Plus: Chris Brown Lawsuit Settled, Author Claims 'Fela!' Rip-Off

Photographer Settles Lawsuit Against Chris Brown
A photographer who sued Chris Brown and LA Fitness for assault and battery settled his case on October 28, according to court documents. In the lawsuit filed on May 27, 2009, Robert Rosen alleged that he was beaten by Brown's bodyguard after he took a photo of the singer playing basketball, and that LA Fitness did not make sufficient effort to protect him. The terms of the settlement have not been made public. [RadarOnline]

Author Wants Fela! Musical Shut Down
The author of a book about Fela Kuti sued the producers of the award-winning Broadway musical Fela! to stop performances Monday. Charles Moore claims that entire portions of his book, "Fela Fela: Cette Putain de Vie," were inserted into the musical's script. Lawyers for Moore demanded that all performances be shut down, including the Broadway show currently running, a production set to open next week in London and any future productions. Moore is also seeking at least $5 million in damages and a halt to all advertising, promotions and product sales resulting from the show. [Associated Press]

Black Lips' Mark Ronson-Produced LP Due in April
In a lengthy interview with the Black Lips' Jim Swilley? — which mostly addresses how Swilley's preacher father came out of the closet to his congregation recently? — it was confirmed that the group's next LP will be out in April and will be produced by Mark Ronson. Of his father, Swilley said, "It does take a lot of balls to come out in an environment like that, and I think I respect him a little more now. I thought it was pretty bad ass." [Creative Loafing]

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Song Stories

“Too Close”

Next | 1998

Next was formed in Minneapolis when the uncle of Terry "T-Low" and Raphael "Tweety" Brown, who was a gospel choir director, introduced the brothers to Robert Lavelle "R.L." Huggar. Sounds of Blackness singer Ann Nesby groomed the R&B group before handing them over to Naughty by Nature's KayGee, who wrote and produced "Too Close." The idea for the song was sparked "from a conversation we had with several girls at a nightclub," explained T-Low. "It's talking about the club scene, with guys getting out of hand and the female telling him to back up, asking, 'What are you doing?'" 

More Song Stories entries »

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