Florida Sentinel Bulletin

Drake had a smash hit on his hands last year with the moody “Marvin’s Room,” which spawned several copycat versions. Now, the star finds himself in hot water after an alleged ex-girlfriend who claimed to have co-written the track filed a formal complaint seeking damages.

Ericka Lee, reportedly the female voice on the staged phone call for the song, says she and Drake were lovers and business partners for a time in 2010. Lee filed the suit February 2 in a California federal court where she states that the pair often collaborated on lyrics and poems. The suit further says that a verbal agreement between the two to craft “Marvin’s Room” was originally supposed to be an even split in royalties. The complaint says that Lee’s contribution to the song was “highly significant.”

Lee says she received phone texts from Drake that support her songwriter claims, with one reading, “U basically made that song.” Lee was credited as “Syren Lyric Muse” for the song and the two were said to have registered the recording last July, as Lee was confirmed as the featured voice.

Drake’s label, Cash Money Records, filed a claim as well that said the work was done as an “employer for hire” transaction.

Don Cornelius — who famously created “Soul Train” was found dead in his Sherman Oaks, CA, Thursday morning.

Police discovered the body around 4 a.m.  Cornelius died from a gunshot wound to the head and officials believe the wound was self-inflicted.

Cornelius was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

“Soul Train” changed the landscape of television when it debuted in 1971 and ran until 2006. Cornelius was 75.

Cornelius was arrested in 2008 for beating up his wife.  He pled no contest to misdemeanor domestic violence and was placed on 3 years probation.  His probation just terminated. During Don’s bitter divorce proceedings in 2009, he told an L.A. judge he was suffering from “significant health issues” and wanted to “finalize the divorce before I die.” The divorce was granted in 2010.

Sources say the TV icon was plagued with health issues for years … including a stroke and a condition that required brain surgery.

Bryan “Baby” Williams and Ronald “Slim” Williams appeared in court earlier this week, facing a lawsuit from an Atlanta woman who claims she was sexually assaulted in a recording studio bathroom.

Nicole Westmoreland alleges she was being given an opportunity to make a business presentation to the Cash Money label, but was instead “exposed to illegal drugs and explicit sexual activity” prior to the incident occurring.

The man identified by Westmoreland as the attacker was Alfred Cleveland, an alleged employee of the label at the time.

Westmoreland believes that the Williams brothers had to have known that Alfred Cleveland was a dangerous individual.

In the midst of her child custody turmoil, Halle Berry continues to handle business, following in the footsteps of supermodel Cindy Crawford by designing a footwear collection for German chain Deichmann.

Titled “5th Avenue by Halle Berry,” the collection is set to launch across Europe on March 5 and comprises 40 summer styles.

The actress emphasized her decision to create an affordable collection, with prices for footwear starting at $29.99.

“The shoes can easily be worn by every woman. They are stylish, yet reasonably priced, that is what my collection is all about,” the Oscar winner explained in a recent release.

Stand-out pieces in the line, which will go on sale in 21 European countries, include peep-toe wedges, strappy sandals and slingbacks.

Berry’s previous business ventures include launching signature scent Halle by Halle Berry in 2009.

Students at Rutgers University will soon be able to select a course to study the career arc and impact of one of R&B’s, and Pop’s, most popular divas of all time, Beyoncé.

Just over a month after Georgetown University professor Michael Eric Dyson created a sociology course crafted around studying the cultural significance of Jay-Z, the Brooklyn bomber’s wife will also get a course at the New Jersey college with the dubious title “Politicizing Beyoncé.”

Offered by the university’s Department of Women’s and Gender Studies, doctoral student and lecturer Kevin Allred was clear to distinguish that the title of the course isn’t meant to be misleading, “This isn’t a course about Beyoncé’s political engagement.

In 2006, Bow Wow, whose actual name is Shad Gregory Moss, owed a Florida tax lien of $91,105.61, which is still unpaid. A new lien was filed in Georgia in 2008 to the tune of $15,279.62.  Finally, in 2010, a third lien was added to Bow Wow’s debt, totaling $19,700.91.

Reportedly, the spend thrift entertainer has a rep for lavishing himself with costly things that range in the six figures.

NEW YORK  — A public viewing will be held Friday for singer Etta James, and the Rev. Al Sharpton will eulogize the late legend at a private funeral Saturday.

James died last Friday at age 73 after battling leukemia and other ailments, including dementia. She was most famous for her classic At Last, but over her decades-long career, she became revered for her passionate singing voice.

NEW YORK  — Apparently enough time has passed for Barbara Walters and Star Jones to reunite for a day.

The View announced on Wednesday that Jones will appear on the daytime talk show on Feb. 22 to promote an awareness campaign about heart disease among women.

Walters and Jones had a falling out in 2006 when Jones, one of the five original co-hosts of the daytime chat show, exited The View. ABC decided not to renew her contract and Jones took Walters by surprise by announcing on June 27 that she would be leaving the show.

That exit came more quickly than expected. Walters wouldn’t allow her back the next day.

Diddy is planning to create a music-themed cable channel called Revolt. By striking a distribution deal with Comcast and Time Warner Cable, Revolt could reach up to 18 million households.

Sources with knowledge of the Revolt playbook describe it as a music and music news channel with an urban skew.

One described it as the old days of MTV, but for more of the African American audience. The venture is well funded, say the sources.