Timberlake to open BBQ restaurant in NYC

Justin Timberlake is looking to bring some Southern Hospitality to Manhattan's affluent Upper East Side neighborhood. New York magazine reported this week that James Famularo, exclusive real estate broker for the deal, confirmed that the Memphis, Tennessee-born singer is set to open a "laid-back, festive barbecue joint" called Southern Hospitality in mid-April. The new eatery is the second venture of its kind for Timberlake, who is also a minor investor in Destino, an Italian restaurant headed by club mogul Eytan Sugarman. "I heard a lot of people with Tennessee accents," Famularo said on his recent drop-in to the new spot. "Justin is bringing a lot of his group up to be a part of this." The restaurant will also include a stage for bands and live performers.

In unrelated Timberlake news, a $100-a-ticket afterparty for his March 13 show near Chicago is not affiliated with the singer and he won't be appearing as promised, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan told the paper that fans who bought tickets to the party, in which Timberlake was billed to appear, should get their money back. Madigan issued a consumer alert Thursday warning that Timberlake will not be signing autographs at Sharky's Billiards in Round Lake and that any promotions advertising the event are false. Sharky's owner Joe Piagentini said a promoter assured him that Timberlake had been paid $25,000 for the autograph-signing appearance. A promoter allegedly had been offering tickets to the event for $100 online.

Foxy Brown avoids jail

Foxy Brown may have blamed racism and police brutality for her latest run-in with the law in Florida last week, but she was forced to plead guilty to a probation violation yesterday for leaving the state of New York. The plea allowed Brown--real name Inga Marchand--to avoid jail time for leaving the state without permission, a violation of her probation for assaulting two Manhattan nail salon employees over a $20 manicure procedure. But an additional violation could have her in jail for one year, according to the Associated Press. Brown's arrest in Florida stemmed from an incident in which a beauty supply store owner accused the rapper of assaulting him and throwing hair glue after he tried to get her to leave the store. Brown held a press conference earlier this week accusing the store owner of racism and a police officer of police brutality. Brown is expected to release new album Black Roses later this year.

Bobby Brown reneges on radio station deal

DC-based radio station Hot 99.5 said today that it put up the more than $19,000 to get singer Bobby Brown out of jail but that Brown reneged on a deal to reciprocate by appearing on the station. The station said that it paid the money that Brown owed the mother of two of his children, allowing the singer to end his three-day stint in jail. In return, Brown was to appear on the station's morning show for one week. "If you have been listening to The Kane Show this morning on HOT 99.5, then you already know what's happening," the station posted on its Web site. "Bobby Brown has backed out on his part of our deal to pay his back child support in return for appearing on The Kane Show for one week."

Lupe Fiasco mourns father's death

Lupe Fiasco said this week that his family is mourning the passing of his father, Gregory Hamza Jaco. In a post on Okayplayer.com, Fiasco write, "I buried my father today...you may not know him but if you ever listened to my music then he is the Ghostwriter in the cut...He was the foundation of my thoughts and beliefs...He was the one that dared me to be different in light of peer pressure & the status quo...He dared me to stand for justice and righteousness in the face of ridicule and exclusion...He introduced me to The world of music...He gave me a purpose...a reason to live and something to fight for."

Kelis arrested in Miami Beach

Two female undercover police officers were trying to bring their milkshakes to the yard early this morning in Miami Beach, and Kelis wasn't having any of it. The singer was arrested for causing a public disturbance and screaming at undercover police officers who were posing as prostitutes and faces two misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and for resisting arrest. Police said that Kelis Rogers-Jones, 27, who is married to rapper Nas, started screaming racial slurs at the women and had to be restrained by friends. The singer's behavior "caused people walking by to stop and form a crowd. The sidewalk was blocked by the disturbance, causing people to walk in the street and causing traffic to stop," according to a police report. The singer was released on $1,500 bond hours later, Miami-Dade County jail spokeswoman Janelle Hall told the Associated Press.

The View frontman convicted, tour plans in doubt

The US tour plans of Scottish rockers the View are again in doubt as singer Kyle Falconer has been fined £1,000 ($1,943) for cocaine possession today. The 19-year-old admitted the charge at Dundee Sheriff Court after he was arrested outside the city's Student Union. His conviction will make it "next to impossible" for the group to tour America, according to his solicitor. The court heard that the singer was arrested after the band performed at a concert at the venue in August 2006. Falconer admitted to police officers that he was in possession of cocaine but his defense lawyer Billy Boyle told the court he had been given the drug but did not take any. The band had previously postponed US tour plans because of visa issues that may have been related to Falconer's legal troubles.