Streets debut ‘best LP of the decade’
The Streets’ debut album Original Pirate Material has been named the best LP of the decade by The Observer.
The record beat Radiohead’s Kid A into second place, with Arctic Monkeys’ Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not, The Strokes’ Is This It and Arcade Fire’s Funeral making up the top five.
Mike Skinner, the artist who performs as The Streets, told the newspaper: “My experience of listening to UK garage, which was huge, was in people’s cars and houses. The idea behind Original Pirate Material was to make music which reflected that.
“To be someone who was on the one hand very English, but at the same time a bit like Nas, and could come up with these cool-sounding couplets about all the weed that gets smoked and all the little adventures that you go on.”
He added: “Every garage MC to my knowledge at that time was really a rapper. The thing about garage was, it gave you a chance of breaking out and reaching a wider public, whereas if all you were doing was making ‘UK hip-hop’, there was no hope of that happening.
“Yet at the same time, being a garage MC was not generally regarded as prestigious. If you’re a rapper, that’s a good thing: you’re a wordsmith. But if you were an MC – at least until the momentous Dizzee Rascal came along – that was more like being a holiday rep.”
Kim Cattrall denies latest ‘SATC’ rift
A representative for Kim Cattrall has denied the latest rumours of a rift between the Sex And The City cast.
A recent report had implied that Cattrall and co-stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon were staying in separate hotels while filming the movie sequel in Morocco.
The newspaper also claimed that the cast were not socialising off camera.
However, a spokesperson for Cattrall (Samantha Jones) has told Gossip Cop that the story is “absolutely ridiculous”.
A source added that the cast were “having a great time together”.
Sex And The City 2 is scheduled for release next May.
Shakira’s ‘incompetent’ Parents
Shakira thought her parents were “the most incompetent business people in the world” when she was eight.
The ‘She Wolf’ singer said she was upset and frightened when her father, a jeweler, went bankrupt and had to sell most of the family possessions when she was a child.
The experience did, however, lead them give her a lesson she has never forgot about true poverty.
Shakira, 32, said: “I couldn’t believe my parents! I thought they were the most incompetent business people in the world! And I was so upset.
“My dad and my mom took me to the park that day, where all the kids who were orphans are sniffing glue to deal with the tragedy of their own lives and hunger and the solitude of their lives.
“Little kids, like my age, sniffing glue and barefoot. They just wanted to show me another reality that was much worse than mine. Those images of those kids left a huge impression.”
Shakira, who found fame in her native Columbia as a teenager, later went on to establish the Pies Descalzos Foundation, a charity which sets up special schools for underprivileged children across her home country.
She is also a UNICEF Goodwill ambassador and regularly performs at benefit concerts around the globe.
Victoria Beckham To Relaunch Denim Range
Pop star-turned-fashion designer Victoria Beckham is giving her denim clothing collection a makeover and relaunching it under her own name.
The style queen’s dVb range of jeans suffered a setback last year when top Los Angeles boutique Kitson and U.S. department store Saks Fifth Avenue pulled the collection from their shelves, citing poor sales.
But the former Spice Girl is refusing to give up her dream of becoming a denim diva and has come up with new designs under the label Victoria Beckham Denim, with prices starting at $225 (£140), according to ElleUK.com.
The spring 2010 launch of Victoria Beckham Denim follows the success of her Victoria Beckham couture dress line, which counts Eva Longoria Parker, Drew Barrymore and Elle Macpherson among its fans.
Heather Graham: ‘I’m a witch’
Heather Graham has revealed that she has started a witch coven with her friends.
The Hangover star, who has previously said that she believes in reincarnation, said they cast spells on Barack Obama to ensure that he got into the White House.
Graham is quoted by MSN as saying: “It’s just for fun. We never jinx someone with evil spells. We meet in order to release positive energy. When one of us wishes to meet a great guy, we try to have an influence on that.”
The 39-year-old actress continued: “We sent Barack Obama positive energies, so that he would become the next president. I always liked magic. Now when I see Obama’s picture in the paper, I feel good.”
Rapper Shyne talks eight-year prison stint
Shyne has reportedly opened up about his eight-year prison stint.
The rapper was convicted in 2001 on charges of assault, reckless endangerment and gun possession after shooting two people at a New York club in 1999.
He has recently given a motivational speech to international inmates on his time spent locked up, according to SOHH.
The 31-year-old said: “I didn’t blame nobody else for my mistakes. It wasn’t my co-defendant’s fault that I shot somebody in the club, I take responsibility, I did that s**t, it was a terrible mistake and I moved on. So that’s what I challenge you guys to do. Don’t blame the C.O. [Correctional Officer], don’t blame the police – you have to take accountability for your actions and you have to decide what your future is gonna be.
“You can’t be following what this one say and that one say, I spent ten years in the cooker – it’s a lot of gangbangers in New York, I didn’t bang because I’m universal. I’m a boss – I mess with everybody. I had the Italian mafia, John Gotti’s boys, I sit down and break bread with them. I had the Irish n***as, the Spanish n***as, the point I’m trying to make to you is that you have to be a boss. And I started this when I was young.”
Shyne called P Diddy a “liar” last month after the music mogul allegedly said he had a phone conversation with the ‘Bad Boys’ rapper.
Diddy was cleared of the same charges during the pair’s trial.
Tiger Woods: ‘Crash was my fault’
Tiger Woods has claimed that his recent car crash was his fault.
The golfer crashed into a tree and a fire hydrant in the early hours of Friday morning, and has reportedly since refused to speak to police.
Meanwhile, rumours have suggested that the crash occurred after an argument with his wife Elin about an alleged affair. His facial injuries were also said to have been caused by Elin.
In a statement posted on his website, Woods denied the rumours and claimed full responsibility for the crash.
“I have some cuts, bruising, and right now I’m pretty sore,” he said. “This situation is my fault, and it’s obviously embarrassing to my family and me. I’m human and I’m not perfect. I will certainly make sure this doesn’t happen again.
“This is a private matter and I want to keep it that way. Although I understand there is curiosity, the many false, unfounded and malicious rumours that are currently circulating about my family and me are irresponsible.
“The only person responsible for the accident is me. My wife Elin acted courageously when she saw I was hurt and in trouble. She was the first person to help me. Any other assertion is absolutely false.”
Woods added that the the incident had been “stressful and very difficult” for his family and asked for privacy.
“I appreciate all the concern and well wishes we have received,” he said. “But I would also ask for some understanding that my family and I deserve some privacy no matter how intrusive some people can be.”
“New Moon” shines on record holiday box office
Vampire romance “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” took the top spot at North American box offices for the second straight weekend, sinking its fangs into ticket sales and drawing out $66 million over the 5-day U.S. Thanksgiving holiday ($42.5 million for the three days). It’s two-week total in the U.S. and Canada now stands at just under $231 million. Add to that an international haul of $243, and global sales hit $474 million.
Perhaps in this season of swine flu we have a new virus, “New Moon Flu,” which mostly women seem to get. It turns them into zombies (no disrespect, but it seemed appropriate when talking about movies with monsters) who then march into theaters.
But there are more films with broad appeal in theaters. Football movie “The Blind Side” and disaster flick “2012″ held up well to land at No. 2 and No. 3 on box office charts, respectively.
Of new movies, Disney comedy “Old Dogs,” starring John Travolta and Robin Williams, was No. 4 which was likely a disappointment given the star power of Travolta and Williams. But those guys are getting up there and younger movie fans seem more tuned-in to the youthful stars of “New Moon” — Taylor Lautner, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart (pictured above). That said, there’s a young star in “Old Dogs,” too, Seth Green. He’s featured prominently on the movie’s poster. (Maybe they should’ve given him some fangs).
Similarly, martial arts flick “Ninja Assassin” debuted a few notches down the chart at No. 6. We’re not really sure why. Dictionaries define ninjas as skilled saboteur assassins who wear all black. And we thought, “hey, that sounds like everybody in showbiz.” So it should have played well, right?
Oscar hopeful, apocalyptic drama “The Road” also debuted over the weekend and animated film “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” which features the voice of George Clooney and has earned generally good reviews, expanded wider in theaters.
John Mayer scores US album number one
John Mayer has debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with new album Battle Studies, his second solo chart-topper.
The singer fought off competition from new entries including Norah Jones, Casting Crowns, 50 Cent and Justin Bieber to reach the top spot.
Former American Idol contestant Kris Allen reached 11 with his self-titled debut album, while Leona Lewis entered at 13 with second LP Echo.
Meanwhile, Bon Jovi’s The Circle plummets from last week’s number one to 19.
The top ten albums in full
1. (-) John Mayer: ‘Battle Studies’
2. (2) Andrea Bocelli: ‘Christmas Songs’
3. (-) Norah Jones: ‘The Fall’
4. (-) Casting Crowns: ‘Until The Whole World Hears’
5. (-) 50 Cent: ‘Before I Self Destruct’
6. (-) Justin Bieber: ‘My World’
7. (4) Michael Jackson: ‘This Is It’
8. (10) ‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon’ OST
9. (3) Carrie Underwood: ‘Play On’
10. (5) Taylor Swift: ‘Fearless’
Imperioli: ‘Sopranos movie not official’
Michael Imperioli has said that reports about a Sopranos movie are just rumours.
The actor, whose character Christopher Moltisanti died in the final season of the HBO mob drama, admitted that a Sopranos film from creator David Chase isn’t “official” at this point.
“There’s been rumours, that’s all they’ve been. There’s been nothing from David Chase about a movie. Until we hear from him it’s not official,” he told Digital Spy at the world premiere for The Lovely Bones.
Discussing the show’s much-debated cut-to-black ending, Imperioli remarked: “It didn’t surprise me that David Chase would end it that way.”
HBO Mafia show The Sopranos, which came to a controversial end last year, rumoured to return as a feature film.
Nick D’Urso, the manager of the strip club that doubled as the show’s Bada Bing bar, has revealed he won’t be making any renovations to his establishment as producers want to re-use the location for a Sopranos movie.
Speaking to local New Jersey paper The Record, Satin Dolls manager D’Urso said: “I got an inside tip that they’re going to do a movie, so I don’t want to make any major changes.