Electro duo Empire Of The Sun dress like Adam Ant and borrow their name from the film that launched the career of Christian Bale. But don't let their at best dubious choice of influences put you off. Their talent is undoubtable and this album sounds like an instant classic.

This is the sound of the Noughties – electro enough without being harsh, interesting without being over-cool, quirky without being weird. Empire Of The

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Joaquin Phoenix says there's no hoax about it: He really has given up acting to become a hip-hop musician.

Phoenix has been spending his time laying down tracks for a rap album in the recording studio he built at his home, the two-time Academy Award nominee said Tuesday in an interview to promote what he claims is his final movie, "Two Lovers."

After video hit the Internet last month capturing part of Phoenix's debut rap performance at a Las Vegas

NEW YORK (AP) -- Battle-scarred rap mogul Marion "Suge" Knight and volatile hip-hop star Kanye West faced off Friday over a beef involving a bullet — with a conference table between them.

The two rap titans were there for West to answer questions about a celebrity-packed Miami Beach party where an unknown gunman shot Knight in the leg. West hosted the 2005 fete at the posh Shore Club before the MTV

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The estate of Michael Jackson and entertainment company AEG have agreed to contribute $1.3 million to help cover public costs related to the pop star's memorial service last year at Staples Center, officials said.

AEG President Timothy J. Leiweke and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Friday in a joint statement that $1 million will be provided to the city's general fund and the rest of the money will go to

NEW YORK (AP) -- Rapper Jay-Z and his wife, Beyonc?, will compete in three categories at the 2010 BET Awards.

They're both nominated for video of the year, best collaboration and viewers' choice. Jay-Z received two nominations in the video of the year category, which includes newcomers B.o.B and Melanie Fiona.

Jay-Z is the top contender with five nominations; he's also up

NEW YORK (AP) -- Jazz pianist and composer Hank Jones, whose 70-year career included a stint as Ella Fitzgerald's pianist and Marilyn Monroe's accompanist when she sang "Happy Birthday" to President John F. Kennedy, has died, his manager said Monday. He was 91.

Jones, who won a Grammy lifetime achievement award last year and received the National Medal of Arts in 2008, died Sunday night

SANTA FE, N.M. – French conductor, composer, pianist and author Frederic Chaslin has been hired as the new chief conductor of the Santa Fe Opera in New Mexico.

The opera's general director, Charles MacKay, introduced Chaslin during a new conference Tuesday. He says the conductor's three-year appointment will end a nearly two-year search that included extensive conversations with orchestra members, artists and other leaders in