Rapper 50 Cent has praised Kanye West's bravery to return to the stage following the sudden death of his mother, insisting the Stronger star's decision to continue with his European tour will help to ease the pain.

Rap rivals Kanye West and 50 Cent joined some of the biggest names in hip-hop for a supergig in New York City on Wednesday night. The two rappers have been trading insults since they realized their new albums would be released on the same next month.

Happy Birthday to rapper Lloyd Banks (1978), "The Partridge Family" actor Danny Bonaduce (1959), singer Dan Fogelberg (1951), actor Kevin Tighe (1944), Hawaiian icon Don Ho (19300, actor Neville Brand (1920; d. 1992), actor Charles "Buddy" Rogers (1904; d. 1999), prolific film director Alfred Hitchcock (1899; d. 1980), "The Wizard of Oz" lion Bert Lahr (1895; d. 1967), and legendary wild west sharpshooter Annie Oakley (1860;ld. 1926).

NEW YORK (AP) - Tony Yayo, a rapper with hip-hop group G-Unit, rejected an offer Tuesday of nine months in jail in exchange for pleading guilty to slapping and punching a 14-year-old boy.

Hip-hop star 50 Cent has vowed to silence his ongoing feud with Cam'Ron by selling more records than his rap rival could ever dream of. 50 and Cam'ron have been embroiled in a feud since their on-air clash on New York radio station Hot 97 in February. A week later, 50 Cent released Funeral Music - a track aimed at Cam'ron - online, who responded with Curtis - named in reference to 50's real name, Curtis Jackson.

Rapper 50 Cent has blasted Lloyd Banks and Young Buck - insisting they have taken advantage of his generosity. The hip-hop mogul's music label G-Unit Records also boasts rap duo Mobb Deep and M.O.P. - but he believes they have become spoilt by his laid back approach to money. And it took a meeting with his artists to make him realize things had to change.

G-Unit rapper Lloyd Banks' Derby, England gig was cancelled on Saturday after local police said they weren't given enough time to provide adequate security. Nearly 600 revelers were expected at the concert at the T5 nightclub, but officers forced the venue to close at the last minute, claiming they were concerned about possible disorder at the gig.

In October, Justin Hawkins, lead singer of The Darkness, announced that he's leaving the band because he can't live the rock 'n' roll lifestyle again after completing rehab... Weird Al Yankovic's White & Nerdy becomes the parody singer's first ever top-ten hit... and legendary NYC nightclub CBGB, where bands like the Ramones, Talking Heads and Blondie got their start, closed; Patti Smith was the final act...

Beyoncé Knowles has scored a second week at the top of the U.S. singles chart with her hit "Irreplaceable." The track is also the Hot 100's greatest airplay gainer for a sixth straight week.

Rod Stewart has scored his fourth number one album in America with a compilation of rock classics. Still The Same... The Great American Rock Classics Of Our Time sold an impressive 184,000 copies in its opening week to topple Evanescence's The Open Door, which became the 700th Billboard 200 chart-topper last week.