I heard about this rumor and was compelled to post the original article.  So far, none of the big gossip/entertainment/blog sites have yet to clarify this story.  However I will say the article was well written, well supported and made sense somewhat if you’re an industry cat who follows the music game.  Even if this was a fabricated story, I give props to the writer for wasting their time trying to defame Rihanna’s name!

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Curtis Jackson aka 50 Cent

50 Cent has come a long way from his early days dealing drugs in Queens, N.Y., and getting shot nine times. The reigning king of hip-hop wealth banked $100 million after taxes last summer when his stake in VitaminWater’s parent, Glacéau, was bought by Coca-Cola as part of a $4.1 billion deal. His portfolio also includes the popular G-Unit clothing line and record label, plus films, videogames and a slew of platinum albums, including last year’s Curtis.

Hip-Hop’s Cash Kings 2008

01. 50 Cent - $150 million
02. Jay-Z - $82 million
03. P. Diddy - $35 million
04. Kanye West - $30 million
05. Timbaland - $22 million
06. Pharrell Williams - $20 million
07. Swizz Beatz - $17 million
08. Snoop Dogg - $16 million
09. Dr. Dre - $15 million
10. Ludacris - $14 million
11. T.I. - $13 million
12. Lil’ Wayne - $13 million
13. Eminem - $12 million
14. Common - $12 million
15. Akon - $12 million
16. Jermaine Dupri - $11 million
17. Lil’ Jon - $11 million
18. OutKast - $10 million
19. Chamillionaire - $10 million
20. The Game - $10 million

[Credit: Forbes]

Lil’ Jon

The King of Crunk has dropped his lawsuit against TVT Records and transfered his recording services over to The Orchard, a digital distribution company.

Lil Jon announced the deal today to media in a press release.

“I walked into The Orchard and came away with the sweet taste of freedom!” he explained. “Others talk, The Orchard does. I expect to do great things with them, and look forward to my future.”

The Orchard is set to re-issue all of the producer’s past albums, which the company acquired as a part of its acquisition of TVT when the record label filed bankruptcy.

Lil Jon will also serve as a musical liaison with the company; the Crunk Juice CEO will lend his A&R experience to The Orchard.

Jon is free from his contractual obligations arraigned under his TVT deal, however, any future projects, such as albums, would be released under The Orchard banner. Lil Jon is still at work on his next LP, Crunk Rock.

[Credit: Anthony Thomas / XXL]

Read Full Press Release

Angelina Jolie / Jennifer Aniston

Finally, Jennifer Aniston has come out on top.

According to Forbes, the 39-year-old actress earned more than Angelina Jolie in 2007.

Aniston raked in $27 million in 2007; Jolie, 33 - who just welcomed twins with Aniston’s ex Brad Pitt – took in $14 million.

See photos comparing the lives of Aniston and Jolie.

In terms of female earners, Cameron Diaz claimed the top spot with $50 million, Forbes reports.

Keira Knightley pulled in $32 million, beating out Aniston. Academy Award winners Reese Witherspoon and Gwyneth Paltrow each banked $25 million.

The men still made more than the women overall.

Will Smith earned a staggering $80 million; Johnny Depp netted $72 million, while Eddie Murphy and Mike Myers both took in $55 million. Leonardo DiCaprio banked $45 million.

See the full lists at Forbes.com.

[Credit: Us Weekly]

(CLICK ON IMAGE TO EXPAND)

The total salaries for this pay-per-view was $3.3 million,  which was about a solid $2+ million more than UFC 84’s Ill Will pay-per-view a few months back.

JD + TAG = TAG Records

The hip-hop and R&B producer Jermaine Dupri has discovered best-selling acts like Kris Kross and Da Brat, has produced hits for Mariah Carey and Jay-Z, and now runs the urban music division of the Island Def Jam Music Group. He’s also looking for fresh talent for a new label financed by a company new to the music industry.

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Forrest Griffin — $250,000 ($100,000 to show, $150,000 to win)
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson — $225,000
Griffin defeated Jackson via unanimous decision

Patrick Cote — $32,000 ($16,000 to show, $16,000 to win)
Ricardo Almeida — $23,000
Cote defeated Almeida via split decision

Joe Stevenson — $60,000 ($30,000 to show, $30,000 to win)
Gleison Tibau — $11,000
Stevenson defeated Tibau via submission (guillotine choke) in round two

Josh Koscheck — $70,000 ($35,000 to show, $35,000 to win)
Chris Lytle — $14,000
Koscheck defeated Lytle via unanimous decision

Melvin Guillard — $20,000 ($10,000 to show, $10,000 to win)
Dennis Siver — $7,000
Guillard defeated Siver via technical knockout (strikes) in round one

Tyson Griffin — $40,000 ($20,000 to show, $20,000 to win)
Marcus Aurelio — $40,000
Griffin defeated Aurelio via unanimous decision

Cole Miller — $20,000 ($10,000 to show, $10,000 to win)
Jorge Gurgel — $10,000
Miller defeated Gurgel via submission (triangle choke) in round three

Justin Buchholz — $8,000 ($4,000 to show, $4,000 to win)
Corey Hill — $8,000
Buchholz defeated Hill via submission (rear naked choke) in round two

Gabriel Gonzaga — $100,000 ($50,000 to show, $50,000 to win)
Justin McCully — $5,000
Gonzaga defeated McCully via submission (kimura) in round one

[Credit: MMA Mania]

Master P & Romeo

In recent years, Master P has restrategized his business ventures and has opted to get out of the controversial thug-like marketing approach he once made famous over a decade ago. 

Instead, Percy Miller has placed more focus on family friendly pricing of his products.  It has been reported that he has a new deal with Wal-Mart to relaunch P. Miller Designs. 

The urban inspired line is now in stores and will be Wal-Mart’s first affordable African-American owned clothing line. 

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Casino mogul and UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta 

This may or may not be news to people in the mixed martial arts world, but from a business perspective, UFC President Dana White believes he has secured an amazing business talent who will help expand and navigate the on going success of the UFC.

Lorenzo Fertitta an original financer of the 2001 Zuffa purchased UFC, happens to run the billion dollar empire Station Casinos in Las Vegas. He has been a behind the scenes fixture in the UFC for quite some time, and as a majority owner of the brand it was announced today that he will now put full concentrated effort in day to day operations of the UFC.

Fertitta plans to continue global development in other untapped markets, spreading marketing, promotions and live events across the globe, in addition to getting the sport sanctioned in key markets (such as New York city).

Dana White believes this is a historic day for the UFC’s rapid fanbase growth, however many were speculating otherwise of a gigantic announcement than today’s news.

Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta on the 05/05/08 issue of Forbes

Check out Dana White bench press 315 pounds in this clip below.

Forbes celebrity power issue is on newstands tomorrow, and Forbes.com already has some celebrity video interviews on their website.  50 Cent the hip-hop mogul touches bases on the music industry, Vitamin Water, and his plans to make The Forbes 400.

Shakir Stewart 

Yesterday L.A. Reid announced that Shakir Stewart had been promoted to executive vice president of Def Jam Recordings. In this SOHH exclusive, we caught up with the new top dog to discuss upcoming albums from Nas and LL Cool J and to find out how he plans on filling Jay-Z’s shoes.

As SOHH previously reported, the former Def Jam A&R -known for signing Rick Ross and Young Jeezy to the label - took over Jigga’s spot, which has been vacant since the hip-hop mogul stepped down in December.

Stewart, who counts Jay as a friend, says he ready to pick up where the rapper left off.

“I’m up for the task,” he said. “I’m up for the challenge of it. I’m not caught up in, ‘I’m replacing Jay-Z.’ I’m here to deliver and work for my artists and build and expand on the brand. That’s my goal.”

“Jay-Z’s shoes would be hard to fill in any fashion,” he added. “So, my focus is really to come in and do my job and help build and create my legacy as well expand the legacy that’s already there.”

His first priority as EVP is to release albums from hip-hop icons, Nas and LL Cool J.

“This is the most anticipated and probably most controversial album of [Nas’] career and I’ve worked side by side with him in making this album since day one, ” he revealed. “I’m also extremely involved in LL Cool J’s album which is coming out at the end of July. To be able to come in and work with two artists of that caliber is me stepping outside of my comfort zone. I’m so honored and excited about the opportunity.”

In addition to these hip-hop releases, Stewart is looking forward to releasing a new R&B album from Ne-Yo, re-launching Rihanna’s most recent album and breaking new R&B and pop signees.

“My focus, as I step into this position is to put out great music, all genres of music,” he says.

[Credit: Danica Dow/SOHH]

High-concept shows are some of the bestselling of spring

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The BlackBerry Bold is the first BlackBerry to support high-speed HSDPA cellular networks and comes with integrated GPS, Wi-Fi and a host of multimedia features.

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In stores May 20, 2008

This year’s WrestleMania ended up doing nearly 200,000 less buys than last year’s show; 1,058,000 to 1.2 million. The show drew less money as well in spite of the $5 price hike; $23.8 million to $24.6 million. Before WrestleMania, Vince McMahon was predicting 1.4 million buys, reports prowrestling.NET, so the final number is a little disappointing to WWE.

Also, Floyd Mayweather predicted in interviews that the buy number would top total sales from last year’s show.

[Credit: LOP]

“Grand Theft Auto IV” hit shelves on April 29 and hasn’t stayed on them since. The criminal action video game has earned more than $500 million in global sales its first week out.

Industry analyst projected that 5 million people would cop the game in its first two weeks, according to the New York Times. GTA sold 6 million in half that time.

The game beat out Halo 3’s 2007 record for pulling in $400 million in its first week, according to Reuters.

“Grand Theft Auto IV’s first week performance represents the largest launch in the history of interactive entertainment, and we believe these retail sales levels surpass any movie or music launch to date,” said Strauss Zelnick, chairman of Take-Two Interactive Software, which publishes the game.

As SOHH previously reported, “GTA 4″ also boasts the largest soundtrack of any video game, featuring big name artists like Kanye West, R. Kelly, Busta Rhymes and Ne-Yo. It’s also the first game that allows players to tag songs in the soundtrack for subsequent purchase online through Amazon.

“GTA 4″ casts players as an Eastern European immigrant who gets into organized crime and begins running drugs, shooting cops and beating up hookers and has been compared to movies like The Godfather in its graphic violence.

[Credit: Brandi Hopper]