Kanye launches travel site

Most rappers draw ancillary revenue from things like sweatsuits and liquor. Never one for following the hip-hop norm, Kanye West is branching out into travel. The Chicago rapper-producer has launched his own travel site, KanyeTravel.com.

Much like travel site giants Expedia and Travelocity, KanyeTravel.com aims to offer quality low airfares, hotels, and rental cars without service or membership fees and has linked with the latter for those services. But in a twist, the site is connected to Kanye's fan site, KanyeUniverseCity.com, and the sites will be offering travel packages with tickets to his concerts and concert merchandise, according to Advertising Age.

"We did a lot of due diligence with online travel partners" before linking up with Travelocity, Miki Woodard, president of West Brands, told the trade mag.

The travel site is "a great marketing opportunity" that coincides with Kanye's upcoming US tour starting April 16 in Seattle, Woodard said. "So much of travel is so connecting to touring."

Report: Jay-Z and Beyonce nab marriage license

Jay-Z and Beyonce have long remained quiet publicly about their relationship. But that hasn't stopped the rumor mill from churning periodically about an impending marriage. Such is the case once again, as People.com has reported that the couple was seen in Scarsdale, New York, on Tuesday morning filling out paperwork for a marriage license.

"It was just the two of them," an eyewitness reportedly told the site. "They were very polite and smiling as they filled out the paperwork. They were holding hands for a while. They looked really happy."

Neither star has commented on the report. The marriage license would be valid for 60 days. Other media reports indicated that the couple was looking to marry in a private ceremony in May, right after the conclusion of Jay-Z's tour with Mary J. Blige.

The New York Daily News reported this week that while Beyonce was out of town filming Cadillac Records, in which she's playing Etta James, Jay-Z was consulting with her younger sister, Solange, in Miami. Sources reportedly told the paper the two discussed Jay's proposing to Beyonce and asking for her manager/father Mathew's consent.

Nickelback frontman found guilty of DUI

Chad Kroeger allegedly had a few drinks one evening in Surrey, Canada, in June 2007 and then got into his Lamborghini and sped off at 160km per hour before getting pulled over. Police determined that he had a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit of .08. Kroeger was convicted yesterday of driving under the influence.

The singer was not present in court for the news, with his lawyer Marvin Stern saying he was in Europe "for recording or producing music. I'm not exactly sure [which]," according to Canada.com. Stern also said his client is "concerned about the ramifications of a criminal conviction." Kroeger has been ordered to be in court on May 1 for sentencing. He could get a $600 fine and could be banned from driving for a year.

Beastie Boy preps hoops film

The Beastie Boys have always been known as ballers. Now one of them is taking his passion for hoops to the big screen. Adam Yauch, aka MCA, is making his feature-film directing debut with Gunnin' for That #1 Spot, a documentary about the nation's top high-school basketball players.

The movie profiles the money-drenched world surrounding blue-chip amateur basketball players and features two of the top freshman in college basketball, Kansas State's Michael Beasley and UCLA's Kevin Love. The film blends footage of young players with hip-hop and jazz beats. Check out a short preview below, and visit the Web site of Yauch's Oscilloscope Laboratories for updates. The film is set to hit theaters June 27.

Weiland bites back at ex-bandmates

Scott Weiland, who has parted ways with his Velvet Revolver bandmates in a very public spat, didn't wait long to bite back at his former band. One day after the four remaining members of Velvet Revolver issued a statement saying Weiland's "increasingly erratic onstage behavior and personal problems have forced us to move on," Weiland has issued his reply to MTV News.

"After reading the comment by Duff, Matt, Dave and the illustrious 'Guitar Hero,' Saul Hudson, a.k.a. Slash, I find it humorous that the so-called four 'founding members' of Velvet Revolver, better known to themselves as 'the Project,' before I officially named the band, would decide to move on without me after I had already claimed the group dead in the water on March 20 in Glasgow," Weiland explained.

"In response to Slash's comment regarding my commitment [to the band], I have to say it is a blatant and tired excuse to cover up the truth," he continued. "The truth of the matter is that the band had not gotten along on multiple levels for some time. On a musical level, there were moments of joy, inspiration, fun ... at times. But let's not forget the multiple trips to rehab every member of the band had taken (with the exception of one member--no need to mention his name)."

Weiland said that he was looking forward to working with his reunited bandmates from Stone Temple Pilots. "Personally speaking, I choose to look forward to the future and performing with a group of friends I have known my entire life, people who have always had my back," he said. "This also speaks to my commitment to my music and my fellow bandmates in [Stone Temple Pilots] and to the fans who I feel would much rather watch a group of musicians who enjoy being together as opposed to a handful of discontents who at one time used to call themselves a gang."

Weiland couldn't resist one more but perhaps not final dig at his ex-mates with regard to their search for a new singer. "Good hunting, lads--I think Sebastian Bach would be a fantastic choice."