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Rock News: Music's high and low notes

By PENNY NELSON BARTHOLOMEW, United Press International
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P. DIDDY

Another artist is trying to leave P. Diddy's Bad Boy recording label.

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112 -- the label's current best-sellers -- wants to move over to Def Jam.Def Soul, MTV News reports. In response, P.Diddy has filed a restraining order in Manhattan Supreme Court, leaving the quartet in limbo until a judge decides if they can lawfully leave.

"I am shocked that someone who I considered a close friend for 15 years is attempting to steal one of my acts," Diddy said about Def Jam CEO Lyor Cohen in a statement last week, adding that he felt "betrayed."

No comment from Def Jam, 112 or their managers.

A little more than a week ago, Diddy said he was leaving his distributor, Arista, and Arista announced it would be handling Faith Evans' recordings from now on.


DESTINY'S CHILD

On the same day Destiny's Child was taking home Grammy gold, the trio was being sued by two former members.

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E! Online reports LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson, two of Destiny's original singers, filed a federal lawsuit in Houston Wednesday, claiming they were dissed in song by Beyonce Knowles and Co.

Luckett and Roberson say a lyric in Destiny's Grammy-winning monster hit "Survivor" caused them irreparable harm. As a result, they're suing for defamation and breach of contract for failing to adhere to the settlement between the band and the singers when they left the group. The suit also names Destiny's label, Sony Music.

Additionally, Luckett and Roberson want to keep "Survivor" from ever being played on the radio or performed in concert again.

The bad blood between Roberson and Luckett and the other two original members of Destiny's Child, Knowles and Kelly Rowland, dates back to 1999, when the two began complaining about their perceived second-class treatment. They eventually sued the band and its manager, Matthew Knowles -- who happens to be Beyonce's father and Rowland's guardian -- and were kicked out of the group in 2000. That lawsuit was settled out of court, with the stipulation that neither side make "disparaging" public statements about the other.

A lawyer for Destiny's Child calls the latest allegations "ridiculous."

At the Grammys Wednesday, Destiny's Child won Best R&B Performance by a Duo/Group with Vocals for "Survivor."

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PAUL MCCARTNEY

Additional dates have been added to Paul McCartney's upcoming "Driving USA" tour, Billboard.com reports. The road trip -- which is slated to begin April 1 in Oakland, Calif. -- originally only encompassed 12 dates but has now been expanded to 20 shows in 19 North American cities, closing May 18 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

It's McCartney's first major tour since 1993.

"I'm chuffed to be asked to stay longer on the road," the former Beatle said in a statement. "Hopefully this will make the tour more of a trip."

Tour dates:

April 1: Oakland, Calif. (Oakland Arena)

April 3: San Jose, Calif. (San Jose Arena)

April 5-6: Las Vegas (MGM Grand)

April 10: Chicago (United Center)

April 13: Toronto (Air Canada Center)

April 16: Philadelphia (First Union Center)

April 17: East Rutherford, N.J. (Continental Airlines Arena)

April 19: Boston (FleetCenter)

April 23: Washington, D.C. (MCI Center)

April 26: New York (Madison Square Garden)

April 29: Cleveland (Gund Arena)

May 1: Auburn Hills, Mich. (Palace of Auburn Hills)

May 4: Los Angeles (Staples Center)

May 5: Anaheim, Calif. (The Pond)

May 7: Denver (Pepsi Arena)

May 9: Dallas (Reunion Arena)

May 12: Atlanta (Phillips Arena)

May 15: Tampa, Fla. (Ice Palace)

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May 18: Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (National Car Rental Center)


BRITNEY SPEARS

Concerts West has announced that Britney Spears will add a second leg to her "Dream Within a Dream" tour, due to popular demand. The tour will kick off in Las Vegas on May 24 and make stops in 30 North American cities -- including Chicago, Vancouver, Houston, Boston, Portland and Los Angeles. It's scheduled to wrap up in Dallas on July 22.

Before taking the show on the road again, Spears will travel to Italy, Germany and England in March to promote the release of her movie-starring debut in the teen comedy "Crossroads."

(Thanks to UPI Hollywood Reporter Pat Nason)


'UNITED WE SING'

India.Arie, Hootie and the Blowfish's Darius Rucker, Mya, Master P and Rita Marley -- the widow of Bob Marley -- are among the artists lending their voices to "United We Sing," a benefit single to aid the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund.

The fund was started by the Citizen's Scholarship Foundation of America to help the children and spouses of victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The recording session took place Thursday, RollingStone,com reports, and also included actresses Christina Applegate and Carmen Electra. The song was co-written by Nile Rodgers and is being produced by Full Force, who have worked with 'N Sync, the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears.

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Former President Clinton and former Senator Bob Dole are co-chairs of the fundraising effort for the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund.

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