocked. He is currently in recovery and has been removed from intensive care. ... Fuel will play five mini-shows at Best Buys around the country to promote Natural Selection, due September 23. Cities include Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (September 23), Mount Laurel, New Jersey (24), Pittsburgh (25), Cleveland (26) and Downers Grove, Illinois (27). When purchased at the stores, the album will include a bonus CD featuring the unreleased song "On the Road Again." ...

The Chemical Brothers will play four U.S. shows in support of Singles 93-03, due September 30 on CD and DVD. Cities includes Los Angeles (October 18), San Francisco (21), Chicago (22) and New York (24), at the reopening of the club CentroFly. The duo just shot a video for "The Golden Path," a new track featuring Flaming Lips singer Wayne Coyne. ... An expanded edition of the They Might Be Giants documentary "Gigantic (A Tale of Two Johns)" is due November 18 on DVD. A collection of videos will be among the more than five hours of special footage. ...

FreshTracksMusic, a download hub for up-and-coming bands, will send a copy of Dave Matthews' new Some Devil LP to music fans who sign up for the $2 a month subscription. ... Mötley Crüe's 20th Century Masters/The Millennium Collection double-disc set will come out October 7. The hits compilation features 12 songs spanning the group's career, including "Shout at the Devil," "Girls, Girls, Girls" and "Home Sweet Home." ...

X-ecutioners turntablist Roc Raida will release the new disc Champion Sounds in November. Co-X-ecutioner Rob Swift guests on several tracks. Raida will tour this winter to support the release. ... U.K. garage hip-hop artist the Streets (a.k.a. Mike Skinner) will issue All Got Our Runnins, a mini-album of previously unreleased material and remixes, on October 14. The disc will be available exclusively online and will feature "Streets Score (instrumental)," "Give Me Back My Lighter," "All Got Our Runnins" and "Let's Push Things Forward (The Streets Remix feat. Roll Deep)," among other tracks. ...

• Ruben Studdard
• David Bowie
• Erykah Badu
• U2
• 3LW

3LW
Photo: MTV News

Is an updated "Little Women" remake next?

3LW, a.k.a. 3 Little Women, are continuing their foray into acting with another made-for-TV movie on their schedules.

The group, whose Kiely Williams and Adrienne Bailon recently starred in the Disney Channel's "Cheetah Girls," said they will play the main characters in a script they are writing called "My Daughter's Keeper." The project is a partnership with an organization of the same name, which supports nontraditional caretakers of teenage girls.

"You see the lives of four girls who are in different walks of life [and] how the caretakers in their life help them out and make them better," Williams explained.

"And the different types of relationships that go on," Bailon added. "There's a foster child in the movie. There's a teen girl who is being raised by her grandmother, which is something that is really common."

Other plots include a girl who is raised by her father, one who is raised by her sister and a teenager who raises her younger brothers and sisters.

"I think it's really important that people get the message out there on how important the relationship is between teen girls and their caretakers," Williams said. "[The script] has touches of people's real personal lives in it, so it's something I think is going to be real special and it's something I hope young girls and their parents can relate to."

Williams, Bailon and 3LW newcomer Jessica Benson will portray three of the main roles and the fourth will go to an as-yet-undetermined actress. "We're playing the characters that we feel that we can relate to the most," Williams said.

Before the film goes into production, 3LW will finish their third album, Phoenix Rising, due in December (see "3LW Celebrate Bling Bling And A New Beginning On Next LP").

Having already logged studio time in Los Angeles with Steve Kipner (Christina Aguilera), Mike City (Brandy) and the Co-Stars (3LW's self-titled first album), the group will head to Atlanta later this week to work with possible future label boss Jermaine Dupri, who will produce three or four tracks (see "Jermaine Dupri To Sign 3LW, Former Dogg Pound Member Daz").

"We're bringing it back to the first album, the energy of the first album, making it a bit more fun, a party record," Williams said. "Just stuff people can listen to in the car when they want to have a good time."

3LW said in June a song called "Bling Bling" would be the first single, but it has since been replaced by "Watcha Doin After This," which they performed at the recent Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards. The track was produced by Bradley Spalter (O-Town).

Although Phoenix Rising marks the group's first album with Benson, the singer said at a Teen Vogue party Friday that she feels like she's been in the group for years. "Now they yell at me," she joked.

"[Jessica]'ll yell at me if I don't sing. She'll be like, 'Get it together!'" Bailon added. "It's very comfortable. It's like shoes that you broke in ... you want to walk in them."

"You called her a shoe! That's so wrong," Williams interrupted.

"I'm a shoe, too," Bailon retorted. "It's a combination. Work with me here!"

The group, who will hit the road on a Coca-Cola-sponsored tour from mid-September through the end of October, is also logging what will likely be the first single from the soundtrack to the upcoming Nick Cannon/Christina Milian movie "Love Don't Cost a Thing," which was formerly titled "If You Were My Girl" (see "Babyface Oversees 3LW's First Track With New Member").

• 3LW

A strange clash of artists is set to appear on the soundtrack to the vampire flick "Underworld," which hits theaters September 19. The Damning Well, the eclectic combo of former Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland, Filter's Richard Patrick, A Perfect Circle drummer Josh Freese and Nine Inch Nails' Danny Lohner, lead the charge with "Awakening," followed by the equally inventive teaming of David Bowie with Tool/APC's Maynard James Keenan and the Red Hot Chili Peppers' John Frusciante on "Bring the Disco King." The LP, due September 2, also features contributions from Skinny Puppy, Finch and Concrete Blonde's Johnette Napolitano. ...

Metallica and Missy Elliott both saw their albums earn multiplatinum status in the RIAA's most recent monthly distribution of awards. Luther Vandross, Madonna and Beyoncé all witnessed their discs go platinum, while Radiohead, Matrix Reloaded: The Album and the "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" soundtrack all went gold this month. Finally, Led Zeppelin's DVD collection of rare footage was certified 10-times platinum. ...

Lumbering guitar rockers Monster Magnet are currently in pre-production for their new album, tentatively titled Radiation Day. The disc will be recorded in Los Angeles and produced by Joe Barresi and frontman Dave Wyndorf and will be released in early 2004. ... After the Donnas' European tour, which begins September 22 in Hamburg, Germany, and ends October 17 in London, the ladies will begin working on a new album, due next year. ...

Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey, who will both release albums on August 19, are hoping to promote their projects together. "Our ultimate dream is to be able to tour together," Simpson said recently. "It's hard in this business, when you're married, to make time for each other, so it would be nice." ... Probot, Dave Grohl's self-produced side project on which he plays the instrumentals while his favorite heavy metal frontmen belt it out, is now due sometime in November. The likes of Motörhead's Lemmy, Mercyful Fate's King Diamond and Soulfly's Max Cavalera have been working with Grohl on the project. ...

Raven-Symone, the former child star of "The Cosby Show," has recorded several songs with 3LW's Kiely Williams and Adrienne Bailon for the soundtrack to their upcoming Disney Channel movie, "Cheetah Girls," due Tuesday. Raven, who stars in her own Disney Channel show, is also in the studio now working on her third solo album. "I love the words of alternative, I love the feeling that you get when you listen to new soul, I love the popularity and head boppin' you get from R&B, so I wanna incorporate all of that," she said. ... Scottish band Travis will follow up 2001's The Invisible Band with 12 Memories in October. Their fourth LP will be preceded by the first single, "Re-Offender." ...

Eleven years after founding Phat Farm, Russell Simmons is at it again. The hip-hop mogul plans to launch another clothing line, called Def Jam University, in the spring. The men and women's sportswear collection will premiere at the annual Magic Marketplace trade show in Las Vegas, August 25-28. ... Mexican pop singer and actress Thalia Sodi also has a clothing, accessories, and housewares line bearing her name. The Thalia brand began arriving in Kmart stores last week. ...

Starsailor's "Silence Is Easy," one of the last songs the legendary Phil Spector produced before being arrested in connection with the murder of actress Lana Clarkson, will be released in the U.K. as a single on September 1. The song is the title track to the English band's second album, which will drop September 15 overseas and is tentatively scheduled for a January release in the U.S. ... Singer/songwriters Elvis Costello, Pete Yorn, Jesse Malin and Billy Bragg are a few of the artists contributing to the double album Light of Day: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen. Proceeds from the sale of the album, due September 2, will benefit the Parkinson's Disease Foundation (www.pdf.org) and the Kristen Ann Carr Fund, which grants money for cancer research and assists those suffering from the illness. ...

After they return from their European tour, the hyperkinetic Blood Brothers will kick off another U.S. tour. The launch is September 10 in Minneapolis, and dates run through October 17 in their hometown of Seattle. Cursive will open all shows. ... Hot on the heels of receiving two MTV Video Music Awards nominations for his video "Freetime," Kenna will be joining Fischerspooner on the road for their fall tour, which begins in September. Kenna's currently opening up for Depeche Mode singer Dave Gahan. ...

Counting Crows will release a greatest-hits album showcasing the past 10 years of their music. After wrapping up their co-headlining tour with John Mayer in early September, the Crows will hit the studio to record some new cuts for the yet-untitled album. ... The John F. Kennedy Center has announced the recipients of the 26th annual Kennedy Center Honors. James Brown, actress Carol Burnett, country legend Loretta Lynn, director Mike Nichols and violinist Itzhak Perlman will be honored at the December 7 Honors Gala, which President Bush will attend. ...

On Tuesday, veteran DJ Keoki will release a new mix album, Keokiclash, featuring tracks from Felix Da Housecat, Chicks on Speed and others. Wilmer Valderrama, of "That '70s Show," plays Keoki in the upcoming movie "Party Monster," in theaters September 5. "It's amazing story, very twisted and dark," the actor said recently. ... Blackalicious' Gift of Gab, Jurassic 5's Cut Chemist and skateboarder Tommy Guerrero are featured on the latest solo album from Lyrics Born, of the San Francisco hip-hop duo Latyrx. Titled Later That Day, the project is due in September. ...

Verve Remixed 2, the follow-up to last year's collection of remixes of classic jazz tracks, is due September 9. The album includes Felix Da Housecat (Nina Simone's "Sinnerman"), Dan the Automator (Willie Bobo's "Fried Neckbones and Some Home Fries") and Miguel Migs (Ella Fitzgerald's "Slap That Bass"), among others. ... Beth Hart's follow-up to Screamin' for My Supper, which included the single "L.A. Song," is due October 21. The album is titled Leave the Light On, named after the first single, which is due at radio outlets in late August. ...

Gateway Inc. keeps stepping farther and farther away from only making personal computers. According to the Associated Press, Gateway is now selling its own portable digital music players at $130 with 128 megabytes of storage space, equaling about two hours of music in MP3 format. ...

08.05.03

Lil' Kim has been attached to star in a new movie, "National Lampoon's Bouncers," opposite Vivica A. Fox. The flick, which will start shooting before the end of the year in New York, was written and produced by Full Force, onetime songwriters and singing crew who also helped develop "House Party" and "House Party II." ...

The new album from Usher, Confessions, will now be released on November 18. Usher's fifth album was previously scheduled to drop on the singer's birthday, October 14. ... If you're a full-figured gal who can't seem to find bras that don't look like rocket launchers, fear no more — Queen Latifah's got your back. Adding lingerie spokesperson to her growing list of titles, she'll be promoting four new bras by Curvation that will up the comfort and style of plus-sized women. In turn, the company will contribute to the Lance Owens Foundation, her late brother's charity, which provides scholarships for kids. ...

Rapper Ras Kass, serving time in a Los Angeles prison for a DUI violation, released an open letter to the hip-hop community over the weekend blasting his former record company, Priority Records, for failing to release his last two albums, Van Gogh and Golden Child. Ras promises four new records by the end of the year, courtesy of indie labels and bootleggers: The Re-Up, a compilation of outtake recordings; Catch Me If You Can, the album he recorded while a fugitive; and both lost Priority albums. ... The 10 finalists from "American Idol" spinoff "American Juniors" will release their first single Tuesday. The record includes two mixes of a cover of Kim Wilde's 1982 hit "Kids in America," and "One Step Closer," written by producer Cathy Dennis (Kelly Clarkson). ...

On the heels of their career-reviving song "Unwell," Matchbox Twenty have selected the upbeat track "Bright Lights" as their next single. The track hits radio next week; video plans remain in the works. ... Marilyn Manson and Exene Cervenka will exhibit pieces of their art at "Cruel and Unusual: An Exhibition to Benefit the West Memphis Three" from September 6-20 at Sixspace Gallery in Los Angeles. Ex-Dead Kennedys singer Jello Biafra will provide a taped lecture for the event. An opening-night reception will be hosted by Winona Ryder. ...

Beth Orton's B-sides and rarities collection, The Other Side of Daybreak, will include a cover of "O-O-H Child," made popular by the Five Stairsteps, as well as Roots Manuva's remix of "Daybreaker" and a live acoustic version of "Concrete Sky," among others. The album is due September 2. ... Following their stint on Ozzfest, which concluded July 30, and their current tour with Taproot, which runs through the end of the month, Revolution Smile will open European dates for A Perfect Circle and Deftones. Filling their Ozzfest void is Chimaira, who joined the tour last week. ...

The Very Best of the Grateful Dead, a 17-track career-spanning retrospective, is set for release September 16. The LP features favorites such as "Sugar Magnolia," "Fire on the Mountain" and "Ripple." ... Phantom Planet have lost their star drummer. On Monday, Jason Schwartzman posted on the band's Web site, www.phantomplanet.com, that he's left the band "to pursue other things," namely, acting (he had previously made a name for himself for his lead role in "Rushmore"). Phantom Planet were halfway through recording their follow-up to 2002's The Guest with producer Dave Fridmann when Schwartzman gave notice, so he will appear on the new album, due in January, but not on all of the songs. Phantom Planet have started rehearsing with a new drummer, Jeff Conrad, for their upcoming set at the Sunset Junction Street Fair in Los Angeles on August 24. In the meantime, the band's track "California" can be heard as the theme song for the "The OC," which premieres Tuesday (August 5) on Fox. ...

Superstar DJ Paul Van Dyk will promote his October 7 release, Reflections, with a U.S. tour beginning August 28 at New York's Central Park Summerstage and ending November 4 in Las Vegas. The follow-up to his 2000 studio album, Out There and Back, includes the overseas hit "Nothing But You." ... With the hipster gauge firmly redlined, Brooklyn, New York, indie label StarTime International, home to Northern State, the Natural History and Brendan Benson, has teamed up with Fader magazine and formed a new label called Stifle. Every four weeks a new 12-inch dance-rock single will surface. The first, Stifle001, due August 12, features two remixes of the French Kicks' "Close to Modern" by Eucho and DJ Smash. The Streets' "Weak Become Heroes," remixed by Röyksopp and 3 Friends featuring Lisa Shaw, will follow on September 9. Remixes of tracks by VHS or Beta, the Ends and Ted Leo are on the horizon. ...

• Limp Bizkit
• Missy Elliott
• Metallica
• 3LW
• David Grohl

Jermaine Dupri
Photo: MTV News

Da Brat will probably remain the First Lady of So So Def, but it's looking like she won't be the only female on the label's testosterone-heavy roster for much longer. Label CEO Jermaine Dupri says he is close to not only inking a deal with Snoop Dogg's cousin and former Dogg Pound member Daz, he's also going to be bringing 3LW to his label as well.

"They're still young [and] they're still in that marketplace that I like to deal with," Dupri said on Tuesday. He had just finished meeting with the singing trio and was in New York's Right Track Studio producing a track with Usher. "At the same time I feel So So Def is very male-dominated. I don't really want any more guys. I've got a contract with Daz, I'm getting ready to sign him too. So it's more dudes. I felt we needed some girls."

Dupri said that both Daz and 3LW approached him and he welcomed both acts with open arms.

"We wanted a girl group that could sell records," Dupri said of the songbirds. "They never really had a home around them. That's what So So Def is: a home. I'm going to keep them young like TLC's earlier days. The kids still like them. A lot of older fellas think they're cute. You gotta keep them in the middle. It's hard to describe, but I know how to get to that point."

According to Dupri, Daz, who he says has been selling tens of thousands of records independently for the past few years, told him he was ready to start dealing with a major label again.

"He wants to be on So So Def too," JD explained. "People want to be with somebody who understands how to make records. I was listening to Snoop's mixtape one night and Daz was really bussin'. I always liked Daz from day one. It's a talent that's just been sitting there that nobody's been doing anything with. The independent route is hard. I'm sure he likes doing it, but he wants to be with somebody that's going to care about him. Just like Roc-A-Fella signing ODB. Be a part of family."

While Dupri continues to work on finalizing Daz and 3LW's deals, So So Def's current roster is keeping busy. Da Brat and Bone Crusher are gearing up for the release of their second respective singles, "Boom" and "Grippin' the Grain." The Youngbloodz's new LP, Drankin' Patnaz, drops on August 26, and singer Anthony Hamilton will debut on September 23 with Comin' From Where I'm From (see "Eve, D'Angelo Can Testify: Anthony Hamilton Is 'Hellified Powerful' ")

A spokesperson for 3LW declined to comment on the group's contract negotiations until after they have signed a deal. Daz was unable to be reached for a statement.

• Jermaine Dupri
• Da Brat
• 3LW

Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, Carrie Underwood, More Are "Enchanted" At Hollywood Premiere

• Carrie Underwood
• 3LW

Kanye, Rihanna, Fonzworth, More At 2006 BET Awards

• Kanye West
• Rihanna
• Fonzworth Bentley
• Bow Wow
• Paul Wall

Making the Video: Nick Cannon/3LW/Lil' Romeo "Parents Just Don't Understand"

• Lil' Romeo
• 3LW

Kid Rock, Missy Elliott, Clay Aiken, More At 2003 AMAs

• Ruben Studdard
• Clay Aiken
• Kid Rock
• Sean Paul
• Missy Elliott

Nelly, Kim, LL, Sean Paul, More On Source Awards Red Carpet

• Nelly
• Lil' Kim
• LL Cool J
• Sean Paul
• Clipse

Lil' Kim, Ludacris, Monica, Snoop, More On BET Awards Red Carpet

• Lil' Kim
• St. Lunatics
• Roscoe
• Clipse
• Floetry

3LW "Neva Get Enuf" Video Shoot

• 3LW

Fat Joe's 'Crush Tonight' Video Shoot

• Fat Joe
• Ginuwine
• N.O.R.E.
• 3LW
• Angie Martinez

• Naughty By Nature
• 3LW

• Usher
• 3LW
• Christina Milian
• Bilal
• TLC