Andy Murray primed for Rafael Nadal French Open semi
Andy Murray will take his place among the tennis elite on Friday when he faces five-time champion Rafael Nadal on a day of blockbusting semi-finals at the French Open.
The top four seeds have made it through to the last four and the day is fascinatingly poised as each has more riding on the outcome than the considerable prize of a French Open final place alone.
Murray is looking to reach his first Roland Garros final and edge closer to a maiden Grand Slam title; Nadal is trying to match Bjorn Borg's record six French Open titles; Roger Federer wants to win a 17th Grand Slam title, and his first since January, 2010; and then there is Novak Djokovic.
If he beats Federer, the 24-year-old Serbian star will become world number one, match John McEnroe's record for the longest unbeaten start to a year of 42 matches, and move to 44 consecutive wins overall - two behind the record of 46 set by Guillermo Vilas in 1977.
Nadal might have Murray in his sights but even he is intrigued by the other semi-final, saying: "It's the best player of the world today against the best player in history.
"I think both of them have chances to be in the final. Djokovic is playing fantastic, Roger did very well during all this tournament. Roger has enough potential to beat everybody, and you know how good Roger can be in the final rounds of a Grand Slam."
In the first of the semi-finals, fourth seed Murray will have his hands full trying to inflict only the second defeat on world number one Nadal in seven years at Roland Garros.
Murray, who said he planned to watch videos of his previous matches against Nadal in preparation, was at Roland Garros on Thursday for a light practice session and appeared to be moving well after suffering an ankle injury earlier in the tournament.
Vybz Kartel new book to release on July 23
Vybz Kartel will be coming out with a new book "Voice of the Ghetto: Social Commentary For My People", which is scheduled to release on July 23.
The release date for the book, however might be pushed for a earlier date , as Kartel believe that the book will be discredited before its release. This is due to some recent statements he has been hearing in the media from persons trying to derail his career and destroy his character.
“I think there was leak regarding some content of the book, the book is very potent, Jamaica simply cannot and will not be the same after this book is released,” explained Kartel.
Unlike other books penned by other dancehall artistes, this book will not be about the deejay's life. The book is titled Voice of the Ghetto (or Gaza if you prefer) - Social Commentary for My People which is an in-depth look at ghetto life in Jamaica through Kartel's eyes, the historical causes for how Jamaica got into the problems it now has and some suggestions from Kartel on how to improve the plight of the ghetto that may astonish many.
"People always wonder why Kartel does the things he does? What was he thinking when he sang that song or made that statement? Where does he get his point of view from? All of my thoughts will be unveiled so if you think you knew Kartel, you will be surprised when I introduce myself to the world through this book," Kartel stated.
When asked if he will announce a conversion to Rastafarianism or confirm his lodge membership in the book, Kartel simply said, "just read it."
The book will touch on taboo topics from incest and abortion to the high cost of justice in Jamaica and even tackles class and racial prejudice head on.
"I am not sure society and Babylon is ready for this book. Not sure if my life will be secure after this book is released. I am telling all, I am revealing all, nothing will be held back," Kartel warned. "My people have been silenced for too long, all the injustices have been hidden from the public; I am bringing it front and centre, I am being the voice of the ghetto and let the chips fall where they may," the deejay declared.
Whilst refusing to comment further on recent allegations made about him, Kartel responded by saying, "I am focused on making music, writing books and enhancing the Portmore Empire. My business interests are not limited to rum and clubbing but I have a diversified portfolio, so while others talk, I am writing books, setting up charities and reviewing business plans."
The book which has been in the making for the last two year focus on the indepth life of living in the ghetto through Kartel's eyes.
Porn War Breaks out Over Jennifer Lopez Honeymoon Sex Tape
Uh oh! It looks like there’s an all out war among some big porn studios to snag Jennifer Lopez’ honeymoon tape shot back in 1997… a tape featuring some spankin’ and some booty as described by TMZ.
Reportedly sites like Red Light District, YouPorn.com and PornHub.com are all trying to top each other with bids hovering in the $40,000 range.
Compared to prices other celeb sex tapes have gotten – well into the hundreds of thousands – $40k may seem low. However, from we’re told, there’s no real sex in the tape … bummer, huh?
As we’ve reported, Madame Lopez tried to block her ex-husband, Ojani Noa, from releasing the tape, but last week, a Los Angeles judge ruled she had no case … opening the door for a sale.
Zoe Kravitz: From Indie Darling to ‘X-Men’ Money
Zoe Kravitz got only a handful of questions at the London and New York press conferences for her film “X-Men: First Class,” which opens in US theaters tomorrow. Most of the queries went to her A-list costars Kevin Bacon, “Mad Men’s” January Jones, James McAvoy, Rose Byrne and her rumored new boyfriend Michael Fassbender.
And the several times Kravitz did get some love…well, let’s just say she’s not long-winded.
“I was f**kin’ excited,” she said when asked her reaction upon finding out she got the part.
Maybe she was tired. After all, the indie film darling isn’t used to the whirlwind schedule of back-to-back international press conferences, TV interviews and photo ops required of actors in big-budget films.
She was even fatigued, hung over “and not the prepared person that I usually am,” at her “X-Men: First Class” audition for director Matthew Vaughn. She told MTV News she had no idea that the character, Angel Salvadore, was a go-go dancer and supposed to be sexy. Vaughn told her to audition a second time, but in skimpier clothing – which apparently closed the deal.
When a journalist at the New York press conference suggested that in addition to mutant powers, Kravitz’s Salvadore and January Jones’ Emma Frost also use their sexuality as weapons, Zoe’s reply was “No we don’t.”
Jones then answered, “My sexuality comes easily to me. I thought it’s a huge part of Emma Frost’s character. Maybe unlike some of the younger characters that are developing or honing their powers, I’ve had time to perfect that, so I use that to my advantage. I think Emma’s vanity plays a huge part of her powers, just her makeup. The way she looks is very important to her.
Zoe followed that up with, “I did research on the Wonderbra. And it went well.”
Rihanna Back in Hot Water with Protest Orgs for ‘Man Down’ Video
Rihanna, who seems to crave attention is getting plenty of it with her latest video … maybe more than she bargained for.
The controversial video for her single, “Man Down,” plays out like a mini-movie in which Rihanna finds herself involved in a physical altercation that ends in murder.
Her fans may like it, but the Parents Television Council is putting the red head on notice as well as BET for airing it. Their objection in particular is the scene where Rihanna shoots the man who rapes her. Straight up, the PTC says the video glamorizes a “cold, calculated execution of murder.”
But the PTC isn’t the only group taking issue with the graphic video.
Meanwhile, Industry Ears, an entertainment industry watchdog group also has a huge problem with the video. Here’s the group’s co-founder and spokesperson, Paul Porter:
“Man Down’ is an inexcusable, shock-only, shoot-and-kill theme song. In my 30 years of viewing BET, I have never witnessed such a cold, calculated execution of murder in primetime. Viacom’s standards and practices department has reached another new low,” said Porter, who is also an ex-BET employee. “If Chris Brown shot a woman in his new video and BET premiered it, the world would stop. Rihanna should not get a pass.”
Both the PTC and Industry Ears are demanding that BET and its parent company Viacom cease airing the video. Given her domestic altercation with Chris Brown, both organizations claim Rihanna should have used the platform to send a non-violent message to victims of physical abuse and rape.
It wasn’t that long ago that Rihanna was getting the side eye from the Parents Television Council. They were upset at her for the overtly sexual performance of “S&M” with Britney Spears at the recent Billboard Music Awards.
Eminem Sues Audi; Claims Company Copied Chrysler 300 Ad
Eminem's 8 Mile Style LLC has filed a lawsuit against Audi AG, claiming the car company is using the hit song "Lose Yourself" illegally in a new commercial.
AdWeek reports that Em's company filed a lawsuit in Hamburg Regional Court in Germany, claiming that Audi is using the "Lose Yourself" track in a new commercial for the 2012 Audi A6 Avant.
Ironically, the "Lose Yourself" track is also the same song that was used to promote the new Chrysler 200 model during the Super Bowl in February.
Audi may be on the hook for copying the entire commercial as well according to the lawsuit, which will also see an unspecified amount in damages.
“We believe Audi not only used 'Lose Yourself' to sell their product without permission, but their spot actually feels inspired by elements of Chrysler’s commercial campaign,” Eminem's lawyer Joel Martin said.
Reps for Eminem are also seeking to determine what European ad agency created the commercial, which debuted last week at a press event in Berlin.
source:Allhiphop
T-Pain Vows To Never Use Auto-Tune Again
Producer/rapper T-Pain has vowed to never use the Auto-Tune effect again, quite possibly ending a long-running trend in R&B and Hip-Hop music.
In an exclusive statement issued to AllHipHop.com today (June 2nd), T-Pain vowed to ditch the Auto-Tune technology for his own new, vocal processor.
"I vow right here, right now, to never use Auto-Tune again," T-Pain told AllHipHop.com in an exclusive statement. "I'm onto something that I think is bigger and better called 'The T-Pain Effect.'"
The Grammy award-winning producer and platinum selling rapper has partnered with Izotope, an audio technology company, which is the exclusive provider of the new 'T-Pain effect.'
The Auto-Tune technology was originally created by Antares Audio Technologies.
The effect burst onto the pop music scene in 1998 on Cher's hit single "Believe."
Since then, the effect has been used by artists such as Janet Jackson, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg and numerous others.
T-Pain's usage of Antares' Technology made the Auto-Tune so popular, that he officially partnered with the company in September of 2009 to create the "I Am T-Pain" Iphone App, which allowed users to auto-tune their voices on their smart phones.
Now that his deal with Antares is over, T-Pain and Izotope are working to directly evolve his sound, using Izotopes proprietary vocal processing technologies.
T-Pain and Izotope will showoff the new technology on June 7th during E3, at the NOX booth.
Source-Allhiphop
Clinton Discusses Security, Economy Cooperation with Czech FM
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has met with her Czech counterpart in Washington for wide-ranging talks.
Clinton said she used her Thursday talks with Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg to thank the Czech Republic for increasing its troop contributions to the mission in Afghanistan. She also offered condolences for the recent loss of a Czech soldier.
Clinton and Schwarzenberg also discussed efforts to promote democracy and human rights around the world and ways to strengthen the United States and Czech Republic's economic relationships.
She said over the past year, the two countries have signed a joint declaration on civil nuclear cooperation and begun talks on economic, scientific and security cooperation. She said these talks would continue in September.
The Czech foreign minister said his country is looking forward to further cooperation with the United States.
The Czech Republic will host an early warning system as part of the U.S. missile defense shield in Europe. The project has met with fierce resistance from Russia.
Clinton thanked the Czech official for what she called his country's “strong support of a European missile defense and NATO missile defense system.”
Death Toll from US Tornado Rises to 138
Officials have updated the death toll to 138 from a powerful tornado that hit the central U.S. city of Joplin, Missouri last month.
Missouri public safety officials said Thursday the toll rose after four hospitalized people died from injuries suffered during the tornado.
The twister tore through Joplin on May 22 with winds topping 300 kilometers an hour, tearing apart homes and buildings, crushing cars and snapping trees.
The U.S. National Weather Service says the tornado was the deadliest to hit the U.S. since 1947.
On Wednesday, four people were killed when the latest in a string of tornadoes to hit the U.S. in recent weeks struck the western area of Massachusetts, a region where tornadoes are relatively rare.
Tornadoes have killed more than 500 people in the United States this year, the highest annual toll since 1950.
Top US Lawmakers: US Will Not Default on Debt
Senior U.S. lawmakers say Republicans and Democrats will eventually reach a deal to raise the country's $14 trillion debt limit.
The number two Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives, Steny Hoyer , says financial markets should know that lawmakers will come to an agreement on the issue.
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi says members of both political parties must make sure there is no default on the debt.
Hoyer and Pelosi made their remarks after House Democrats met with President Barack Obama at the White House Thursday for talks on the U.S. deficit and debt.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner also said he is confident a debt crisis will be averted, after meeting Thursday with Republican lawmakers.
Meanwhile, the credit rating agency Moody's warned that lack of progress on the issue could jeopardize the U.S. government's high credit rating.
Another agency, Standard & Poor's, issued a similar warning in April.
Earlier this week, the Republican-controlled House defeated a bill to raise the country's $14 trillion debt limit by about $2 trillion with no spending cuts.
Republicans are calling for deep and immediate spending cuts, while Democrats favor spending cuts or tax increases over several years.
Secretary Geithner has warned the U.S. could face “catastrophic consequences” if lawmakers fail to raise the debt limit. He has said he will use emergency measures to re-allocate funds to continue making payments on the U.S. debt. Those measures will give him until August 2 before the nation will have to stop making some payments altogether.