Lupe Fiasco Forecasts 'Cool' For October
Rapper Lupe Fiasco will hit the studio this week to begin recording his sophomore album, "The Cool." The artist told Billboard.com backstage at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival over the weekend that he is hoping for an Oct. 31 release date for the album via 1st & 15th/Atlantic.
Reiterating his desire to round up members of Pink Floyd to make a guest appearance on the project, Fiasco conceded, "Nothing has developed yet. But once the stew gets swirling and people start talking, you never know. I hope it does work out."
"The Cool" will be the follow-up to last year's "Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor," which earned three Grammy nominations. Between studio sessions, Fiasco will break away for performances at Lollapalooza in Chicago in early August and the Bumbershoot festival in Seattle in early September.
He has also recently worked with Japanese rapper Big O on the track "City Wings," a remix of Musiq's "Buddy" and on a track from Atlantic labelmate Kevin Michaels' upcoming debut.
There's also a"top secret" project in the works with "another superstar rapper and someone who is a rapper/producer," but Fiasco declined to reveal details, including whether the pairing was for a full album or just a handful of songs. |
Singer George Michael Pleads Guilty
George Michael pleaded guilty Tuesday to a charge of driving while unfit through drugs.
The 43-year-old singer said in Brent Magistrates' Court that he was guilty due to "tiredness and prescribed drugs."
A charge of being in charge of a vehicle while unfit through drugs was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service. Sentencing was deferred until May 30, pending more blood tests.
Michael, whose real name is George Panayiotou, was arrested in the early hours of Oct. 2 after police responded to complaints that a car was blocking an intersection in North London. Police said he was found slumped over the wheel of the car.
"I am perfectly aware that I did something very wrong and got into my car when I was unfit to drive," Michael told the court. "I was not in my normal physical state and I'm perfectly prepared to accept the correct punishment for that and I would have accepted it a long time ago."
"It was fairly predictable considering how much work I had done that week," he said.
Michael said he was unaware at the time that he could accept a punishment without admitting guilt and dispose of the matter without going to court. |
Sacha Baron Cohen to play Freddie Mercury?
Sacha Baron Cohen will play Freddie Mercury in a big screen adaptation of Freddie Mercury's life, it has been claimed.
The Borat and Ali G comedian has apparently been approached about taking on the role of the iconic star, as producers beginning casting for the movie.
Borat's image and looks were apparently inspired by the Queen singer and Baron Cohen is said to have been chosen ahead of Johnny Depp for the part.
An "insider" said: "Film makers are working flat out to get the best possible script. Sacha loves the idea he can get away with playing Freddie after modelling Borat's look on him."
Freddie Mercury died in 1991 at the age of 45 after losing his battle against an AIDS-related illness. |