Snoop Dogg pleads not guilty, goes gaming

Snoop Dogg pleaded not guilty today to a felony possession of a deadly weapon charge, stemming from an arrest at the John Wayne Airport. The charge was just one of several the rapper faces following a string of arrests in late 2006. In this case, Snoop was arrested last November for trying to bring a collapsible police baton aboard a plane at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California.

Snoop also this week kicked off the second season of the Hip-Hop Gaming League, of which he is commissioner. Like last season, this year's crop of participants includes a mix of rappers, athletes, and other celebrities, all organized in a NCAA 07 Football for the Xbox 360 tournament that culminates in Las Vegas on February 16. This year, the following will be trying to smoke each other for the title: Krayzie Bone, Fredwreck, Just Blaze, Jalen Rose of the Phoenix Suns, Eric V, B-Real, Paul Wall, David Banner, Murs, Cobi Jones of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Lil' Wayne, Birdman, DJ Maseo, Rick Ross, Yung Joc, Lupe Fiasco, Malice, Pusha T, DJ Revolution, Darnell Bing of the Oakland Raiders, Brandon Marshall of the Denver Broncos, Wish Bone, Warren G, Big Pooh, Hi-Tek, Lil Keke, Xololanxinxo, Layzie Bone, Boondocks creator Aaron McGruder, Trevor Ariza of the Orlando Magic, and Michael Robinson of the San Francisco 49ers.

"Yo, the HHGL is slammin' this season, with some of the baddest gamers in hip-hop and pro sports," Snoop said in a statement. Those registered with GGL will have the chance to play in a parallel fans-only league and will have to weed their way through the competition to get to the Las Vegas finals. For more information, head over to the HHGL Web site.

Thom Yorke posts iTunes playlist

As his band continues to work on its long-delayed album, Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke has posted a celebrity playlist for iTunes. The list includes tracks from Spank Rock, Liars, Madvillain and Quasimoto, Bat for Lashes, The Dears, Modeselektor & Sasha Perera, Pavement frontman Stephen Malkmus, Boxcutter, and Surgeon. "This is just some stuff that really floats my boats at the moment," Yorke wrote. "The list is meant to be played from start to finish in the order you see it with a slight crossfade set in the preferences of 4 seconds like an old mix tape. Yorke wrote comments for each song, giving high praise to Spank Rock's "What It Look Like": "When this record came out last year, it cut through all the s*** for me. It was like a slap 'round the face. The computers speaking over their reference points and pointing to something brand new. Turn it up. Night night."

Brandy involved in fatal car crash

R&B singer Brandy was involved in a fatal car crash on the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles last month and the singer was reportedly at fault in the incident. According to the Associated Press, Brandy--real name Brandy Norwood--crashed her 2007 Land Rover at 65 mph into the back of a 2005 Toyota when traffic in front of her came to a stop. The Toyota then hit another car, and was also struck by a car in an adjacent lane. Brandy was not injured, but the driver of the Toyota, Awatef Aboudihaj, 38, died the next day at a nearby hospital from injuries sustained in the crash, the AP reported. California Highway Patrol officers said all of the cars involved have been impounded and an investigation is pending, but that unless Brandy's car suffered a mechanical failure, she would likely be at fault. Brandy's publicist issues the following statement: "Brandy was involved in a car accident December 30, 2006 in Los Angeles where there was a fatality. She wishes to publicly express her condolences to the family of the deceased. Brandy asks that you respect the privacy of everyone involved at this time.

Texas governor backs Ted Nugent in controversy

Ted Nugent wore a Confederate flag in his performance at the inauguration party for Republican Texas Governor Rick Perry, but despite a public outcry over Nugent's attire and controversial comments he made during his set, Perry is sticking by the rocker. Nugent's set reportedly featured machine-gun props, a sleeveless Confederate flag t-shirt, and lots of "offensive remarks about non-English speakers." When asked about Nugent, Perry's spokesman Robert Black said, "Ted Nugent is a good friend of the governor's. He asked him if he would play at the inaugural. He didn't put any stipulation of what he would play. If you're going to defend freedom of expression, then you're going to have to defend all freedom of expression." When asked if Perry would have invited Nugent if he had known what he would wear, Black said: "Yes."

K-Fed ad draws ire of fast-food industry

K-Fed is fine with poking fun at himself for some extra cash until his alimony eventually kicks in, but the fast food industry is not fond of his method of doing so. The estranged Mr. Britney Spears is set to appear in an ad for insurance company Nationwide Insurance during the NFL Super Bowl. In the ad, the would-be rapper is seen living an existence of fame and fortune, until the end, when it is revealed he was daydreaming and is actually working at a burger joint. The National Restaurant Association, a group that represents almost a million restaurants in the US, has written to Nationwide complaining that the ad makes it look as if working at a fast food restaurant is degrading and demeaning. "An ad such as this would be a strong and a direct insult to the 12.8 million Americans who work in the restaurant industry," wrote association chief Steven Anderson in his letter. "Developing creative concepts that accomplish the marketing strategies for a product should not require denigrating another industry."