Rap-music mogul Marion ``Suge'' Knight skipped a court-ordered appearance at a hearing on Saturday about his assets, setting the stage for courts to take control of his Death Row Records label.
Knight has missed several hea-rings in a legal battle since he lost a US$107 million judgment last year to Lydia Harris, a former associate who claimed she helped start the rap record empire with her former husband, Michael Harris.
Michael Harris, an imprisoned drug dealer, says he put up US$1.5 million to help start the record label -- an assertion Knight has repeatedly denied.
A judge last month ordered the record company into receivership, which hinged on Knight's appea-rance at the weekend's hearing.
A court-appointed ``receiver'' would take control of all assets of Death Row Records, including a music library containing the records of such artists as Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dog and Dr. Dre, said Steve Goldberg, attorney for Michael Harris.
``He's had his last chance as far as we're concerned,'' Goldberg said.
He predicted this could be ``a death sentence for Death Row Records.''
Meanwhile there was court trouble of a different kind for hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons and his model-turned-entrepreneur wife, Kimora Lee: Their marriage has come to an end.
In a statement provided on Friday, Simmons announced the pair had decided to break up after seven years of marriage. Rumors had swirled for the past week that a split was imminent. The couple have two young daughters.
``Kimora and I will remain committed parents and caring friends with great love and admiration for each other,'' Simmons said. ``We will also continue to work side by side on a daily basis as partners in all of our businesses.''
Domestic problems that have not been handled in such a gentlemanly way, include those of Greek-born musician Yanni, who was arrested earlier last month for domestic battery. Police have said, however,charges will not be filed.
John Yanni Christopher, was arrested at his Manalapan home after his girlfriend Silvia Barthes, 33, told police Yanni grabbed her and shook her, then threw her on the bed and jumped on her, according to a police report.
Barthes had a bloody lip but told officers she thought she might have hit herself when Yanni shook her, the report stated.
Onto more peaceful pastures and news that jazz great Dave Brubeck, who has written more than 45 religious works, including songs, hymns and carols, will be honored by the University of Notre Dame with its Laetare Medal.
The school will present the 85-year-old catholic pianist with the medal -- considered the most prestigious honor for American Catholics -- during its May 21 commencement.
Since 1883, the Laetare Medal has been awarded annually to a Catholic ``whose genius has ennobled the arts and sciences, illustrated the ideals of the church and enriched the heritage of humanity.''
Brubeck is best known for writing a number of jazz standards, inclu-ding In Your Own Sweet Way and The Duke. After The Dave Brubeck Quartet disbanded in 1967, he has focused on writing many predominantly religious compositions.
David Lee Roth says he won't jump from his gig as a morning radio host.
Roth, who replaced shock jock Howard Stern on seven stations in January, has struggled in making the move from rock star to radio host. But during his Friday show, the former Van Halen frontman vowed to stick with it -- although he acknowledged that problems continue.
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