Biggie murder at heart of new LAPD saga

The Los Angeles Police department's investigation into the 1997 murder of Notorious B.I.G. seems to take a new wild turn every few months. Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton said today that an internal investigation has been launched over allegations that the former deputy chief in charge of internal affairs, who oversaw an inquiry of the LAPD's handling of the Biggie murder, gave preferential treatment to and secured promotions for several female officers in exchange for sex. In a lawsuit filed against the City of Los Angeles, Sgt. Ya-May Christle accuses Michael Berkow, who has since left the LAPD to become police chief in Savannah, Georgia, of sexual harassment and destroying computer data from her investigation into the LAPD's alleged role in the fatal shooting of the rapper.

Christle is being represented by Bradley Gage, the same attorney who is representing Biggie's mother, Violetta Wallace, in her wrongful death lawsuit. Wallace has alleged that two rogue off-duty LAPD officers participated in the murder of her son. In addition ro lurid allegations about Berkow's sexual exploits with various female officers, Christle also contends that she was retaliated against for alleging that Berkow and department personnel confiscated her computer containing critical information about the internal affairs investigation of the Notorious B.I.G. murder case. "She has made allegations in the lawsuit," Bratton told the Los Angeles Times. "That will be dealt with in response to the lawsuit. The department is complying fully with the court mandates on discovery and turning over all the other documents and I am very comfortable with that."

Korn nabs Cure, Evanescence singer for Unplugged set

Korn recorded a performance for MTV Unplugged at MTV's studios in New York's Times Square last week, and were joined by members of The Cure, Evanescence, and Oingo Boingo. It was the first taping of the show since Alicia Keys recorded a set for the show in 2005. The alt-metal rockers played a 15-song set, according to MTV News, with dreadlocked former Oingo Boingo keyboardist Richard Gibbs, who had collaborated previously with Korn frontman Jonathan Davis on the songs and score for the 2002 film Queen of the Damned, serving as musical director.

Davis was joined by guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer and bassist Reginald "Fieldy Snuts" Arvizu, but drummer David Silveira was missing and the band has since announced he will be taking a hiatus from the group. Evanescence frontwoman Amy Lee joined the band for the song "Freak on a Leash," while the Cure appeared for an acoustic mash-up that blended Korn's "Make Me Bad" with the Cure's "In Between Days." MTV Unplugged: Korn is set to hit stores on CD February 20 and air online February 10 and on TV February 17.

Trey Anastasio arrested for DWI

Police in Whitehall, New York, arrested Trey Anastasio for DWI last night, alleging that they found the former Phish frontman with a pharmacy's worth of prescription drugs. Police said they stopped Anastasio at 3:30 a.m. and arrested him on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs. Police said they searched Anastasio's car and found hydrocodone, Percocet, and Xanax bottles, each of which were prescribed to someone else. Anastasio was also reportedly driving with a suspended license, and has been charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and DWI.

Slain rapper Proof to release posthumous album

The record label of D12 rapper and Eminem sidekick Proof, who was killed in a bar brawl-turned-gunfight at a Detroit club in April, is set to release a posthumous album in January. The album will feature 18 songs the rapper recorded in a 24-hour period in January after he was challenged to do so by his friend Julius Myers, also known as DJ Jewels Baby. The album will be called Time a Tell. "It shows how serious Proof was about recording," Myers told The Detroit News.