While Jay Dee aka J-Dilla's health condition remains unspecified, new reports have surfaced to dismiss rumors that the producer is in a coma.

Earlier this week, a post by ?uestlove on The Roots' Okayplayer.com web site stated that the beatsmith was found in a near coma and remained gravely ill in the hospital. An outpouring of support along with speculation of acute kidney and liver ensued from online fans of the group, Slum Village.

Okayplayer removed the post and now, Jeff Jank of Stones Throw Records, who has released several of Dilla's Jaylib projects, has come forward to confirm that the producer is sick, but not in critical condition.

"Stones Throw records works with and is [in] contact with J Dilla (Jay Dee). He is not in a coma, and his life is not in danger," Janks told SOHH.com. "We spoke to his mother who was with him only hours after this rumor began to spread on Jan 17, and she confirmed that it was false."

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After gaining massive national airplay and collecting two Grammy Award nominations, Kanye West's "Jesus Walks" has now inspired a new clothing line.

With the success of West's "Jesus Walks" and actor/director Mel Gibson's Passion Of Christ, new Christian-based online company Sak-Kloth is capitalizing off the Jesus' popularity and launching its first t-shirt design dubbed "A Puzzle Of Life." The concept of the design is that "Jesus is the answer to all problems in life." The front of the shirt features a blank crossword puzzle with clues underneath and the back showcases the crossword puzzle with a bible verse at the bottom- John 14:6.

"With the rise in cognizance of the name 'Jesus' in media and Hollywood due to Kanye West's song 'Jesus Walks', and most recently a hit single by recording artists Twista and Faith Evans entitled "Hope" from the Coach Carter soundtrack, the name of Jesus is now entering into arenas of society that have been previously untouched," Maurice Perry, owner and head designer of Sak-Kloth. "A little less than a year after the release of the movie The Passion of the Christ by Mel Gibson, the name of Jesus and the conversation about Jesus has not slowed down - it has actually gained momentum - especially with the recent devastation caused by the Tsunami in Asia and the chaotic weather throughout the United States, as well as the ongoing warfare in Iraq and civil unrest throughout the earth. People are gravitating towards God and more interested than ever in talking about Jesus."

The Sak-Kloth company is an evolving resource for Christian-based retail and news. It offers product including music, books, articles, imports from Israel and Africa and now includes clothing.

In related news, Kanye West and Ludacris are slated to attend a settlement conference in a copyright infringement suit filed against them for allegedly jacking a chorus from upstart New Jersey group, I.O.F. Judge Debra Freeman of the United States District Court Southern District of New York scheduled a hearing between the parties for February 4 2005.

In a suit filed in April 2004, I.O.F alleged that the hook from Ludacris' 2003 hit, "Stand Up" was stolen from the group's 2000 track, "Straight Like That." Group members contend that they handed four demos to Kanye and Cris on four separate occasions and that the song in question featured a hook that highly resembles "Stand Up." I.O.F recently put out a diss track aimed at Ludacris after hearing what they believed to be a diss to them on "Pass Out" on Luda's recent Red Light District release.

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Legendary pop singer Madonna is reportedly suing R&B songstress Mary J. Blige, Aftermath producer Dr. Dre and rapper Eve for copyright infringement.

A publishing company claims that Blige's recent song "Not Today," featuring Eve and produced by Dre, too closely resembles Madonna's classic 1983 hit "Holiday."

According to court documents, the company alleges that parts of "Not Today," which was featured in the film "Barbershop 2" starring Eve and Ice Cube, includes several obvious instances of reproduction.

New York musicologist Judith Finell, an expert witness on copyright infringement, compared the two songs and concluded that "Not Today" is similar enough to
"Holiday" and warrants further investigation.

"Both the pitches and the rhythms sound closely related," Finell told the Associated Press. "I don't think they're identical, because Madonna's song is in what we call 'major key' and Mary J Blige's song is in a ‘minor key.’"

The publishers of Madonna's song could receive at least $15 million if the case goes to trial and jurors determine that "Not Today" sounds notably similar to "Holiday."

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Andre Benjamin, half of the bestselling group Outkast, will provide a voice in Paramount’s remake of the E.B. White classic book, "Charlotte’s Web."

Benjamin joins an all-star cast, which include Julia Roberts, who will lead as the voice of Charlotte, Oprah Winfrey, Cedric the Entertainer, Reba McEntire, Thomas Haden and others.

The flick, which will feature high tech animation, will start shooting on January 31 in Melbourne, Australia and is being released by Paramount.

Benjamin will lend his voice as a crow, while Oprah Winfrey and Cedric the Entertainer will play the story’s geese.

The movie is an adaptation of the best selling children’s paperback book of all time, which focuses on a pig named Wilbur, who lives in a barn with a spider named Charlotte.

With the help of a rat named Templeton and a clever plan, Charlotte helps to save Wilbur’s life.

The movie is being executive produced by Edgar Bronfman Sr., who owns the rights to the 1973 animated feature, which was also released through Paramount.


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Taking time to indulge in a little decadence before unleashing his Valentine's Day Massacre, 50 Cent is planning to bedeck his palatial Connecticut mansion with Louis Vuitton fashions and has also requested the new Dodge Charger from DaimlerChrysler.

50 Cent, real name Curtis Jackson, reportedly told the publisher of DUB magazine that he wanted to be one of the first to cruise in DaimlerChrysler's new Dodge Charger.

The brawny sedan was exhibited at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit and will be available to the public this spring.

"I need to know what I gotta do to get that Dodge Charger first. I need that," 50 told Dub magazine publisher Myles Kovacs.

Not slow to snatch up an offer from a multi-platinum rapper who could possibly increase sales, Chrysler is using 50's appeal as a marketing ploy for their Charger.

In a press conference, Dieter Zetsche, CEO and President of Chrysler Group, mentioned that 50 already possesses the Chrysler 300 and is looking to add the Charger to his collection.

"That's two 50 Cent purchases, now, we're up to a buck," said Zetsche.

Chrysler's 300 has made guest appearances in several rap videos, including 50's and Snoop Dogg's.

Snoop reportedly told Zetsche in a voice-mail message, "If you want this car to blow, give it to me."

Chrysler sold more than 60,000 300's in as little as five months, with scores of customers still ruminating on waiting lists.

Last August, sales of Chrysler cars increased 43 percent from 2003.

"Chrysler has been savvy about how it has approached the hip-hop community, letting the artists find it rather than chasing after endorsements," Kovacs told the Detroit Free Press. "That's worth more money than any advertising you could do in the marketplace."

50 has also called on Louis Vuitton, which has undoubtedly benefited from numerous rap shout-outs, to garnish his Farmington, Connecticut pad.

The Queens-bred rapper is reportedly in talks with Louis Vuitton to plaster the walls of the 18-bedroom house with Vuitton's signature "LV" logo.

But Fiddy allegedly wants the work done for free.

"Louis Vuitton wants some money," a source told the New York Post, "but 50 is saying they will get publicity for it, so they are discussing that now."
50 purchased the mansion, which includes 38 bathrooms and a 3500 square foot disco, from boxer Mike Tyson for $4 million last year.