Kingston, producers disagree on flick pick

Sean Kingston has enjoyed overnight success in the music business, riding his ultracatchy, cliché-ridden Caribbean pop to the top of the charts. But is he the right person to play the late Notorious B.I.G. in a biopic about the slain rapper? Kingston himself says yes, going so far as to issue a statement saying that he has been chosen for the lead role by the film's producers, which include Sean "Diddy" Combs and Violetta Wallace, B.I.G.'s mother.

"When I first heard about that movie, it was through management," Kingston, whose single "Beautiful Girls" was the top-selling song in the US earlier this month, said in a statement. "My management told me about it and, you know, I had auditioned for it and I met with the director and I nailed it and he gave me a shot now at being in the movie."

But the producers disagreed, telling AllHipHop.com that Kingston did indeed audition for the part through an extensive open-audition process, but that no decision has been made.

"As producers of the biopic Notorious, we felt compelled to quell the various false media reports indicating Sean Kingston has landed the coveted role of portraying The Notorious B.I.G. The role for B.I.G. is 100 percent open and we are diligently searching for the individual to seize the moment and fill those giant shoes of greatness; everyone is being considered, including Sean Kingston, but no one has been chosen."

Snoop's Hood of Horror heads to DVD

Snoop Dogg's Hood of Horror, the rapper's long-delayed, straight-to-DVD horror movie, is finally making its way into stores with a Sept. 11 release. Xenon Pictures said this week that the film, which features Snoop as the "Crib Keeper" in three grisly vignettes that blend horror, anime, and live action, will finely see the light of day. Snoop's Snoopadelic Film produced the flick along with Social Capital and BloodWorks.

The R-rated movie is inspired in part by the classic Tales from the Crypt series. Snoop Dogg stars as Devin, "a slain gangster forced to atone for his misdeeds by ushering his fellow sinners to their infernal rewards, accompanied by his posse of scantily-clad succubi," Xenon said in a release. The film also stars Ernie Hudson, Danny Trejo, WWF superstar Diamond Dallas Page, and NBA star Tayshaun Prince. Billy Dee Williams, former Seinfeld star Jason Alexander, rapper Method Man, NBA star Lamar Odom, and NFL stars Teyo Johnson, Justin Fargas, and Glenn Cadrez.

Ted Nugent sounds off on politicians

No stranger to Crazy Town, Ted Nugent took it to a whole new level--even for him--in a concert earlier this week. During some between-song banter, Nugent brandished two automatic rifles and suggested creative ways for presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to put them to use.

"Obama, he's a piece of shit," Nugent said. "I told him to suck on my machine gun," he said. Nugent continued: "Hey Hillary, you might want to ride one of these into the sunset, you worthless bitch." Nugent went on to do the same for California Senators Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, calling Feinstein a "whore."

South Dakota TV station KSFY reported this week that Nugent has been instructed to refrain from such antics at a performance at the state fair Sunday night.

"We don't approve of what he does at his other concerts, but there's nothing I can do about that," fair manager Susan Hayward told the station. "What I can control is what happens here at the State Fair. We reminded him [that the Fair is a family show] and they were very courteous in responding immediately in assuring us that that’s exactly what we would have."

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Diddley stable after heart attack

Bo Diddley is in stable condition at a Florida hospital after suffering a heart attack. The 78-year-old artist complained of dizziness and nausea during a routine medical checkup Friday, publicist Susan Clary told the Associated Press. She said Diddley suffered a heart attack after being taken to North Florida Regional Medical Center in Gainesville. The hospital is near his hometown of Archer.

Clary said Diddley was in stable condition at the hospital's cardiac care unit after spending the weekend in intensive care. "He is conscious," she said. "The situation is very serious."

In May, Diddley was hospitalized in Nebraska after suffering a stroke after casino performances in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He was soon transferred to Florida for rehabilitation.

CBGB founder Kristal dies

Hilly Kristal, whose dank Bowery rock club CBGB served as one of the birthplaces of the punk rock movement and a launching pad for bands like the Ramones, Blondie, and the Talking Heads, has died. He was 75.

Kristal, who lost a bitter fight last year to stop the club's eviction from its home of 33 years, died Tuesday at Cabrini Hospital after a battle with lung cancer.

Last October, as the club headed toward its final show with Patti Smith, Kristal was using a cane to get around and showing the effects of his cancer treatment. He was hoping to open a Las Vegas incarnation of the infamous venue that opened in 1973.

"He created a club that started on a small, out-of-the-way skid row, and saw it go around the world," said Lenny Kaye, a longtime member of the Patti Smith Group. "Everywhere you travel around the world, you saw somebody wearing a CBGB T-shirt."