Judge tells rap mogul to show up at hearing

Judge tells rap mogulto show up at hearing
LOS ANGELES -- A judge ordered Marion "Suge" Knight to appear at a hearing next month to discuss his assets -- or risk having the court take control of the rap-music mogul's Death Row Records.
Knight has been in a legal battle since he lost a $107 million judgment last year to a woman who claimed she helped start the record empire.
Attorneys for Lydia Harris and her ex-husband, an imprisoned drug dealer who is seeking half of the award as part of their divorce, urged the judge Thursday to place Knight's company in receivership.
Michael Harris' attorneys accused Knight of trying to evade his legal obligations by failing to show up for debtor examinations three times. He was absent from Thursday's hearing.
"Encourt that should be obeyed and Mr. Knight is making a mockery of it."
Attorney Rex Beaber, who represents Lydia Harris, accused Knight of shifting his assets.
Knight's lawyer, Dermot Givens, asked Judge Ronald Sohigian for a postponement because Knight was hiring a new team of lawyers, but the judge refused.
The judge also enjoined Knight from transferring or hiding any assets.
Givens promised Knight would appear at the April 1 hearing, and pledged his client would not hide any assets.
Last December, a judge in Monterey County froze Knight's assets, saying Knight and his lawyers had failed to answer questions and provide information in the case.
Michael Harris, who is serving a 28-year sentence at San Quentin State Prison, claims he put up $1.5 million from behind bars to help start the record label. Knight has repeatedly denied that.
With new tour, Shakirawill take on the world
MADRID, Spain -- Shakira, the queen of Latin American pop music, will begin her world tour later this year in Spain.
"I'm going to give all my creative energy to a loyal public that has witnessed my evolution," the 29-year-old singer told reporters Thursday.
The tour will begin in June and continue until the end of the year. It will include nine Spanish cities before moving on to the rest of Europe, Latin America and the United States.
Rapper Ludacris to join'SVU' for a guest spot
NEW YORK -- Rapper-actor Ludacris, real name Chris Bridges, who generated strong buzz for his performances in the Oscar-winning "Crash" and "Hustle and Flow," is turning to TV for his next dramatic role.
He'll play rapper-actor Ice T's nephew in a guest spot on NBC crime drama "Law & amp; Order: Special Victims Unit," Tuesday at 10 p.m. EST.
"When I was approached to work on 'SVU' and read the script, there was no way that I could turn down this amazing opportunity," Ludacris said in a statement Thursday. "The character was so rich and the storyline so complex, that I knew it was something I had to do."
In the episode, Ice T's character, squad detective Fin, is put in a bind when his son becomes a suspect in a double homicide. The case opens a family secret involving Ludacris' character.
At Yahoo event, Cruiseplays it up with execs
LOS ANGELES -- When it comes to furniture and his love for Katie Holmes, Tom Cruise just can't help himself.
The megastar was the guest of honor at Yahoo's quarterly "Influential Speakers" event this week at the company's headquarters in Sunnyvale, Calif., bantering with chief executive Terry Semel and answering questions from the crowd.
After an impromptu arm-wrestling match with Semel, Cruise jestingly recreated his "Oprah" sofa-hopping episode, this time on a chair, to trumpet his joy about his fianc & eacute;e and their soon-to-arrive offspring. Then he brought the very pregnant Holmes onto the stage, where he beamed and patted her round belly.
And, yes, he then sealed the interlude with a kiss.
TV's "Inside Edition" broadcast the happy event Thursday night.
Today's birthdays
Jazz musician James Moody is 81. Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is 76. Actor-director Leonard Nimoy is 75. Actor Alan Arkin is 72. Actor James Caan is 66. Journalist Bob Woodward is 63. Singer Diana Ross is 62. Actor Johnny Crawford is 60. Rock singer Steven Tyler (Aerosmith) is 58. Singer and TV personality Vicki Lawrence is 57. Actor Ernest Thomas is 57. Singer Teddy Pendergrass is 56. Comedian Martin Short is 56. Country singer Ronnie McDowell is 56. Movie composer Alan Silvestri is 56. Country singer Dean Dillon is 51. Country singer Charly McClain is 50. TV personality Leeza Gibbons is 49. Actress Jennifer Grey is 46. Basketball player John Stockton is 44. Actor Michael Imperioli is 40. Rock musician James Iha is 38. Country singer Kenny Chesney is 38. Actor T.R. Knight is 33. Rapper Juvenile is 31. Actress Amy Smart is 30. Actress Keira Knightley is 21. Rapper J-Kwon is 20.
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