50 Cent is all gold on Billboard 200 chart
LOS ANGELES, March 16 (UPI) -- "The Massacre" by Curtis Jackson, a/k/a 50 Cent, smashed the competition Wednesday for the second week in a row to stay atop the Billboard 200 chart.
Jack Johnson's "In Between Dreams" took second, and Jayceon Taylor, a/k/a The Game, came in No. 3 with "The Documentary," the magazine said.
"Rebirth" by Jennifer Lopez slipped to fourth, while Green Day's "American Idiot" rose to fifth place, just ahead of Kelly Clarkson's "Breakaway." Ray Charles' "Genius Loves Company remained at No. 7.
The Killers' "Hot Fuss" moved into eighth place, followed by John Legend's "Get Lifted" and Eminem's "Encore" in 10th place.
Jackson prosecutor has explosive witness
SANTA MARIA, Calif., March 16 (UPI) -- Prosecutors in Michael Jackson's molestation trial have a witness who allegedly heard the defendant plan to intimidate his accuser, "Celebrity Justice" said.
Rudy Provencio, a member of Jackson's inner circle, apparently kept a dairy of conversations he heard at the pop star's Neverland ranch and elsewhere regarding plans to intimidate the boy and his family who now accuses Jackson of sexually molesting him, the tabloid TV news program said Wednesday.
"Celebrity Justice" also said Provencio will testify at Jackson's Santa Maria, Calif., trial he had full knowledge of and participated in the alleged conspiracy to intimidate the accuser's family and relocate the family outside the United States.
Provencio gained access to Jackson in 2000 when the entertainer hired gay porn producer Marc Schaffel to record tunes. Schaffel, in turn, hired Provencio, who had no background in music, as an assistant.
Jackson is charged with 10 counts of allegedly fondling the then 13-year-old boy, plying him with alcohol and conspiring to kidnap him and his family and hold them at the Neverland ranch.
Lil' Kim cast as arrogant, privileged
NEW YORK, March 16 (UPI) -- New York jurors deliberated Wednesday in the conspiracy, obstruction of justice and perjury trial of hip-hop idol Lil' Kim, E! Online reported.
Kimberly Jones, her real name, is charged along with her personal assistant in a 2001 shooting outside a New York rap radio station that began when her entourage ran into another rap crew. There were no fatalities, but one person was seriously injured.
Jones' legal troubles stemmed from her allegedly lying to investigators about who was at the scene. Also, two members of her crew turned state's evidence.
"Maybe she believed she was a Queen Bee, above the law, that for a multifaceted superstar, the rules were different for her," said Manhattan Assistant U.S. Attorney Cathy Seibel. Jones' lawyer called the prosecution's case "asinine."
If convicted on all counts, Jones faces 30 years in prison.
Among her better known hits are "Magic Stick."
Fonda describes three-way sex with Vadim
NEW YORK, March 16 (UPI) -- Hollywood actress Jane Fonda writes in her forthcoming biography that former husband Roger Vadim forced her to share his bed with other women.
Fonda's "My Life So Far," due in April, describes the French director as "cruel and misogynistic" for manipulating her into having sex with him and another woman at the same time.
"It seems shocking that I did that but I convinced myself that it was fine even though it was killing my heart," says Fonda, 67.
The book confirms widespread rumors the couple engaged in orgies on numerous occasions.
They were married from 1967 to 1973 and had one child, Vanessa. Vadim, a noted director, died in 2000.
