Florida Sentinel Bulletin

“American Idol” finalist Fantasia Barrino admitted to skipping the Grammys because she wasn’t included in the tribute to Aretha Franklin that opened the show. Now, Franklin is speaking out about that decision.

“I was sorry to hear that Fantasia was upset because she did not get the opportunity to participate in my Grammy Tribute this year,” Franklin said in a statement to USA Today. “I recall that in the past, Fantasia participated in both my MusicCares Person of the Year Tribute and my United Negro College Fund Tribute.”

Franklin then suggested that Fantasia has some growing up to do, saying she was “young in the business” and acknowledged that she is “loved and appreciated,” but she still added some harsh advice.

“She must understand that in this business of show business she will not always get to participate in everything she would like to participate in,” Franklin said. “I’m sure it was not an intentional omission.”

WASHINGTON – Singer John Legend was in Washington to sing at the White House on Thursday but he had a few choice words for the politicians in town, too.

Legend told reporters before an evening concert celebrating Motown’s music that too often the arts are the first thing to go when budgets need to be cut.

“People fought to give me — a millionaire — a tax cut this year,” he said. “I didn’t need it. And all the other millionaires didn’t need it either.”

The singer said he’d benefited from cultural organizations such as community choirs and arts councils in earlier years, which often suffer when budgets get trimmed.

“I hope our politicians will not think that they are expendable and they can just get rid of them and nobody will feel the pain,” he said. “Because I think society will feel the pain.”

NEW YORK – Foxy Brown is weighing in on the bitter feud that escalated between Nicki Minaj and Lil Kim last week, after Lil Kim appeared to behead Minaj on the cover of her “Black Friday” mixtape.

“When you’re using that as a platform to bring your new album out…I don’t condone it at all; I don’t think it’s cute,” Brown, who recently rapped “First a bitch wanna hate on Foxy/Ten years later now she hating on Minaj-y” on a new track dubbed “Massacre,” told Billboard.com.

Buju Banton is facing up to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of three charges relating to him setting up a cocaine deal in 2009.

Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie, was convicted of conspiracy to possess five or more kilograms of cocaine with the intent to distribute. He was also found guilty of possession of a firearm, and of another drug trafficking offense. A 12-member jury at the United States Sam M. Gibbons Federal Court found Banton not guilty of a fourth charge of attempted cocaine possession.

Banton was arrested in December 2009 along with two others after video and audio recordings relating to the case were taken by an informant and by Drug Enforcement Administration personnel. He originally stood trial for the offenses in September 2010, although that trial saw the jury unable to reach a unanimous verdict.

A video shown to the jury in the second trial featured footage of Banton allegedly tasting cocaine in a warehouse. The court also heard that the informant was given $135,000 by one of Banton’s co-defendants.

Banton has been remanded in custody while he awaits sentencing. The singer’s latest album ‘Before the Dawn’ won Best Reggae Album at the Grammy awards earlier this month.

Oakland rapper, Lorenzo Hall, also known as Zoe tha Roasta will be awarded close to $300,000 by The City of Oakland after serving 2 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.

Police officer, Ramon Alcantar arrested Hall back in 2006 for numerous weapon related offenses, including illegal possession of a firearm, while he was at a wake for his aunt.

The rapper spent four months in jail before posting bail. This offense being his third, California prosecutors raised his bail and his case was not dropped until 2008. Zoe had served 18 months in prison by that time.

Alcantar is no longer on the police force, but he is accused of planting a gun on the parolee that reportedly belonged to someone else.

San Francisco U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney ruled that Hall would receive $100,000 in general damages plus an additional $75,000 in punitive damages and lawyer fees totaling close to $300,000.

Supposedly an informant tipped the Oakland Police about Lorenzo having the weapon in question.

LOS ANGELES — Chris Brown doesn’t have to stay away from Rihanna anymore after a judge on Tuesday downgraded a restraining order in the singer’s felony assault case.

Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg’s ruling came after an attorney for Rihanna said she didn’t object to removing the stay-away provisions. The old order required Brown to stay 50 yards away from Rihanna, but the restriction was reduced to 10 yards if they were at a music-industry event.

The judge said she never would have considered relaxing the order without Rihanna’s consent and until Brown completed domestic violence counseling. Prosecutors did not object to the change.

Schnegg praised Brown, who was in the court Tuesday and left holding a one-page copy of the new order.

The new order remains in effect until August 2014 when Brown’s probation is scheduled to end.

He and Rihanna, 23, can now see and speak to each other. But if Brown harasses, threatens, assaults, or tracks his ex-girlfriend’s movements, he could be found to be in violation of his probation.

Rihanna, whose real name is Robyn Fenty, can record any threatening conversations with Brown and present them as evidence to authorities.

Her attorney, Donald Etra, said he thought the new order was adequate protection.

Ice Cube packed away the Jheri curl, the scowl and skully a long time ago in favor of more family-friendly ventures and now he’s set to star in the film version of the beloved sitcom “21 Jump Street.”

Cube will be the precinct captain, a role originated by Steven Williams. Channing Tatum and Johan Hill are also confirmed co-stars.

So, the question is, who will play Holly Robinson Peete’s role

Birdman in a recent interview discussed many different things happening in the Young Money camp.

This included Nicki Minaj going Platinum, Drake at the Grammys, and future projects coming out of the camp.

After discussing some of the recent accomplishments, as well as what is next on the Young Money camp, the interviewer asked Baby what he thought of the ongoing beef with Nicki Minaj and Lil Kim.

“I think Kim just needs to stop messing around with Nicki and do her own thing. We’ve always been focused on the music and Nicki is the hottest thing in the game, nothing is gonna change that!”

Russell Simmons’ former company, Phat Farm is at war with T-shirt company, “Phag Farm.”

A $7 million lawsuit has been filed against Phag Farm whose name is an acronym for “Pretty Hot And Gay,” which also serves as the description of the clothing company.

The Florida-based company is owned by Lisa Wright.

Wright attempted to trademark the company name in 2008 before receiving a cease-and-desist letter from Phat Fashions, the company that owns the Phat Farm trademark.

The lawyers for Phat Fashions are suing for trademark infringement because the name similarity confuses the consumer.

They are also suing for unfair competition since the prices and merchandise are virtually identical to Phat Farm.