'Takers' Staring Chris Brown, T.I. Hollywood Movie Premiere Red Carpet

video & story courtesy of KABC 7 News Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- "Takers" is an action film that revolves around a group of criminals, and two of its stars have dealt very publicly with their own crimes.

Chris Brown pled guilty to one count of felony assault on his ex-girlfriend, singer Rihanna, and T.I. served time in jail for weapons possession.

The two men are now back in the spotlight, but this time under much better circumstances.

"Takers" is a cops and robbers heist film that takes place in L.A.

Idris Elba is among the ensemble cast.

"It's a great action film," Elba says. "It has great characters in it, lots of men being men, lots of explosions and it's a good laugh. There's some humor in it."

Chris Brown is one of the film's stars and an executive producer on the project.

At this world premiere, he wasn't interested in talking, so I asked Brown's co-star, Michael Ealy, to talk about him.

"He's got so much energy and his personality was just infectious on set," Ealy says.

"He's a good kid," Ealy added. "He made a mistake, but he's a good kid."

Clifford "T.I." Harris, who's had a lot of legal trouble in the past, is now looking ahead.

"I believe this entire year represents a new beginning for me," T.I. says. "I'm very proud to embark on a new journey."

"Snoop Dogg, as the representative of the hip hop community, is very pleased with Chris Brown, T.I. and the rest of the staff for what they've done and what they're doing to correct their situations and make it a better life," says Snoop Dogg in the third person.

"If Hollywood will have me, I definitely plan on spending as much time here as possible," T.I. says.

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VH1 Hip Hop Honors The Dirty South: Show Arrivals With MyFox News NY

In this case, "dirty" is a good thing. The 2010 VH1 Hip Hop Honors celebrated the achievements of hip hop with a southern twist. This year's show honored music and influence of hip hop artists from the South.

"In order to continue our efforts to honor the best in hip hop, it is so important that we recognize the South and the tremendous impact that it has had on hip hop music," said VH1 executive Lee Rolontz. "The southern experience is one that is unique to America and while filled with its own testimony of trials and triumphs, hip hop has served as a universal medium where the journey is shared."

The special event and show -- which took place Thursday and will be broadcast on VH1 on Monday, June 7, at 9 p.m. -- paid tribute to Jermaine Dupri, J Prince of Rap-A-Lot Records, Luther "Luke" Campbell and The 2 Live Crew, Master P, and Organized Noize. (source)

Diddy & Friends At Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel On The Red Carpet

On January 2nd, Vanity Nightclub inside the Hard Rock Hotel held its Grand Opening red carpet with newcomer IYAZ, Jason Giambi, Keith Robinson, Laz Alonso, Corey McCormick, Megan Good, Nelly, Rick Ross, Jadakiss and Sean 'Diddy' Combs in Las Vegas, NV.

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50 Cent New Year's Eve At PURE Nightclub Las Vegas On The Red Carpet

via Las Vegas Weekly

As the last hour of 2009 ticked by on screens around the five-year-old club, a steady stream of guests and VIPs poured into the venue. Dressed in a sleek black ensemble of shine and lace topped with a structured blazer and shoulder pads, 24-year-old songstress Ciara stalked the red carpet outside Pure with a crew of female friends waiting to accompany her inside.

"I never really go out that often," said the singer who is reportedly dating 50 Cent, "so I'm just excited to go out and have a good time and enjoy myself."

If she hasn't been devoting much time to partying, maybe it's because Ciara simply hasn't had the time. In 2009, the multi-platinum selling artist behind tracks "Like a Boy" and "1,2 Step" released her third album, Fantasy Ride, toured with Jay-Z and made commercial appearances. Ciara seems to have had a better 2009 than most. She summed up her year as "pretty eventful, pretty fun, pretty prosperous, pretty great." Sounds pretty rare, too.

50 Cent also seemed to have missed out on some quality time in Las Vegas clubs. The rapper was last in town in April when he spent time in the Palms recording studio with Dr. Dre and Eminem for his Curtis album. "We got the chance to go to the movies a couple of times, but we didn't go out and party," 50 Cent explained.

Consider New Year's Eve making up for lost time, then.

50 started his performance on the Pure roof deck, welcoming 2010 with his suggestively titled song "Have a Baby By Me, Baby, Be a Millionaire." About half an hour past midnight, the concert continued in the club's main room.

"2010! We gonna ring it in right," the rapper called from the stage, now out of the black brocade jacket he sported for his walk down the red carpet and wearing a white jacket and his standard issue Yankees hat.

Standing next to boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr, who obligingly held up a stack of cash, 50 launched into the first song of his roughly 45-minute set, "I Got Money." The pair played off each other throughout 50's 13-song tour through his hits with so much chemistry, Mayweather might consider joining the music man on his next tour. When 50 called out "I get money!", Mayweather held up his own pile of bills, fanning them out for all to see. It was like a beautiful interpretive dance, with Benjamins.

"In Da Club," "Candy Shop," "Magic Stick," "Hate It Or Love It," "P-I-M-P" and "If I Can't" — the set list read like a track list for his greatest hits project. Surrounded by bodyguards — getting shot nine times would make anyone paranoid — 50 Cent plowed through his four-album catalog, and all the while a dapper Mayweather danced alongside, flipping off the crowd and even making it rain what looked like $100s for a moment above the packed club.

After performing for nearly an hour, 50 Cent closed out his set in an auditory hail of gunfire with the sound of shots echoing out of the speakers, as if to remind the crowd of the street legitimacy behind the now wealthy musician.

"Party time," 50 said before the spotlight suddenly cut out and he disappeared into the crowd encircled by burly men in black. Who doesn't love a dramatic exit?

50 Cent & The Game Recording Together? "You Shouldn't Really Hold Your Breath."

A red carpet interview with 50 Cent with Wisin Y Yandel at the Los Premios MTV 2009 Awards Show at the Gibson Amphitheatre Thursday, October 15 in Universal City, CA.

(video courtesy of SOHH and Moo Faces TV)

50 Cent supports Michael Jackson to the fullest

As Michael Jackson recently canceled some of the early dates of his upcoming tour engagement in London, Fifty had some words of encouragement for the 'King of Pop.'

50 Cent lends support to hero Michael Jackson
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