URBAN NEWS

Last Update on September 03, 2010 03:46 EDT

T.I.: DRUG BUST PUTS COMEBACK IN JEOPARDY

UNDATED (AP) -- For a time there, it was looking like a huge comeback story. T.I. had rebounded from his bust on weapons charges and a one-year sentence in a federal prison. But that's all in jeopardy now, after the rapper was arrested on a drug charge in California. He and his wife Tameka "Tiny" Cottle were arrested in West Hollywood on suspicion of possessing methamphetamines. They were busted after police pulled over their Maybach. While they were released on $10,000 bail and charges have yet to be filed, the arrest could put T.I. back behind bars. One of his defense attorneys says it's "an unfortunate occurrence" and the outcome is unclear. And his music label, Atlantic Records, says it "would be premature to speculate" on what effect the arrest will have on T.I.'s future.

T.I.: ARRESTS HAVE THREATENED CAREER

UNDATED (AP) -- For the second time in three years, T.I.'s rap career may be in jeopardy because of trouble with the law. Back in 2007, he was caught trying to buy semiautomatic weapons on the way to a BET Awards show. The Atlanta-based rapper -- who had already done time for drug and other offenses -- pleaded guilty to weapons charges. He ended up serving seven months in an Arkansas prison and three months in a halfway house in Georgia. He is under probation until 2013. And under terms of his probation, T.I. was ordered not to commit another federal, state or local crime while on supervised release, or to illegally possess a controlled substance. He was also told to take at least three drug tests after his release and to participate in a drug and alcohol treatment program. The arrest this week may give authorities the ability to return him to custody. They could also take other steps short of sending him back to prison.

T.I.'S ARREST RAN AGAINST RECENT PRONOUNCEMENTS THAT HE WAS OK

UNDATED (AP) -- What makes T.I.'s drug-related arrest the other day so shocking is that it seemed to go against the direction he was headed since his release from prison. Since being released, the rapper talked of a new, positive start for his life. He often spoke to kids about the dangers of drugs and guns -- and he had the backing of former Atlanta mayor and former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young. He even starred in an MTV reality show touting his "Road to Redemption." As recently as July, he told The Associated Press that he was moving forward in his life -- and his career seemed to be taking him in that direction. He is one of the stars of the movie "Takers," was working on a new album and married his longtime girlfriend, Tiny Cottle -- who was arrested with him on Wednesday on the drug bust.

CHRIS BROWN: BACK AT ONE

NEW YORK (AP) -- When people found out that Chris Brown had beat up his then-girlfriend Rihanna, a lot of people thought he'd never make it back to the top of the charts. But he has done that. His song "Deuces" is number one on the R&B/Hip-hop chart. It's the first major success for Brown since his February, 2009 attack on Rihanna. Back in December, he released his latest album -- and it was his lowest selling CD to date. Another sign that Brown may be getting some love back from fans: he's in the movie "Takers," which made its debut at the top of the box office last week.

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Online:

Chris Brown site: http://www.chrisbrownworld.com

MICHAEL JACKSON: APPEALS COURT SETS HEARING FOR DAD'S APPEAL IN ESTATE AFFAIRS

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Does Michael Jackson's father have the right to be involved in how his estate is run? That's the question an appeals court will be looking into down the road. The court has set a hearing for lawyers for Joseph Jackson to claim that he deserves a say-so in decisions involving his son's estate. Michael Jackson's will leaves his dad out of it and orders the estate be run by attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain. A state judge has upheld the will's provision, but Joe Jackson has challenged the ruling. The hearing to seek to overturn the ruling is set for October 6. The singer's estate has earned tens of millions of dollars since the Jackson's death at age 50 in June of last year.

WAR AT ODDS WITH PEPSI

NEW YORK (AP) -- Members of the group War aren't on such friendly terms with Pepsi. Members of the original funk group are suing the soda maker for more than $10 million -- and the suit is over that new ad that features the group's song: "Why Can't We Be Friends?" Lawyers for the group members say even if PepsiCo and its agencies got rights from the music publishers to use the song in the ad, the company should also have done a deal with the artists. Pepsi says in a statement it believes the lawsuit has no merit. The ad is part of a campaign for the no-calorie Pepsi MAX.

OPRAH WINFREY: BOOK CLUB RETURNING

CHICAGO (AP) -- The first week of the final season of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" will include a selection for Oprah's Book Club. A Harpo spokeswoman says Winfrey will announce her 64th pick during a live episode airing on September 17. That would be 14 years to the day that Winfrey announced her first book club selection. This is Oprah's last year for her syndicated show.

PRINCE: LOOKING BACK

UNDATED (AP) -- On this date in 1992, a spokesman for Prince said Warner Brothers Records had re-signed the performer to a contract worth a record $100 million. The figure surpassed the $60 million deal Madonna had signed earlier in the year. But industry sources later speculated the Prince contract might have been worth a lot less. Warner also made Prince a vice president for A&R for the label and agreed to put substantial money into two joint venture record labels. Prince has since left the label and records under his own label.

URBAN NEWS

T.I.: DRUG BUST PUTS COMEBACK IN JEOPARDY

T.I.: ARRESTS HAVE THREATENED CAREER

T.I.'S ARREST RAN AGAINST RECENT PRONOUNCEMENTS THAT HE WAS OK

CHRIS BROWN: BACK AT ONE

MICHAEL JACKSON: APPEALS COURT SETS HEARING FOR DAD'S APPEAL IN ESTATE AFFAIRS

WAR AT ODDS WITH PEPSI

OPRAH WINFREY: BOOK CLUB RETURNING

PRINCE: LOOKING BACK

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