Entertainment Report

THUGS IN MUSIC


JAY-Z ASSOCIATE FAILS TO SHOW FOR COURT DATE

Tyran "Ty Ty" Smith, a close friend of Jay-Z, who is accused of pepper-spraying R. Kelly during the infamous Best Of Both Worlds concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City last October, failed to show up for a court date in December in relation to the incident. Kelly's lawyer, Ed Hayes, told the New York Post's Page Six, "To go on the run from a misdemeanor assault seems like he's trying to avoid being a witness in the civil case."

Hayes is referring to the $75 million lawsuit that R. Kelly filed against Jay-Z and the promoter of the Best Of Both Worlds tour for kicking him off of the tour following the October 29th incident. According to Kelly, he allegedly saw two men in the audience at Madison Square Garden that night with guns, so he left the stage. When the singer attempted to return to the stage he was allegedly hit with pepper spray by Smith. The next day he was booted from the tour.


EXPERTS SAY LIL' KIM WILL NOT GET ANYTHING CLOSE TO 20 YEARS

Grammy Award-winning rapper Lil' Kim, whose real name is Kimberly Jones, was found guilty of three counts of perjury and one count of conspiracy by a jury last week for lying to authorities and a federal grand jury investigating a February 2001 shootout outside of New York City radio station WQHT-FM. The rapper could receive up to 20 years behind bars when she is sentenced on June 24th, but two legal experts predict she will receive far less when sentenced by federal judge Gerard Lynch.

Ridiculous Gas Prices

With fuel prices at record levels, and all estimates pointing toward even higher numbers at the gas pump this summer, most motorists are probably walking past the easiest ways to help keep some money in their wallets. Representatives of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company say a close watch on the air pressure in a vehicle's tires is an effective way to keep fuel consumption in check. Running a tire 20 percent underinflated -- only 5 to 7 pounds per square inch (PSI) -- can increase fuel consumption by 10 percent. That easily may cost motorists two or three miles per gallon.