Blog Posts by Daniel Kreps

It was previously reported that T.I. got in trouble during his last prison stay for being a little too hands-on during a conjugal visit, but now it's been revealed that he used his fists behind bars as well. The recently released rapper visited the Howard Stern show yesterday and told the shock jock that he was involved in at least one jailhouse brawl during his 11-month sentence. And in true Hollywood fashion, that fight took place in the bathroom.

The lavatory was a popular place for fisticuffs, since there were no cameras in there. However, guards frequently watched the punch-ups, because who doesn't love witnessing a good scuffle? T.I. downplayed the incident, saying the fight was just a way to acclimate himself into the prison community, to show his fellow convicts that he could throw, and take, punches -- in the joint, he's just another inmate, and not a superstar rapper. Following a barrage of Stern questions -- the whole situation probably sounded like Cool Hand Luke to him --

So, that's what a hand-drawn Jay-Z looks like. He's definitely more debonair than cartoon Kanye, but not as suave as the animated Andre 3000. Jigga will make his cartoon debut this Sunday when he guest-voices a character on Warren Buffet's Hub TV animated series Secret Millionaires Club. Buffet's series teaches kids about the morals and ethics of the business world, as well as doles out advice to the future business leaders of America. This weekend's segment, "Be Cool to Your School," will kick-start a four-episode arc for Jay-Z, who is homeboys with the Oracle of Omaha. According to MTV's Rap Fix, the episode will find the rapper praising the show's main characters - Elena, Jones, and Radley - for raising money for their school.

Over at the Secret Millionaires Club site, there's one webisode that is especially pertinent to Jay-Z's situation: "The Domino Effect." For example: If you sample someone else's song without finalizing permission or providing appropriate compensation, the

Eminem: World-class rapper, Grammy winner, multimillionaire, perpetual frowner. Nothing can bring a smile to the Slim Shady's face... not even posing with Keith Richards on the cover of this month's GQ. Keith, Lil Wayne, Robert Plant, Iggy Pop, Jack White, and many more artists were dubbed by the magazine as "Survivors" and Gods of Rock," but Eminem is the only one who seems genuinely displeased by the distinction. That is, until you check out the rapper's other magazine covers:

It turns out, Eminem just refuses to flash his teeth on the cover of anything. Rolling Stone, Spin, Vibe, and every other publication has failed to photograph that rare moment when Marshall Mathers is smiling. It's as if his jaw muscles are frozen in that sullen, dour look, and even hanging out on the GQ cover with the Rolling Stones' guitarist and Weezy can't thaw it.

Atlanta rappers don't have the greatest history when it comes to obeying the law. Gucci Mane, T.I., Waka Flocka Flame, and Big Boi are four ATLiens that have had run-ins with police in the past year alone. Add former Atlanta resident Soulja Boy to the list: The rapper, along with his three bodyguards and his driver, were all arrested today after a routine traffic stop 20 miles east of the Alabama state line. Soulja and his posse were each hit with felony charges for possession of marijuana, intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm. The police's search also uncovered "a substantial amount" of cash and handguns, as well as a puppy that was turned over to the driver's relatives.

Police didn't specify what traffic violation tipped them off to Soulja's ride, nor exactly how much weed they found in the vehicle, but police spokeswoman Dana Rampy told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "It was a lot of marijuana." Under law, if someone has over a certain amount of marijuana, they're

It's official: The Stone Roses are reuniting after a 15-year break. Rumors that the beloved British rockers would set aside their differences and perform together again emerged last week, and contrary to the thousands of times the band had been reportedly on the brink of reforming in the past, the Roses actually confirmed the news this afternoon. They even launched a brand new website, a Twitter account, and most importantly, revealed their first two gigs since 1996. "This is a live resurrection, and you're all invited, so you better be there," Ian Brown said during the press conference.

"The legendary four-piece - Ian, John [Squire], Mani and Reni - have announced two massive shows at Manchester's Heaton Park on Friday June 29 and Saturday June 30, 2012. The dates will form part of an extensive world tour," the band said in a statement. "The band have already been into a rehearsal studio to start work on the set-list for one of the most eagerly anticipated reunifications ever."

The

Who says there are no original ideas in Hollywood? There are already two competing Jeff Buckley biopics, and now two films about the Beach Boys are in the works. However, they're about different Beach Boys: In June, it was revealed that Brian Wilson would get his own biopic, and yesterday an indie flick about Brian's younger bro Dennis Wilson was announced. Aaron Eckhart, Harvey Dent/Two Face himself, has been cast to portray the most underrated Beach Boy in The Drummer, which will concentrate on Dennis' booze-soaked years before his death in 1983, Variety reports.

During that period, Wilson also recorded his critically acclaimed opus Pacific Ocean Blue. For the film, Eckhart will re-record that album's songs, much like Joaquin Phoenix did for the Johnny Cash film Walk the Line. The one possible downside about Eckhart in this role: The actor is now older (43) than Wilson was when he died at the age of 39, but that won't be a problem since Eckhart's character in Erin Brokovich was a

With "Criminal," Britney Spears has finally made a grimy sequel to her super-spy "Toxic" video, but with grocery store stick-ups instead of espionage. Once you make it past the awkward abusive relationship in the 90-second prologue -- if it feels like a perfume ad, it's because Spears is really showcasing her fragrance in the ladies room -- the video really takes off into the gray streets of London's Stoke Newington neighborhood. "Criminal" is a potent cocktail with equal parts urban "Badlands" and "9 1/2 Weeks".

The video could have been titled "'11 Bonnie & Clyde," a worthy successor to Eminem's "'99 Bonnie & Clyde" and Jay-Z's "'03 Bonnie & Clyde," but with Spears grabbing the criminal reins in the Clyde role. Spears' fun "I Wanna Go" gave hints that Spears was ready to break out after a series of dull music videos where it seemed like she was just being propped up against a green screen. (Our Amp colleague compared "Hold It Against Me" to "Weekend at Bernie's".) Here, she's

Four members of the decade-spanning reggae band UB40 are "officially penniless" and have declared bankruptcy following the decline of the band's record firm and management company, the Telegraph reports. Brian Travers, Terence "Astro" Oswald, Jimmy Brown, and Norman Hassan are now in danger of having their property seized after a British court demanded they pay off their debts and thousands in legal fees. The band has been on the precipice of financial disaster since 2008, when lead singer Ali Campbell ditched the group because he felt bankruptcy was inevitable. "This is the very reason why I left the band," Campbell said in July. "This was my biggest fear when I was with them, that bankruptcy was going to happen, and no one can say I didn't warn them."

Ironically, the band's moniker is an abbreviation of "Unemployment Benefit, Form 40," which is something its members might soon find themselves filling out in order to dig themselves out of their debt. UB40 continues to perform live,