Archive: January, 2009
Two New Jersey songwriters have filed a copyright-infringement suit against mega-producer Rodney Jerkins, singer Mary J. Blige, rapper Jay-Z, Universal Music Group and a dozen other defendants in U.S. District Court in South Jersey. The songwriters, Jermaine Jumpp, of Willingboro, and Michael C. Adams, of Union Township, claim that they sent Jerkins a CD with several tracks they wrote in 2001 and that in 2005 Jerkins produced a song "Enough Cryin'" by Blige that they claim sounds a lot like their song "On My Grind." The pair is seeking to halt the sale or distribution of the song until they are properly credited as songwriters, as well as an accounting of any royalties they may be owed from sales. The complaint gives no indication why the pair waited so long to sue. We called the law firm representing the songwriters to ask for a copy of their track so we could decide if the song and "Enough Cryin'" were similar, but their attorney did not return several calls. Reps for Jerkins and Universal did not return our requests for comment.
In other Iggles news, Fox 29 received a handful of e-mails and phone calls from what a station spokeswoman calls Philadelphia's "famously vocal fans," regarding the technical error that caused meteorologist John Bolaris to appear on local television screens for 10 seconds with just under 4 minutes left in the 4th quarter of Sunday's game, followed by 2 seconds of a Verizon commercial.
Jamie Foxx is lunching now on mussels at Stephen Starr's Parc on Rittenhouse Square where he also ate this weekend. The Oscar-winning actor is in town getting ready to start shooting "Law Abiding Citizen," in which he plays a district attorney. His lunch companion is the film's director F. Gary Gray.
The radio station is giving away a pair of Eagles/Giants tickets to the listener who can get the biggest celebrity to phone in on their behalf.
John Buto, 17, a senior at Kingsway Regional High, in Woolwich, Gloucester County, knocked on Rollins' door after school Tuesday along with a few friends and politely explained the contest to Rollins. To Buto's surprise, J-Roll invited the gang into his home and called Wired host Kannon's show.
Collins will attend the event alongside first-timer Richie "Beefcake Cheesecake" Souder, whom he is training.
Wing Kong, a systems administrator by day, predicts that with all amateurs on the bill, the highest number of wings eaten this year "won't even be half" of California's three-time champ Joey Chestnut's record of 241 set last year. Collins is certain that several contestants will suffer reversals (that's what puking is called in competitive eating) and therefore will be disqualified, due to the strict "You heave, you leave," policy.
The actor, who had stayed at the Four Seasons, told us that the "Rocky" statue belongs at the top of the steps, and argued that it is most certainly art when we informed him of the battle that resulted in the bronze version of Sylvester Stallone being put on the lawn. "It's an inspirational story the city should embrace," he said.
Lopez, who returns this season as a plastic surgeon on FX's "Nip/Tuck," and next month starts another season of MTV's "America's Best Dance Crew," is also at work on a children's book series, "Mud Tacos," with his sister Marissa, based on their San Diego childhood. After he did NBC 10's "10" show we caught up with Lopez yesterday over lunch at Buddakan (325 Chestnut) where he went for miso soup, sashimi, tuna tartare, edamame ravioli and hot green tea.
