News Breakers: 50 Cent, Fugees, Stapp, Jeezy, Strokes, Lady Sov, Neko

One thing is certain: between now and the June 26 release of his forthcoming album, Curtis, 50 Cent will be keeping himself in the news. The rapper revealed the cover art for Curtis this week, as seen at right. He also opined on the possibility of a new album from Eminem, as well as his ongoing beef with Cam'ron, who recently posted a video of him at his vacation home wearing boxer shorts and warning 50 Cent to expect a "hot summer.

" Cam'ron made a video earlier this year in which he shouted 50's given name, Curtis, over and over. "He's delusional," 50 told MTV News. "For a person to think that calling you the name your mom gave you at birth is disrespectful is beyond belief.

He's punished himself more than I can punish him. He's made a fool of himself. There's nobody asking me about Cam'ron.

I think people lost interest in it, based on the situation. He's not even relevant. You're talking about a guy who sold 270,000 [copies] his last record.

I sold 9.8 million my last record. I'm not going to exhaust my audience by talking about somebody they have no interest in.

" Fiddy also said that although Eminem won't talk about it, the Detroit rapper has been working on new material. "He's got a new album coming," he said. "He's not gonna tell people that, but he's making new music.

I've heard a few songs, and it's hot. He won't tell nobody he's working on a new album, but I'll tell you: he's working on new music. And once he locks into it, like, 'This is my favorite s**t,' it's gonna come out .

.. Michael Jordan was supposed to play basketball.

Floyd Mayweather was meant to box. And Eminem was meant to rap." Pras is no longer waiting by the phone, hoping to hear from Lauryn Hill.

The Fugees rapper told SOHH.com that a Fugees' reunion is "straight dead," despite loads of hype and a big marketing push in late 2005 to make it happen. The trio released a single, "Take It Easy," in late 2005, but an album never materialized.

"You know, unfortunately Miss Hill, she got some things she needs to deal with," Pras told the site. "I wish her the best, but life goes on." He emphasized that he's got plenty of work, including a forthcoming third solo album, as well as a handful of movie roles.

"You know I'm doing movies hard, man. I'm doing a bunch of different movies." Neko Case, in bustier.

A bustier worn by Neko Case has been put up for y. Seattle photographer Victoria Renard, who photographed Case in the bustier in 2000 for the Sympathy for the Record Industry promotional calendar, has placed the bustier up for auction for charity. The bustier, "a 50s era black lace full length girdle-style bustier with 6 garter attachments made by Lady Marlene," was dubbed "The Secret Weapon because it made you look hot in or out of your clothing and mysteriously attracted members of the opposite sex for either of us when worn," Renard wrote on the auction page.

The winning bidder will receive an original 8x10 color print of the photo [pictured] of Neko wearing The Secret Weapon. Partial proceeds from this sale will go to Greyt Expectations Greyhound Rescue in honor of Neko's beloved greyhound, whom she rescued." The latest bid is $175.

In many ways the ideal East Coast hardcore rapper, 50 Cent endured substantial obstacles throughout his young yet remarkably dramatic life before becoming in early 2003 the most discussed figure in rap, if not pop music in general. Following an unsuccessful late-'90s run at mainstream success (foiled by an attempt on his life in 2000) and a..

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The Fugees translated an intriguing blend of jazz-rap, R B, and reggae into huge success during the mid-'90s, when the trio's sophomore album The Score hit number one on the pop charts and sold over five million copies. The trio formed in the late '80s in the New Jersey area, where Lauryn Hill and Prakazrel Michel ("Pras") attended a local high.

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In November 2005, Scott Stapp returned to rock listeners once again with Great Divide, his debut solo effort after Creed's breakup a year earlier.

The title track was also the lead single, and it reprised the anthemic post-grunge swagger of Stapp's old band. But in the run-up to its release, the singer had also been vocal about Great Divide's..

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Atlanta-based Young Jeezy originally planned on having a background role in the music industry -- as a businessman, not as a rapper. Years before making his first Def Jam album -- Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101, released in July 2005 -- he set up Corporate Thugz Entertainment and promoted Cash Money releases.

From there, he branched out as a...

Equally inspired by classic tunesmiths like Buddy Holly and John Lennon as well as the attitude and angular riffs of fellow New Yorkers Television and the Velvet Underground, the Strokes were also equally blessed and cursed with an enormous amount of hype -- particularly from the U.K. music press, whose adulation for the group rivaled their.

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The self-proclaimed "biggest midget in the game," MC Lady Sovereign has an unmistakably U.

K. delivery and style, but a string of singles showcasing her sly wit and brash charisma over bottom-heavy beats brought on a worldwide buzz. Born Louise Harman, Lady Sovereign was raised in northwest London's notorious Chalkhill Estate, a public housing.

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Alternative country singer/songwriter Neko Case won a steadily growing cult audience for her smoky, sophisticated vocals and the downcast beauty of her music.

Born in Alexandria, VA, Case moved around often as a child, spending the largest part of her youth in Tacoma, WA. She left her parents at age 15, and three years later she started playing..

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Neko Case hasn't had much need to prove her credentials as a major artist since making her solo debut with 1997's The Virginian, but she's been refining her skills in the recording studio on each subsequent release, and with 2006's Fox Confessor Brings the Flood she's fashioned an album that can cautiously be called a masterpiece. As always,.

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