Tracy Morgan Rushed To The Hospital

The rep adds, "He is with his fiance and grateful to the Park City Medical Center for their care. Any reports of Tracy consuming alcohol are 100% false." more on this story

Nicki Minaj Delays Album and Releases Stupid Hoe Video

(popmusiclife) Nicki Minaj has announced a delay of the release date for her sophomore album and released a new video from the effort.

"New Album Date: April 3rd. Pink Friday: ROMAN RELOADED," she tweeted. "But have no fear. Tons of surprises before then ;). Love Always, HB."

The original street date for the disc was February 14. In the meantime, Minaj has just released the video for the first single from the new album. "Stupid Hoe" was directed by Hype Williams. Check it out here.

Rihanna Sets New Online Record

(popmusiclife) Rihanna has set a new record with online video site Vevo. The pop superstar has become the first female artist to reach over 2 billion views on Vevo.

"First chic to EVER reach 2 BILLION views on VEVO!!!! Congrats #RihannaNavy!!!! #QueenzOfVEVO," tweeted Rihanna on Sunday, later adding, "My fans run dis world!"

Justin Bieber currently holds the highest overall Vevo views at 2.3 billion, with Lady Gaga following behind as the second-ranked female at 1.8 billion views. more on this story

Heidi Klum Divorcing Seal Over Temper?

(TMZ) Heidi Klum is divorcing Seal largely because she has had it with his volcanic temper ... TMZ has learned.

Sources directly connected with the couple tell us ... Heidi's decision to divorce Seal has nothing to do with a third person. There is NO issue of infidelity.

But Seal's inability to control his anger has become too much for Heidi to take, in no small part because it's affecting their children.

TMZ broke the story that Heidi will divorce Seal, and we've learned this was not a snap decision. As one source said, "It was a long time in coming."

We're also told ... their careers also played a part in Heidi's decision. She has become a mega-entrepreneur and extremely rich, and that professional evolution has created a distance between them.

For his part, Seal has a new album coming out and he's about to launch an international tour.

We're told Heidi and Seal are still living under the same roof, but that will change very soon. more on this story

Global Adele Covers Become Viral Hit

(popmusiclife) Adele's success is truly international, as the UK singer's "21" album made her a household name.

The latest viral video making the rounds demonstrates the impact and influence Adele is having with fans and fellow musicians around the globe.

"Rolling in the Deep" has been covered on YouTube more than 350,000 times. Now, a fan has created a compilation of 71 of the best performances and put them together in one video – maybe you or someone you know made the final cut. Check it out.

Ladyhawke Sets New Album Release and Premieres New Song Today

(FTW) Ladyhawke will release her sophomore album, Anxiety, on March 27th in the United States via Casablanca Records.

The new album was recorded in New Zealand and France with producer and long-time collaborator Pascal Gabriel, and features ten new songs including first single, 'Black White & Blue'.

The single will premiere on Radio 1 (UK) with Zane Lowe at 7pm GMT on Monday Jan 23rd (2pm EST), and simultaneously on Australia's Triple J. You will be able to stream 'Black White & Blue' via the Ladyhawke website immediately after the premiere. more on this story

Lana Del Rey's Crew Helped Shape Debut Album

(popmusiclife) Lana Del Rey made a name for herself with a series of Youtube videos, and even more headlines with a recent performance on Saturday Night Live. Now, the singer gears up to release her debut album, "Born To Die," on January 31.

"Sonically, I always knew exactly what I wanted," Del Rey tells MTV. "That's really the only thing I do know. The rest of it was sort of up in the air. I've been a writer for a really long time, and a sort of bad composer, but a composer nonetheless. It was something I did alone for some time and then became a collaborative effort as I met better and better people."

Those people include Brit Justin Parker, who composed much of the music on the album, Philadelphia legend Larry Gold, who's arranged strings for the likes of Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake, and producer Emile Haynie, best known for tracks by Eminem. Del Rey calls them "her crew," and they helped shape her ideas into an album that mixes both the light with the dark, the sadness with the sweetness. more on this story

Basketball Wives Want Vanessa Bryant

(TMZ) Vanessa Bryant has become the Holy Grail for "Basketball Wives" producers ... and TMZ has learned, the people behind the VH1 show are prepping to make her an offer she can't refuse.

Multiple sources close to the production tell us, producers are putting together "an extremely lucrative pitch for Vanessa" ... for her to become a recurring character.

As one source put it, "Vanessa has more than enough storyline and would bring the show to another level."

As for the timing -- we're told producers never dreamed of approaching Vanessa while she was married to Kobe ... and our sources say Vanessa would NOT have been receptive.

Budget constraints were also an issue when the show was in its infant stages -- because producers knew Vanessa would be very expensive -- but now that BW's one of the highest rated shows on the network, producers have lots more to spend on talent.

If Vanessa accepts, we're told producers would instantly make her a LEAD on the LA edition of the show. more on this story

Pretty Wild Star Felony Drug Bust

(TMZ) Pretty Wild star Tess Taylor -- model, former reality star, and sister to Burglar Buncher Alexis Neiers -- was arrested earlier this month for felony drug possession ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Taylor was busted on January 9 for felony possession of a controlled substance. She was held on $10,000 bail and released two days later.

Taylor checked into rehab last year for an addiction to opiates. Despite originally planning to stay in treatment for a year, she left the Malibu rehab center after just one month.

Calls to Taylor were not returned. more on this story

Corey Smith On NPR's Mountain Stage

(EBM) Corey Smith grew up listening to NPR's "Mountain Stage" and only dreamed of one day when his music might be a part of the broadcast. Dream became reality last spring when Smith made his debut on the award-winning radio program just prior to the release of his sixth studio album, The Broken Record.

Airing throughout the upcoming week on NPR affiliate stations, this installment was recorded live on the campus of West Virginia University in Morgantown where Smith joined Todd Snider, Railroad Earth, Great American Taxi, and Sean Rowe.

To the delight of the audience, Smith offered a "first listen" and showcased selections off his then forthcoming album, The Broken Record. This album exhibits the stylized story-telling and authentic sound crafted entirely by Smith.

Corey Smith Set List:
"Maybe Next Year"
"If I Could Do It Again"
"I Love Everyone"
"Drugs"
"Twenty-One"
Listen to Smith's full set here

MTV Green Light 2Gether Reunion

(TMZ) 2Gether is ONE GIANT STEP closer to returning to the stage ... now that MTV has given the "boy" band it's blessing for a reunion show ... TMZ has learned.

2Gether -- the parody band behind the 2000 hit "U + Me = Us (Calculus)" -- put together a pitch to the network to resurrect the gang for a new TV movie.

We're told MTV was interested ... but it wasn't a high priority ... so the two sides worked out a deal, which allows the band to get the ball rolling ASAP.

Sources connected to the project tell us ... the 4 living members asked MTV for permission to take the project into their own hands -- and MTV obliged. Which means, the band will organize the show, film everything themselves and then package it for MTV ... which will ultimately decide if it will air on the network.

The guys are FIRED UP -- especially because all of the proceeds will go towards the Michael Cuccione Foundation ... named after the member of the group who died from cancer back in 2001.

So far, no word on when or where the concert will take place -- but we're told they're gunning for Vegas or L.A. more on this story

Another Separation for Kris Humphries

(TMZ) Another big break up for Kris Humphries ... TMZ has learned the former Mr. Kardashian is separating with his high profile publicity team after 73 days of holy matrimony ... exactly one day longer than his marriage.

Sources tell us ... Humphries and Anderson Public Relations have decided to end their professional relationship ... due to a major disagreement over a long-term strategy for Kris' off-the-court career.

The two sides first came together around the time Kim Kardashian pulled the plug on the marriage -- after 72 days -- and Kris felt he needed for some advice on how to handle his image through the tough times.

But after the crisis, Kris and APR simply did not see eye-to-eye on a post-Kim game plan. We're told APR was unhappy with the outcome of Kris' appearance on "Good Morning America" last month.

During the "GMA" appearance, Kris brushed off questions about Kim ... and instead, focused on baking desserts during a cooking segment with his mother.

According to our sources, Kris has already taken on a new PR firm in NYC and wants to focus solely on basketball.

We're told the relationship with APR ended on reasonably good terms ... and both sides REALLY want to stay friends.

... like that ever works. more on this story

Rapper Mack 10 Loses After Court No Show

(TMZ) Rapper Mack 10 has been victimized by the courts ... a judge is requiring him to pay a creditor a debt which includes interest that is totally illegal.

Mr. Mack borrowed $35,000 from Tadayuki Ito back on April 24, 2010. Under the terms of the deal, Mack was required to pay Ito $70,000 by August 31, 2010 -- in other words, 100% interest for a 3-month loan. That squarely violates California law, which prohibits "usury" -- i.e., excessive interest on loans.

On April 28 -- 4 days after getting the first loan -- Mack borrowed $65,000 from Ito, and agreed to pay back $130,000 by September 30, 2010 -- again, squarely violating the usury law.

Under California law, a creditor who charges interest that violates the usury law is entitled to NO interest from the debtor.

But here's what happened. Ito sued Mack, and Mack did not show up in court. The judge entered a default judgment -- presumably after looking at the 2 contracts -- in the amount of $229,668.86 -- which includes the exorbitant paybacks, as well as additional interest and attorney's fees.

It's baffling the judge enforced what is clearly an illegal agreement. more on this story

Jay-Z's Club Rep Claiming Bad Luck for Health Code Violations

(TMZ) It was merely a case of bad luck that led to Jay-Z's 40/40 Club racking up a slew of health code violations ... a rep for the club tells TMZ.

As we previously reported, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene cited the club big time Thursday night for a litany of violations ... which included several different instances of food being stored at improper temperatures.

But Ron Berkowitz, a rep for the club, tells TMZ the motor in one of the refrigerators blew just moments before the health inspector arrived ... causing the temperature in the fridge to rise. Berkowtiz says the staff identified the problem immediately and had no intention of serving the food from that fridge.

Berkowitz says the fridge was fixed by noon the next day and the club was permitted to re-open.

He adds ... the club lost no business as a result of the issue and their health code grade is currently pending review. more on this story

Gigolos Star Arrested For Domestic Violence

(TMZ) One of the stars of Showtime's reality program "Gigolos" -- about real-life male escorts in Vegas -- was arrested early Friday morning for felony domestic violence ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, 31-year-old Jimmy Clabots -- who also starred in the movie "Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild!" -- had gotten into a verbal altercation with his girlfriend ... and it quickly got physical.

Cops were called -- and when they arrived on the scene, we're told police observed visible signs of injury on Jimmy's girlfriend. Jimmy was arrested on the spot. He is currently in custody on $50,000 bail. more on this story