NEW YORK (Billboard) – "Empire State of Mind" has been a chart-topping hit for Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, spending five weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. The No. 1 anthem is also responsible for reigniting the singing aspirations of songwriter/producer Angela Hunte, who penned and produced "Empire" with writing partner Jane't "Jnay" Sewell-Ulepic. It all started with a bad case of homesickness.

"My writing partner and I were

NEW YORK (Billboard) – Jay-Z earned his fourth No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart Thursday with "Empire State of Mind," his collaboration with Alicia Keys.

All of Jay-Z's four chart-toppers have been collaborations, but this is his first No. 1 as a lead or co-billed vocalist. His prior chart-topping entries came as a featured vocalist on Mariah Carey's "Heartbreaker" (1999), his now-wife Beyonce's "Crazy

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

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