Freeway
Photo: Gregg Delman

Freeway is using Pat Benatar to give his point of view on the Jay-Z/ Beanie Sigel rift. The former Roc-A-Fella artist just put out a new record lightly touching on the public falling-out of his onetime team members. Wednesday morning (December 2) on her Shade 45 satellite radio show, host Angela Yee debuted Free's "Love Is a Battlefield."

"I ain't saying n---as left us in the 'hood, but we ate our little food, did the dishes cleaned the plates up," he raps over a sample of Benatar's classic '80s song. "You was eating steak while we was eating Steak-umm/ But I never complained/ Dapped you up and tipped the waiter. ...

"I can't get the president on the phone, I'm fine," Free continues. " 'Cause I got the evidence in my home/ The plaques/ Freezer body tracks."

Free ends the record telling everyone that they will get a more in-depth account of how he feels about the Jay/Beanie saga on his album The Stimulus Package, which is due early next year.

When he called in to Yee's morning radio show on Tuesday, however, Freeway didn't pick sides.

"I talked to him before all this stuff went on," Free said about Jay. "But he's cool. I ain't got nothing against him."

He also said he was unsure if or how Hov would address the conflict.

"I don't know, man. Knowing Jay, if it was anybody else, I'm sure he probably would have been responded," Freeway explained. "But it's a touchy situation, being as though everybody was so tight at one point. So I don't know what he's gonna say."

The bearded wonder also said Memphis Bleek was still cool with him and that Beanie is his "brother." They were just in the studio together. "That's my man for life," Free said. "We're good friends, plus we're Muslim."

• 50 Cent And Beanie Sigel Take Over The Highline

• Freeway
• Jay-Z
• Pat Benatar
• Beanie Sigel

Joanna Pacitti
Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/ Getty Images

Striking good looks, a past history with a major label that ended badly, Irish heritage and a shot at redemption. No, Carly Smithson isn't going for it again on "American Idol," Joanna Pacitti is.

With her model-worthy looks, the 24-year-old singer got her first big break when she joined the cast of "Annie" on Broadway at age 11 and played 106 performances in the iconic title role. But that experience led to her first brush with career disappointment, when, according to her IMDb bio, she was cut from the 20th-anniversary edition of the show by directors because she'd developed bronchitis. Her mother sued producers for $50 million over the firing, reportedly settling out of court. Barbara Walters covered the controversy on "20/20" in 1996, and it became fodder for a skit on "Saturday Night Live" the next year, with Cheri Oteri playing the role of Pacitti.

After moving to Los Angeles at age 16 to try her luck in the industry, Pacitti dusted herself off and got signed to A&M Records by Ron Fair — who also signed Christina Aguilera and Vanessa Carlton — and made appearances on the soundtracks to "Legally Blonde" ("Watch Me Shine"), "First Daughter" ("Fall"), the "Nancy Drew" movie ("Pretty Much Amazing") and "Bratz" ("Out From Under"). In fact, Britney Spears recorded a cover of "Out From Under" on her Circus album.

Pacitti was also featured in MTV's "True Life," as one of three singers trying to break into the music business, and in the 2006 documentary "Life After Tomorrow," which follows the many girls who have played the role of "Annie."

She released an album on Geffen called This Crazy Life in 2006, which featured the single "Let It Slide." But it failed to catch fire, and she was dropped from the label.

Pacitti said in the pre-tryout tape that her ups and downs allowed her to see the difficulty of making it as a performer in the music business. "I actually really got a chance to see what singers and what artists do and how they struggle. ... It's much harder than anybody could ever imagine," she said, weeping a bit about her struggles leading up to the "Idol" audition. "I've lost a lot of confidence in the past year, but I'm just trying to really calm myself down and focus and go in there and just show them what I've got."

She easily won over the judges' panel, especially new addition Kara DioGuardi, who said she remembered the singer from her label days. "I know this girl," DioGuardi said, smiling. Singing a powerful version of Pat Benatar's "We Belong," the Philadelphia native nailed her audition. Simon gave her a pass; Paula said, "I think you're worthy," and Kara gushed, "I like her ... I like you! There's something about you."

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

• Britney Spears
• Pat Benatar

Jennifer Lopez can keep it all on wax if she likes — at New York's Madame Tussaud's, that is. Her cast was unveiled this week at the wax museum, which boasts that the pop star's likeness is its first interactive wax figure. If gawkers whisper in the faux J. Lo's ear, she blushes. ...

Sharon Osbourne will provide backstage commentary at "VH1 Divas Duets" airing live Thursday (May 22) at 9 p.m. ET from Las Vegas. Duets scheduled for the show include Beyoncé Knowles and Jewel, Ashanti and the Isley Brothers, Whitney Houston and husband Bobby Brown, and Lisa Marie Presley and Pat Benatar. ... Dave Grohl is taking himself out of the running for rock's most eligible bachelor. The Foo Fighters frontman announced his engagement last week to 26-year-old girlfriend Jordyn Blum. The couple have been together for two years. ...

Michael Jackson was hospitalized briefly for observation and treatment after a fainting spell before he was to give a deposition in a copyright lawsuit in Indianapolis. The lawsuit alleges the Jackson 5 used two songs without license from another Gary, Indiana, band from the 1960s (the tracks appeared on a 1996 album, Pre-History: The Lost Steeltown Recordings). Prior to falling ill, Jackson's attorneys petitioned the U.S. District Court in Hammond not to publicize the location of the deposition meeting and asked that the transcript of the deposition be sealed to help the pop star keep a low profile. Jackson returned to Los Angeles via private jet after being released. ...

Avril Lavigne's "Complicated" won the International Hit of the Year at the Ivor Novello Awards in London on Thursday. Also at the ceremony, hosted by the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters, Coldplay were named Songwriters of the Year, David Gray's "The Other Side" won Best Song and the Streets' "Weak Become Heroes" won Best Contemporary Song. ... A dance version of the classic Milton Bradley Twister game is set to be launched this June, featuring the voices and moves of Nick and Aaron Carter. Hasbro signed the singing siblings to the Twister Moves game, which requires players to follow the more than 100 dance commands called out by two recorded DJs on three CDs. Players can also make up their own moves to incorporate into the game. ...

Macy Gray is developing a cartoon for Warner Bros. Animation based on her childhood in Canton, Ohio, called "A Pretty Good Life." The raspy singer will voice the lead character and record music for the show. ... The Raveonettes will release their first full-length album, Chain Gang of Love, on August 12. The disc will follow up the band's debut EP, Whip It On. ...

The Youngbloodz, the duo of Sean Paul (no, not the Sean Paul) and J-Bo, were just signed by So So Def. They will release their next LP, Drankin' Patnaz, on July 29 and have already put out the first single, "Damn Any More," which was produced by Lil Jon. ... Painted percussionists the Blue Man Group have scheduled the second leg of their tour to start July 7 in Columbia, Missouri. The trek, which stretches to August 30 in Saratoga, New York, supports the group's latest album, The Complex, released last month. Tracy Bonham and Venus Hum, who, along with a cast that includes Dave Matthews and Gavin Rossdale, appear on The Complex, will serve as openers and are expected to join the group onstage. ...

5.21.03

As Britney Spears continues to work on her forthcoming fourth album — which is supposed to be a departure in style for the pop princess — she's also getting rid of a few other things from her past, in the name of charity. Spears is auctioning off her stage and movie costumes, some signed original photography and other memorabilia, as well as concert packages and "personal experiences" starting this Thursday on www.gottahaveit.com. The auction runs through June 3, and proceeds go to the Britney Spears Foundation. ...

Blu Cantrell has set a June 24 release date for her second album, Bittersweet, which features collaborations with Missy Elliott, Lil' Kim, Fat Joe, Lady May and reggae star Ian Lewis of Inner Circle. Sean Paul appears on the first single, "Breathe," which was produced by Dr. Dre and will be accompanied by a Hype Williams-directed video. ... Nelly and producer 7 Aurelius were awarded Songwriters of the Year and Puddle of Mudd's "Blurry" was named Song of the Year at the ASCAP Pop Music Awards Tuesday in Beverly Hills, California. Elvis Costello was presented the ASCAP Founders' Award at the event, which included a performance of Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful" by the song's co-author, Linda Perry. ...

Twenty-one-year-old rapper Jason Johnson, better known as Camoflauge, was shot and killed on Monday in his hometown of Savannah, Georgia. Camoflauge, who made his major-label debut in 2001 with Strictly 4 Da Streets: Drugs, Sex & Violence Vol. 1, was fatally wounded while with his young son outside Pure Pain studios, where he had been recording. Police have made no arrests and have not named any suspects. ... Panjabi MC, whose remix of "Beware of the Boys (Mundian to Bach Ke)" with Jay-Z is one of spring's breakout singles, will promote the July 1 release of his U.S. debut, Beware, with a week of tour dates. The trek includes several club dates in New York, including June 4 at S.O.B.'s Basement Bhangra party. ...

Legendary director Martin Scorsese's next project is a biography of Bob Dylan tentatively titled "Bob Dylan Anthology Project." The movie is currently slated for release in 2005. ... James Brown was pardoned by the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services for drug-related charges that stemmed from a 1998 bust. Brown had previously served two and a half years behind bars after being arrested for drug possession in 1988. ...

The guys of 3 Doors Down will be in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Friday afternoon to see the premiere of a NASCAR Busch Series race car decked out with a 3DD design. Later that evening, the band will perform a free show at Food Lion Speed Street. ... P.O.D. will name their next LP Payable on Death, which is what their namesake acronym stands for. The 17-song follow-up to 2001's Satellite is due November 4. ...

New York Yankees slugger Bernie Williams has had his fair share of hits on the ball field, but will it carry over to success in the studio? The centerfielder will drop his debut LP, The Journey Within, on July 15. Alongside jazzy covers of Billy Joel's "And So It Goes" and Kansas' "Dust in the Wind," the album also includes seven of the guitarist's original compositions. ... The mighty Tenacious D took the stage with Styx on Tuesday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles for a performance of "Kiss Your Ass Goodbye." The song is featured on the new Styx album Cyclorama. ... First season "American Idol" finalist R.J. Helton is expected to release a gospel album this fall on Gospocentric/B-Rite Music, home to contemporary Christian crooner Kirk Franklin. ...

Sheryl Crow, Billy Joel, Faith Hill, Elton John, Jamie Foxx, Robin Williams and Dennis Miller will all take the stage for Andre Agassi's annual Grand Slam for Children event, which benefits at-risk youths. The event will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on October 4. ... In other Elton John and Billy Joel charity news, the two are reaching out to less fortunate musicians by donating concert tickets from their current tour to an eBay auction that will benefit the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. The fund provides financial assistance to artists who can't afford health insurance. ... Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour has donated almost $6 million to help provide housing for hundreds of poor and homeless people in central London. Gilmour got the idea from a community project he heard about in New York City. ...

• Jennifer Lopez
• Ozzy Osbourne
• Avril Lavigne
• Lisa Marie Presley
• Pat Benatar

A Mark, a Mission, a Brand, a Scar, the third album by Dashboard Confessional, is being recorded in a Florida studio with producer Gil Norton (Foo Fighters, Pixies). The follow-up to 2001's The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most is expected to arrive in late spring. ...

While any of the witchy women of the WB's "Charmed" can carry the title of heartbreaker, the guest star of the April 6 episode practically put the word on the map. Pat Benatar will perform her 1979 hit "Heartbreaker" at Piper's club, P3. ...

Australian authorities have discovered 500 stolen reel-to-reel masters of recordings believed to be original studio sessions for Abbey Road and The Beatles. The February 14 raid in Sydney was part of a police investigation that last month uncovered tapes in London and Amsterdam of the sessions that eventually became Let It Be. Those tapes were stolen from Abbey Road Studios over 30 years ago. ... Jewel has revealed on her official Web site that her next album will be dominated by dance music. The singer says she's experimenting with R&B rhythms and electronic music and tells fans to expect "fierce grooves and dance beats and futuristic keyboard and retro '80s synth sounds." She also divulges that the as-yet-untitled album will be produced by Lester Mendez, whom she credits for co-writing most of the new songs as well. ...

Mogwai, in the midst of working on their fourth album, have put their drummer's pacemaker up for sale on eBay. The high bidder, whose cash will be donated to the British Heart Foundation, also gets Martin Bulloch's European pacemaker I.D. card, his hospital wristband, the Japanese version of Mogwai's My Father My King and a vinyl test-pressing of the band's Rock Action. ... Almost two years after his split with the mathematically inclined noisecore band, former Dillinger Escape Plan vocalist Dimitri Minikakis has reemerged with Tokyo, who are currently completing demo recordings and will make their live debut April 6 at the First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia. ...

Following the premiere of the first untitled video from their third album, ( ), at last month's Sundance Film Festival, Icelandic sound-sculpters Sigur Ros will embark on a North American tour that kicks off with a sold-out March 15 show in Boston. The 18-date outing winds down April 8 in Oakland, California. ... Former member of Powell Peralta's legendary Bones Brigade pro-skate team, Tommy Guerrero, is putting the finishing touches on his second album, Soul Food Taqueria. The follow-up to 2000's A Little Bit of Something displays elements of anti-folk, hip-hop, jazz, blues and funk, among other elements, and is expected to drop in May. ...

02.13.03

Coldplay won Album of the Year and Oasis were named Artist of the Year at Thursday's NME Awards in London. The Hives won Best International Band, while Dallas' Polyphonic Spree took home the F--- Me! Award for Innovation. Kelly Osbourne, who was scheduled to perform at the ceremony, pulled out, fearing a terrorist attack. ...

Avril Lavigne, Sum 41, Nickelback, Alanis Morissette, Shania Twain, Simple Plan, Our Lady Peace and Hot Hot Heat are among the nominees for the 2003 Juno Awards, the Canadian equivalent of the Grammys. Non-Canadians Creed, Nelly, Shakira, Eminem and Enrique Iglesias are up for the International Album of the Year award. The Juno Awards will take place April 6 in Kanata, Canada. ... Justin Timberlake, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Kylie Minogue, Mariah Carey, Moby, DJ Shadow, Chemical Brothers, Crystal Method and Basement Jaxx received nominations for the 2003 American Dance Music Awards. The ceremony pays tribute to the global impact of dance music and will be held March 19 in Miami Beach. ...

A parole board hearing for Marion "Suge" Knight has been postponed due to a discussion over whether or not his legal representation could attend the meeting, according to the Associated Press. Knight, the head of Tha Row Records, has been awaiting a parole hearing after being jailed December 23 for allegedly associating with gang members. ...

Ex-Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan will appear on "America's Most Wanted" later this month. He'll be talking about the unsolved murder of Lorella Lepper, the woman who used to run his official Web site. Lepper was stabbed to death in her Los Angeles apartment in November. ... Former Guns N' Roses tourmates CKY have added 11 U.S. shows to their Infiltrate Destroy Rebuild tour. The first new date is March 30 in Denver and the final show is August 11 in West Hollywood, California. CKY play Houston on Thursday (February 13) and New Orleans on Valentine's Day. ...

Eels singer E has recorded a solo album under the alias MC Honky. I Am the Messiah, which features guest drummers Joey Waronker (R.E.M.) and Butch (Eels), is due in March. ... Paul Oakenfold, Les Rythmes Digitales, Tommy Sunshine and others contributed remixes to the Faint's Danse Macabre Remixed. The Omaha electro-pop group is planning a spring tour to promote the release, due March 25. ... Former teen pop idol Deborah Gibson will star as Sally Bowles in the hit Broadway musical "Cabaret" beginning February 21 at Studio 54. Gibson's past Broadway roles include Eponine in "Les Miserables" and Belle in Disney's "Beauty and the Beast." ...

Due to an elbow injury, former Police drummer Stewart Copeland has temporarily left his new band, a second coming of the Doors with the Cult singer Ian Astbury replacing the late Jim Morrison. Ty Dennis, a member of guitarist Robbie Krieger's band, is filling in. ... Guy Pearce, the star of "Memento," will appear in the next video by Silverchair, "Across the Night." The black-and-white clip is being directed by Sarah-Jane Woulahan and Sean Gilligan, who also worked with the band on "The Greatest View" and "Without You." If he can remember how to get to the studio and what he's supposed to be doing there, Pearce will play the main character in the vid, which is based on the hallucinatory quality of dreams. ...

• Dashboard Confessional
• Pat Benatar
• Shakira
• Justin Timberlake
• *NSYNC

Nelly Furtado performs "I'm Like a Bird" at Thursday's Women Rock! benefit
Photo: Image Direct

HOLLYWOOD — Mary J. Blige and Dixie Chick Natalie Maines rocked Etta James' "At Last," Nelly Furtado rocked an acoustic "I'm Like a Bird," and a host of female singers rocked the Rolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Women" at Thursday's second annual Women Rock! — Girls & Guitars breast cancer benefit.

The concert, taped for broadcast October 26 on Lifetime, was a four-hour extravaganza of collaborations that brought together leading female artists in rock, country, folk and soul.

"We're such a pairing of unique voices," Pat Benatar said after the show. "It's one thing to hear someone on record, but to hear them right up close like that is amazing."

Benatar opened Thursday's taping with a raucous rendition of "Heartbreaker" performed with Sheryl Crow, the Dixie Chicks and newcomer Shea Seger. She followed by dueting on "We Belong" with Seger and showcasing her guitarist and husband Neil Giraldo on "Invincible."

"We wanted to do 'Invincible' because it's such an uplifting song about strength, and 'We Belong' because the sentiment is so beautiful," Benatar said.

Benatar and many of the other performers have close ties to breast cancer and spoke adamantly about Women Rock! and Lifetime's goal of raising awareness about breast cancer and finding a cure.

"My mother passed away from breast cancer two years ago," Giraldo said. "If she would have known about the awareness programs that are around and knew what to do, she would probably still be here. It was attached to her bone and it was too late to do anything. So it's very special for us to be here."

Seger said her mother dealt with a different form of cancer and that she had close friends who have faced breast cancer. "It's a hideous disease for women," Seger said. "Like what was said tonight, the ignorance about it is far more widespread than ignorance about a lot of things. This opened my eyes to learning about taking care of myself."

One of the evening's performers, Beth Nielsen Chapman, has recovered from breast cancer. Both Seger and Furtado, the youngest performers at Women Rock!, said they learned a lot from talking to the singer.

"Something Beth pointed out, she was saying that it kind of bothers her that people use words like 'battle' and 'survivor' when they're talking about breast cancer," Furtado said. "That's the problem. We're trying to remove the stigma from breast cancer, 'cause it's such a real thing. I'm 22. Young people don't want to think about breast cancer. They think it's their mom's disease. That's why I'm here. I'm trying to get rid of that stigma. Talk about boobs. Talk about examining your breast. That's what it's all about."

Furtado's tranquil version of "I'm Like a Bird" midway through the show garnered some of the evening's loudest applause.

"I love playing it that way because that's the way I wrote it," Furtado said. "There's a lot of elements to what I do, so it's nice to showcase different sides. One minute I'm rapping, and the next I'm singing and playing guitar."

The Canadian singer returned to the stage only for the grand finale, which included all of the Women Rock! guests sitting on stools in a half-circle and jamming out to the Eagles' "Take It to the Limit" and the Stones' "Honky Tonk Women."

The Dixie Chicks, especially Maines, were the evening's most frequent performers, taking the stage with just about all of the acts. Their highlights included a duet with Crow on her "It Don't Hurt" and the standard "Mary" with Nielsen Chapman and Emmylou Harris.

Blige was the show stealer, however, pacing the stage and belting out the title track to her latest album, No More Drama.

India.Arie, who was scheduled to perform, and Allison Janney of "The West Wing," who was scheduled to host, did not make the event due to scheduling conflicts, according to Lifetime.

• Mary J. Blige
• Pat Benatar
• Nelly Furtado
• Dixie Chicks
• Sheryl Crow

Mary J. Blige
Photo: Jason Campbell

Mary J. Blige, Nelly Furtado and the Dixie Chicks will headline the second annual Women Rock! Girls & Guitars breast cancer benefit in Los Angeles in October.

The show will be taped on October 18 at the Wiltern Theater and air as a two-hour special October 26 on Lifetime, the network said Tuesday.

India.Arie, Pat Benatar, Emmylou Harris, Beth Nielsen Chapman and Shea Seger will also perform at the event. "The West Wing" star Allison Janney has been tapped to host.

Women Rock! Girls & Guitars, which is sponsored by Marie Claire magazine, is part of Lifetime's ongoing campaign, Our Lifetime Commitment: Stop Breast Cancer for Life. Proceeds from the event will go to the National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations and the National Breast Cancer Coalition, Lifetime said.

Last year's Women Rock! saw Destiny's Child, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, Heart's Ann and Nancy Wilson, Cyndi Lauper and Amy Grant perform at the Wiltern.

Nine days after Lifetime's concert is filmed, Third Eye Blind frontman Stephan Jenkins will host a breast cancer benefit show at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles with performances by Billy Corgan, Deftones and Sugar Ray (see "Third Eye Blind Frontman Plans All-Star Breast Cancer Benefit").

• Mary J. Blige
• Nelly Furtado
• Dixie Chicks
• India.Arie
• Pat Benatar