50 Cent rules chart for 7th week in row
LOS ANGELES, April 7 (UPI) -- "Candy Shop" by 50 Cent and featuring Olivia has claimed the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the seventh week in a row.
The Game's "Hate It or Love It," which features 50 Cent, took second place, and Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone" landed at No. 3.
Frankie J's "Obsession (No Es Amor)" featuring Baby Bash ranked fourth, just ahead of Akon's "Lonely."
Green Day's "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" was in sixth place, followed by 50 Cent's "Disco Inferno" and Mario's "Let Me Love You."
"Rich Girl" by Gwen Stefani and featuring Eve claimed No. 9, with Usher's "Caught Up" rounding out the top 10.
50 Cent's success harks back to Beatles
NEW YORK, April 7 (UPI) -- U.S. rapper 50 Cent has become the first performer to place at least four songs in the Top 10 of Billboard's Hot 100 since the Beatles in 1964.
Forty years ago, Britain's Fab Four had the top four singles in a row -- "Can't Buy Me Love," "Twist and Shout," "She Loves You" and "I Want to Hold Your Hand," plus "Please Please Me" in fifth place, the New York Daily News said Thursday.
This week's chart features four songs featuring 50 Cent, "Candy Shop" at No. 1, "Hate it or Love it" at No. 3, "Disco Inferno" at No. 6 and "How We Do" in ninth place. In three of the four, 50 Cent is guesting or using a guest artist.
"It's always dangerous to compare anything to the Beatles, since they hold such a singular place in music history," Billbooard chart editor Geoff Mayfield said. "And besides, on their five Top 10 songs, it was all them -- it wasn't like Petula Clark was guesting."
Michael Jackson trial resumes
SANTA MARIA, Calif., April 7 (UPI) -- Michael Jackson's California child molestation trial resumed Thursday with a former employee saying he saw the pop star perform a sex act on a boy.
The ex-security guard at Neverland Ranch told Santa Maria jurors he witnessed the inappropriate behavior through a bathroom window in the early 1990s, "Entertainment Tonight" reported.
No charges were ever filed against Jackson in relation to the alleged past offense, but the boy later received settlement money from the singer.
Cross-examination by the defense, however, revealed the former guard had sued Jackson, claiming he was unfairly fired. He was then countersued by Jackson, who claimed the man stole from him during his employment.
Jackson has pleaded not guilty to all of the child molestation charges and remains free on bail.
St. Louis favorite cut from 'Idol'
ST. LOUIS, April 7 (UPI) -- "American Idol" contestant Nikko Smith has been cut from the hit series after drawing the fewest viewer votes of any of the nine finalists.
Smith, the son of Hall of Fame Cardinals shortstop Ozzie Smith, was gracious in defeat, telling host Ryan Seacrest, "I feel blessed just to be here now," the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Thursday
The other low vote-getter in Wednesday's show was Scott Savol of Shaker Heights, Ohio.
On Tuesday's performance show, Smith sang "One Hand, One Heart" from the musical "West Side Story."
