Texas authorities say a battle between two rival aspiring rappers led to one of the emcee's fatally shooting the other in the head.

According to the Houston Chronicle, Haltom City police released an arrest warrant affidavit on Monday (October 2) stating that Samuel Raynard Jones, 18, shot and killed seventeen year old Christopher Smith last month, after a "rap battle" escalated into a fist fight.

Witnesses told police the two teens met late September 15th for a battle in an open field in Haltom City, a suburb north of Fort Worth.

"They knew each other, and they had an ongoing rap battle," Sgt. Terry Stayer, a spokeswoman for Haltom City police told The Chronicle. "They were involved in these impromptu raps that took place in parking lots, at someone's house. They had ongoing back-and-forth issues, and they didn't like each other."...

Madonna has beat out Britney Spears as the highest paid female singer in the world, according to the 2007 edition of the Guinness Book Of World Records.  Britney previously held the title in 2001.  Other notable record holders include Janet Jackson, the most searched female on the internet, and Brad Pitt listed as the most searched male. 

An arrest warrant has been issued for Bobby Brown after he failed to show up for a hearing regarding delinquent child support payments in Boston on Monday.
 Kim Ward, the mother of the singer's teenage daughter La Princia and son Bobby Jr., claims Brown owes her two months' support for the children, amounting to $11,000.

Brown also has one daughter with his estranged wife Whitney Houston, Bobbi Kristina, and an older son, Landon, with another woman.

In June 2004, the R&B star was sentenced to 90 days...

Turner Network Television will turn to hip-hop star Jay-Z to tout its upcoming slate of exclusive Thursday night National Basketball Association games, and also turn some commercial control over to a number of the league's top stars.

Jay-Z will create exclusive spots that will not only promote the upcoming 2006-07 NBA season on TNT, but also the rapper's new album, Kingdom Come, set to be released Nov. 21.

Part of TNT's ongoing "Let the Truth Be Told" marketing campaign, the eight 30-second spots, which begin airing Oct. 3, show Jay-Z sharing his "truths" during a interview focusing on core themes such as competition, talent, stardom and legacy, during a limousine ride through the streets of New York City....

A federal judge in Houston says Beyonce did not steal another song for her hit, "Baby Boy." A Minneapolis songwriter claimed that lyrics she had written wound up uncredited in Beyonce's song – but the court ruled the tracks are "substantially dissimilar."

U2 has announced plans to release what the group is describing as a "definitive" best-of collection that will also include two new songs.
The as-yet-untitled set, which is due in stores Nov. 20, will feature 16 of the band's best-known songs, according to U2.com, though the specific tracklisting remains a mystery. What is known is that the disc will also house two cuts the band recorded last month at London's Abbey Road studio with producer Rick Rubin.

As previously reported, one of those new tracks is a cover version of The Skids' "The Saints Are Coming," for which U2 teamed with fellow rockers Green Day...

After a four-year hiatus, Eve is putting the finishing touches on her fourth LP, Here I Am, set to be released through a joint venture between Swizz Beatz's Full Surface and Dr. Dre's Aftermath.
In addition to Swizz and Dre, Eve will be working with Timbaland, Cool & Dre and Pharrell Williams on the CD. Guest spots will come from Ne-Yo, Sizzla and T.I., who appeared on the previously released, "Cashflow."...

Shakira leads the nominations at the seventh annual Latin Grammy Awards this year. The Columbian star is up for six awards – including album of the year.  The Latin Grammys will be presented in New York City on November 2nd.