Briefly: The Game, Chamillionaire, Fall Out Boy, Nine Inch Nails, Hall & Oates
Multi-platinum rapper The Game --real name Jayceon Taylor--today (6/13) rejected a plea deal that would have allowed him to avoid a jail term in exchange for pleading guilty to charges of impersonating a police officer.
"Why should he plead guilty to bogus charges for a non-jail sentence if he's innocent?" Taylor's attorney, Jeffrey Lichtman, said outisde the court, according to the Associated Press.
Taylor was arrested last November in New York City after he allegedly told a cab driver that he was an undercover office and convinced the driver to run several red lights. Lichtman said today that he expects the case to "end in a dismissal or an acquittal."
Chamillionaire has announced a Sept. 18 release date for his sophomore album, "Ultimate Victory," and will tide fans over until then by offering up a free mixtape and hour-long video documentary that will be available beginning next Monday (6/18) as free downloads from his website, according to a press release.
"Ultimate Victory" will feature guest appearances by Lil Wayne, Krayzie Bone, Pimp C, Lloyd, Famous and Devin the Dude, as well as production work from Happy P, The Runners, Play-N-Skillz, The Beat Bullies, Kane Beatz, David Banner and others.
Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz reportedly got into a fight with a heckler following the band's late-night performance at a Chicago club late Monday night (6/11)/early Tuesday morning (6/12). According to MTV News, a patron at Schuba's, where Spin magazine was hosting the event, heckled Wentz during the group's set. Wentz, in an email to MTV News, claimed that the same heckler grabbed him after the group left the stage, at which point Wentz punched him.
Nine Inch Nails ' website is offering free multi-track downloads of three songs--"The Beginning of the End," "Vessel" and "God Given"--featured on the band's latest album, "Year Zero." The multi-track format allows fans to create their own custom remixes of each song.
Eighties-era hitmakers Hall & Oates have launched a contest that invites fans to submit a music video of themselves performing any one song from the group's 35-plus year recording history. According to the duo's website, Daryl Hall, John Oates and their management team will choose up to 25 videos that will then be posted online and subjected to fan voting. Details are available at the site.
The Grand Prize winner will receive a 3-day/2-night trip to see Hall & Oates perform Sept. 8 at Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl.
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