Lynne Spears to pen parenting book

In a move that could only signal Britney Spears' forthcoming line of underwear, her mom is set to write a parenting book. Religious publisher Thomas Nelson told the Associated Press that it will publish Lynne Spears' Pop Culture Mom: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World. Nelson spokesman Curt Harding said the book, to be out next spring, will be about Lynne Spears' raising three children and will have a religious element.

The book will tell the "personal story of raising high-profile children while coming from a low-profile Louisiana community," the publisher said. Nashville-based Thomas Nelson publishes mainstream Christian titles, Bibles, and business and motivational books.

Britney and Lynne Spears have reportedly been estranged for some time, and the pop starlet has had a nightmare of a year that has seen her expose her private parts repeatedly to the paparazzi, land in rehab, lose temporary custody of her two young sons, give a horrendous performance on live TV, and get arrested for a hit-and-run. Spears, 25, had yet another hearing on the custody of her two young sons last week, as a judge has granted temporary custody to ex-husband Kevin Federline.

Kanye touts new book

Having ruled the hip-hop world--at least for a few weeks--with his latest album, Graduation, Kanye West is apparently ready for some post-baccalaureate work. On his fledgling blog, the rapper-producer touted a new book he cowrote with J. Sakiya Sandifer. The $10 book, titled Thank You and You're Welcome, will be "an entertaining volume of 'Kanye-isms'--the creative, humorous and insightful philosophies and anecdotes used in creating my path to success."

Never shy about boasting of his talents, Kanye also wrote that the book "captures the same wit, playful irony, and piercing insight found abundant in my lyrics." West said he signed the first 500 copies himself, and the book can be preordered here. The release comes on the heels of the May release of Raising Kanye: Life Lessons From the Mother of a Hip-Hop Superstar, written by West's mom, Donda West.

Jay-Z sued by former 40/40 Club employee

Claiming that she was fired for being pregnant, a former employee of Jay-Z's 40/40 Club in Manhattan filed a lawsuit against the rap mogul. In a complaint filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, Folake Ogundiran claims that she was discriminated against because her "gestational status" would be "inconsistent" with the club's image, which encourages "young, fashionable, unattached and sexy" salespeople.

Ogundiran claimed that when she told her bosses that she was pregnant, a supervisor replied that the business couldn't be run "like this" and that Ogundiran shouldn't bother showing up for work the next day. Ogundiran argues that she was subsequently barred from entering the workplace and was denied unemployment benefits. She is seeking unspecified damages.

Brooklyn rep vows fight against Nas album title

If Nas is going to follow through on his plans to call his next album Ni**a, he's going to have a fight on his hands. New York state Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries (D–Fort Greene) this week called on state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli to withdraw the $84 million that the state pension fund has invested in Universal, the parent company of Nas' label, Island Def Jam, as well as Universal's parent company, Vivendi.

"[They are] profiting from a racial slur that has been used to dehumanize people of color for centuries," Jaffries told the Brooklyn Paper. "It is time for Nas and other hip-hop artists to clean up their act and stop flooding the airwaves with the N-word."

Clipse move to Columbia

Although their 2006 album Hell Hath No Fury topped many best-of lists last year, the Clipse are on the move to a new label. Rappers Malice and Pusha T told MTV News this week that their deal with Sony Music is done and that they have signed with Columbia Records, now headed by Def Jam cofounder Rick Rubin.

The deal reportedly came together when Sony exec Kyambo "Hip Hop" Joshua, who comanages Kanye West and Lil Wayne, pushed to bring the Clipse's Re-Up Gang Records on board. "I heard Hip wanted to be down; the next thing I know he's in Houston with half my management team," Pusha T said. "Then next thing [I know,] half my management team is in New York with Rick Rubin. It was working just like that."

Silverchair nabs five ARIA awards

A five-year hiatus hasn't put a dent in the dominance of Silverchair. The Australian rockers won five ARIA awards over the weekend, making them the most acclaimed band in Australian entertainment history. The band now has 19 ARIA awards to its name, topping previous winners John Farnham, INXS, and AC/DC.

The band claimed the awards for album of the year and best rock album for Young Modern, single of the year and top-selling single for "Straight Lines," as well as best group. "We were so happy with just one or two..." lead singer Daniel Johns said.