LOS ANGELES – ALBUQUERQUE – HOUSTON

T.I.S’ NO MERCY GOES GOLD

According to his official Twitter page, T.I.’s latest album, No Mercy, has officially reached certified Gold status. The rapper, who issued the project on December 7th, sold over 500-thousand copies. The news is a considerable feat since Tip was unable to make major televised appearances to promote the album due to his currently eleven-month prison sentence. Congrats!

GUCCI MANE TO WORK WITH BRITNEY SPEARS?

According to RumorFix.com, there’s whispers that Britney Spears and Gucci Mane could potentially collaborate together for a new song called “Hit.” Apparently, the rapper spilled, “Britney’s so icy” and added that she’s “raw and exciting. She’s crazy. We like to get down like that.” Only time will tell if this duet ever surfaces.

JANET JACKSON SHOW SELLS OUT IN TEN MINUTES!

The April 14th Los Angeles date on Janet Jackson’s Number Ones, Up Close and Personal tour sold out within ten minutes. According to the LATimes.com, due to the demand for the highly anticipated trek, the icon will provide an additional performance at the Gibson Amphitheatre on Friday, April 15th. The 35-city outing be Jackson’s first full length tour since 2008’s Rock Witchu Tour. Be sure to visit Ticketmaster.com and LiveNation.com to score passes for other tour dates!

SNOOP DOGG LANDS DEAL WITH ADIDAS

Snoop Dogg is a true genius at expanding his brand. The rap vet recently inked a deal to continue his long time partnership with Adidas to create his very own sneaker line. Snoop’s already created his first pair of fancy footwear, which pays homage to the Los Angeles Lakers. BallerStatus.com reports that the custom kicks will be available next month – just in time for NBA All-Star weekend.

QUEEN LATIFAH TO BE INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME

According to AllHipHop.com, Queen Latifah is scheduled to be inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame this summer. The talented entertainer joins 12 other nominees including John Travolta, Bruce Willis, Mary Higgins Clark, Martha Stewart and others. The event will take place on June 5th at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in downtown Newark.

BEYONCE TO APPEAR IN A STAR IS BORN REMAKE

Deadline.com reports Beyoncé is expected star in the fourth adaptation of A Star Is Born. For the new version of the 1937 musical, which will be directed by Clint Eastwood, the singer/actress will take the same lead role, “Esther Blodgett,” that her idol, Barbra Streisand, once portrayed. So far, Robert Downey, Jr. and Russell Crowe are the only actors rumored to be interested in taking on the role of Beyonce’s love interest, “Norman Maine.” We will keep you posted with further details.

GET READY FOR THE ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS!

Tomorrow at 8:30 AM Eastern, the Academy Award nominations will be announced. Tune in to your favorite morning show tomorrow to see Mo’Nique and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President announce the films in the running to be honored at the 83rd annual Academy Awards.

FLAVOR FLAV’S RESTAURANT OPENS

We previously reported Flavor Flav was looking to create his first restaurant, Flav’s Fried Chicken. Well, it looks like the Public Enemy hypeman is scheduled to have a grand opening today in Clinton, Iowa. You can also expect the “entrepreneur” to create his own line of liquor called Le Flav Spirits. AllHipHop.com has more!

ERIC BENET IS ENGAGED!

According to Us Magazine, Eric Benet has announced that he’s happily engaged to a woman named Manuela Testolini, who happens to be the ex-wife of Prince. While no date has been set, the R&B crooner’s rep confirms, “They are engaged and very happy.” Benet was previously married to actress Halle Berry in 2001, but they separated two and a half years later and were divorced in early 2005.

KERI HILSON TALKS DATING AND TURN-ONS

While promoting her latest album, No Boys Allowed, Keri Hilson told Us Magazine what she looks for in a man. The “Pretty Girl Rock” singer says that her date must “put his family first and respects and loves his mother. A guy who is taller than me preferably and one who would go to church or at least pray and have some sort of deeper self.” The Atlanta native adds that she is “definitely dating” and if you want a chance to win her over, Keri suggests that when it comes to having dinner, “it doesn’t have to be a formal expensive place – you can take me to Waffle House! I just like to be anywhere we can talk. It’s more about connecting.” In related news, No Boys Allowed, is in stores now.

LIL WAYNE WON’T PERFORM IN NYC ANYMORE?

In the newest issue of Rolling Stone, Lil Wayne explains why he has no intentions of ever performing a full length concert in New York City in the future. The rapper stated that promoters would have to offer up “U2 money” after he spent several months inside NYC’s Rikers Island on weapons possession charges. Here’s to hoping down the line Weezy eventually shows his Big Apple fans some love!

RAEKWON READIES ONLY BUILT 4 CUBAN LINX 3

We recently reported Raekwon plans to drop two new albums this year. So far, fans have only heard about one upcoming project, Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang, but the rapper revealed to Complex.com that the other disc is Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 3. No word yet on the launch dates for either LP, but we’ll keep you posted!

KIM KARDASHIAN NOT RECORDING ALBUM

Kim Kardashian opened up on MTV’s The Seven recently and cleared the air about what many thought was the start of a music career. When she premiered a song titled “Turn It Up” at TAO nightclub in Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve, most assumed Kim was recording an album. The reality star said she is not doing a record was just persuaded into the studio by Ciara, Kanye West and The-Dream to record the song. Her time in the studio will be documented on the upcoming season of Keeping Up With the Kardashians. Kim did shoot a video for the track with director Hype Williams, which is rumored to feature a cameo from Kanye West. Half of the proceeds from the song and video will go to a cancer foundation.

DID SHAKIRA LEAVE MAN FOR SOCCER PLAYER?

Did Shakira break up with her boyfriend of 11 years for Spanish soccer player Gerard Pique? According to the Daily Mail, rumors have been flying that the two have been going on a series of “secret dinner dates and romantic breaks,” but the Barcelona star says that it’s not true. Pique insists that they are “just friends” and that he didn’t even know Shakira and Antonio de la Rua had split. The World Cup winner added, “There’s nothing more to it”.

MADONNA AND PRINCE MAKE UP

Madonna and Prince are no longer enemies. The two had apparently been at ends ever since they briefly dated in 1985, which led to them continually taking jabs at each other throughout the years. According to UsWeekly.com, Madge referred to Prince as a “little troll” in 1994, and in 2007, he said that he’s “got more hits than Madonna’s got kids.” Well it seems that it’s all water under the bridge now, as Madonna took in one of Prince’s shows in New York City last week, with the Purple One even giving her a shout-out from onstage.

JACKSON ESTATE AIMS TO SHUT DOWN SITE

Michael Jackson’s estate is seeking the shutdown of a website that is selling a book written by the singer’s mother and has released music attributed to the late pop superstar. According to The Associated Press, the singer’s estate sued businessman Howard Mann, who operates the website, claiming he is infringing on copyrights and poses an unfair competition. The website features a book of Katherine Jackson’s recollections of her son and released a remix of a Jackson song shortly before the release of a posthumous album last year. The copyright infringement lawsuit asks a federal judge to turn over the website to the estate. It also seeks all profits from the site, which would go to the multi-million dollar estate that supports Katherine Jackson and the singer’s three children.

Check out the website at www.JacksonSecretVault.com

JERSEY SHORE HITS ALL-TIME HIGH!

Wow. People really can’t get enough of those crazy kids on Jersey Shore. This past week, 8.9-million people tuned in, making the show MTV’s most-watched series telecast ever. Holy crap! See an all-new episode of Jersey Shore when it airs on MTV Thursday at 10pm Eastern.

AND IN OTHER NEWS…

KOBE TO BE HONORED IN HOLLYWOOD

Kobe Bryant – you have officially made it. According to the L-A Times, the Lakers star will be the first athlete to have his “hand and foot imprinted at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.” The ceremony is set to take place on February 19th, which coincides with the NBA All-Star game taking place in Los Angeles that weekend. Kobe told the paper that the whole thing is a “tremendous honor.”