Real Music People

Do you remember a guy named Eminem? The rapper has been missing in action from the music scene for the last couple of years but he’s been keeping himself busy by frequenting strip clubs and getting himself into trouble. The has-been rapper was sued last week by a man that claims that Em punched him at Cheetah’s on the Strip Gentlemen’s Club in Detroit while both of them in the bathroom. The accuser is seeking $25,000 in damages. Why the heck did Eminem start a brawl in the bathroom? He should have just kept himself busy making some music instead of going to strip clubs.

Well those are two names that you never thought you’d hear together in the same sentence. But it seems that it’s not at all impossible. Retired rapper Eminem has reportedly been approached to play Nelson Mandela’s upcoming 90th birthday party. I never knew Nelson was a hip hop fan. Reports are also saying that it’s a done deal but the rapper’s camp is saying they haven’t accepted the invite just yet. Let’s hope that there won’t be any talk about street cred. Em’s been arrested. Nelson spent 27 years in jail. Em clearly loses. But then again, he can issue a rap battle challenge and then all hell will break loose!

Why is it that when you’re pretty much a has-been, that’s when all the crappy stuff happens? Eminem’s record labels are being sued by the producers that first discovered him, claiming that they are owed back royalties. The lawsuit, filed last week in federal court, claims that Aftermath, Interscope and others owe FBT Productions and Em2M LLC in excess of $1 million because Em’s current record label miscalculated the royalties due for them. According to the suit, the defendants even admitted to such last year but have yet to pay. FBT and Em2M are suing for back royalties, damages and attorney fees.

Eminem was once a rapper, tried to be an actor and is now wanting to be an author. The Detroit native is working on a tell-all memoir which will include details on his life story, photos, journal notes, hand-drawn sketches and lyrics. This would have been hot news if only it happened 5 years ago!

‘Eminem: The Way I Am’ is to be published by Orgion Books. The book is scheduled for release in the UK on October 16 of this year. Eminem’s team is said to be none too happy with the leak of this info as they claim it’s still a work in progress.

It is being reported that Eminem was rushed to the hospital over the holidays. Sources from the Detroit-area hospital say that the rapper was there to be treated for a serious heart condition and severe pneumonia. Now that he’s not bashing everyone on the planet and touring the world, Em has really let his self go and weighed in at 212 lbs.

Eminem’s publicist confirmed the news saying “Over the holidays, Marshall Mathers, aka Eminem, was under doctor’s care at a Detroit-area hospital for complications due to pneumonia. He has since been released and is doing well recovering at home.”

Eminem is refusing to embark on any future U.S tour in fear of upsetting his young daughter, according to rapper 50 Cent. The In Da Club hitmaker says his pal’s daughter Hailey, six, dislikes him being away from home - and Eminem is adamant fatherhood comes before his career. Now isn’t that such an inspirational thought from a cult singer and doesn’t it inspire the likes of David Beckham and Brad and all the other’s to give up a little on the hectic lifestyles to spend some time with their kids and if this speak doesn’t then I don’t know what will. Man come on after you have the millions in your bank account what is there that is stopping you from taking a early Christmas break and going on a vacation with the family. What are you all filthy rich dads waiting for, till when you retire at that time the kids would have left the nest and shall be free birds. This is the time to enjoy with the kids. Eminem has his priorities all right and this makes him my idol.

More than 70 Eminem songs are available for download on iTunes. Rap star Eminem is suing computer firm Apple for allegedly selling his music in its iTunes store without permission.
A lawsuit claiming infringement of copyright has been filed on behalf of the singer by his music publishing company Eight Mile Style.

Apple pays Eminem’s record label for each download - but Eight Mile Style argues it has not approved the deal.

“This is a significant issue in the music industry,” said Norman Ankers, a lawyer for the company.

“This occurs with many artists and many record labels.”

A spokesperson for Apple had no comment on the legal case, which was filed in the US District Court in Detroit.

Eight Mile Style said between 70 and 80 songs were affected by the dispute, including tracks from the Grammy award-winning The Eminem Show.

The company holds the copyright, or partial copyright, in all of the tracks.

It is seeking more than $75,000 (£36,900) for copyright infringement, unfair competition and a violation of the Michigan consumer protection act.

It also asks for damages of up to $150,000 (£73,800) per infringement - or each time a song is downloaded.

Apple charges $0.99 (£0.49) for most song downloads in the US. Recording companies get about $0.70 (£0.34) and pass on $0.09 (£0.04) of that fee to publishers.

But many publishers would prefer to receive their share of the money directly from retailers.

“Generally, artists want their music sold,” said Joel Martin, a spokesperson for Eight Mile Style. “We want it downloaded. We request that any provider that’s offering downloads license it through the publisher.”

“Apple is not accounting to us. They are accounting to Universal (Music),” he said.

Martin added that Apple had repeatedly asked Eight Mile Style for permission to use its songs, but the requests had been turned down.

Eminem has locked horns with Apple before. In 2004 he sued the company for copyright infringement, alleging that it had used his song Lose Yourself in a TV commercial without permission.

The case was settled out of court.