Eminem memoir on the way

While most diehard Eminem fans are waiting on word of a new Slim Shady album, it seems the Detroit rapper is focusing on his hugely successful past for now. UK publisher Orion Books announced yesterday that Eminem is working on a memoir that will feature lyrics, journal notes, sketches, and unseen photographs of the rapper. The book, entitled The Way I Am will be published on October 16, Orion said.

"It'll be one of the books of the year," Ian Preece of Orion books said in a statement. "Because of where he is from, people think they know where he is at, what kind of person he really is. This book cuts through all that and gets to the source."

The announcement apparently caught Eminem's people off guard, but they did eventually confirm the book to Rolling Stone.

"While there is a book in the works from Eminem in which he details certain aspects of his personal and professional life, the book is still in the process of being written and edited," Em's reps told the mag. "There is no firm release date scheduled, although it is anticipated to arrive in the latter part of this year. The news about the project today came from the UK publisher, who is not involved in the day-to-day editing or creation of the book. It's unfortunate that someone who does not have intimate knowledge of the book felt compelled to jump the gun on announcing it by delivering partial and inaccurate information."

Judge delays Spears' driving case

Dealing with a misdemeanor charge of driving without a license would be one of many things Britney Spears could do to help her on the road to recovery. But according to one of her lawyers, she is incapable of doing so, as she is not "qualified or capable of entering into a binding agreement" at this time.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge T.K. Herman continued the misdemeanor case against Spears until March 20 following a request by lawyer J. Michael Flanagan, who represents the conservatorship set up by Spears' parents to oversee her estate. The lawyer said the attorneys "do not think she is qualified or capable of entering into a binding agreement" at this time. The attorneys also don't believe Spears, 26, is capable of giving a deposition or signed declaration, Flanagan said.

The case stems from an incident on Aug. 6, 2007, in which Spears hit a parked car and left without notifying the owner. She was originally cited for hit and run and driving without a license, but the hit-and-run charge was dropped.

In a separate legal matter, a lawyer for Spears was turned down in a bid for a gag order on attorneys in the pop star's child-custody dispute with ex-husband Kevin Federline. Attorney Anne Kiley argued that media coverage was "emotionally and physically" dangerous to Spears, but Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, successfully countered that the absence of a gag order doesn't leave Spears' children in jeopardy and that Spears is more concerned about the paparazzi frenzy that follows her.

50 Cent loses assault lawsuit

A photographer for the New York Post won a civil lawsuit against 50 Cent this week, garnering unspecified damages stemming from an August 2003 incident in which the man claimed Fiddy's entourage assaulted him.

New York Post photographer Jim Alcorn claimed that he was assaulted as he attempted to take pictures of 50 Cent as he left the Manhattan jewelry store of Jacob the Jeweler after purchasing an $18,000 dollar watch. Alcorn claimed that one of the men in 50 Cent's entourage "cross checked" him into one of two black Chevy Suburbans waiting for the rapper. Several other men beat him and knocked him to the street, Alcorn said.

In December of 2004, Alcorn sued 50 Cent for $21 million in Queens County Supreme Court, claiming the rapper violated his civil rights. Alcorn alleged that the rapper--real name Curtis Jackson--encouraged his entourage to rough him up, resulting in "severe and serious injuries, mental shock, and psychological trauma."

Beyoncé to play Etta James in film

Beyoncé Knowles strutted her stuff with the legendary Tina Turner at the Grammy Awards earlier this month. Now the singer will play blues-legend Etta James in Cadillac Records, a 1950s period film about the founder of Chicago's Chess Records and his lineup of stars.

Knowles joins a cast that includes Adrien Brody as Chess Records founder Leonard Chess, Jeffrey Wright as Muddy Waters, Cedric the Entertainer as Willie Dixon, and Columbus Short as Little Walter. The film will be directed by Darnell Martin, and Knowles will also serve as an executive producer.

Knowles earned a Golden Globe nomination for her role as girl-group member Deena Jones in the 2006 musical Dreamgirls.

Will.i.am to appear in Wolverine film

Rapper-singer-producer Will.i.am is set to add actor to his list of titles. The Black Eyed Peas leader will make his feature acting debut in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, the X-Men spinoff starring Hugh Jackman. The film will trace the origins of the popular mutant superhero.

Will.i.am--real name William Adams--will play Wraith, a mutant with the power to make himself translucent. Production began this month in New Zealand before moving to Australia. A New Orleans shoot also is on the docket. Fox is releasing the film everywhere May 1, 2009.