Drake, B.o.B., Lex Luger, UMPG Win Big At BMI Urban Awards; Snoop Dogg Honored

Drake took home his first songwriter of the year award during the BMI Urban Awards held Friday, Aug. 26. at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood.our editor recommendsDrake debuts 'Marvin's Room' video amidst Universal drama (Video)Lil' Wayne, Drake to Release Collaborative Record STORY: Warren G. on Nate Dogg's Death: 'I Still Think About Him Every Day' B.o.B. and Lexus "Lex Luger" Lewis also made history as the youngest-ever BMI Urban Award recipients in their categories. B.o.B. won the crown for song of the year ("Nothin' on You" featuring Bruno Mars); Luger was named producer of the year. And Snoop Dogg received the BMI Icon award at the annual ceremony, hosted by BMI president/CEO Del Bryant and Catherine Brewton, VP, writer/publisher relations, Atlanta. PHOTOS: MTV VMAs: Best and Worst Moments Also during the ceremony, which celebrates the songwriters, producers and music publishers of the past year's most-performed BMI R&B/hip-hop songs, Universal Music Publishing Group claimed publisher of the year honors with 13 of the most-performed songs. Those titles include "Airplanes," "Love the Way You Lie," "Deuces" and "Bottoms Up." Among the seven songs that helped Drake earn songwriter kudos are "Bedrock," "Find Your Love," "I Invented Sex" and "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)." Also honored were BMI's top urban producers: Polow Da Don, Daniel "Kane Beatz" Johnson, R. Kelly and Kanye West. The highlight of the evening was the Icon salute to Snoop Dogg. Wiz Khalifa jumpstarted the proceedings with his cover of the rap pioneer's "Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang." Among others who performed Snoop Dogg classics during the musical tribute were Warren G, The Game, Akon and Nas. Then Dr. Dre paid tribute to Snoop Dogg in a heartfelt speech before the man of the hour joined Bootsy Collins and Charlie Wilson onstage for an energetic rendition of "What's My Name?" Snoop Dogg joins such previous Icon honorees as George Clinton, the Jacksons, James Brown and Willie Nelson. Related Topics Snoop Dogg B.o.B. Drake

Scribe Maria Maggenti To Reboot Dirty Dancing

EXCLUSIVE: Lionsgate has set Maria Maggenti to script the Dirty Dancing remake thathas Kenny Ortega mounted on direct. Ortega was the choreographer from the 1987 Emile Ardolino-helmed film in regards to a spoiled youthful girl who summer season together with her trendy family in an establishment within the Catskills and falls deeply in love with the resident dance instructor. Because Lionsgate has fast-monitored the film and hang a director, it was employment lots of authors wanted. Maggenti first got it after scripting Monte Carlo for Fox and New Regency. Since that time, she scripted an adaptation of Before I Fall and it is completing I'm Memory, also for Fox 2000 and New Regency. The author’s repped by APA and Madhouse Entertainment. Lionsgate is wishing to recapture a few of the financial miracle from the original, a sleeper hit that because of its time was among the most lucrative independent films seen, costing $six million and grossing $213.95 million worldwide. It had been produced by Vestron, that could not get its act together and mobilize a follow up before crapping out. Lionsgate launched Artists 2004 follow up,Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, but didn’t make that film and it has began on your own and gone to the initial.

Perry Wins Top Recognition at VMAs Winehouse, Warrior spears Get Touching Tributes Beyonce Announces Pregnancy?

Britney Warrior spears It had been a evening of large claims as Rhianna outfitted just like a guy, Britney Warrior spears received a soaring tribute and Beyonce alluded to being pregnant throughout the MTV Video Music Honours. Take a look at arrivals about the MTV VMA black carpet Gaga opened up Sunday's show in drag, using tobacco, delivering a monologue before you take towards the piano and belting out her song "We.Inch Later within the evening, she presented the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award to Warrior spears following a homage that incorporated her hit tunes "Crazy," "Toxic," and the one which began everything, "Baby Again.Inch The happy couple then introduced Beyonce to the level, who gave a show-preventing performance of "Love on the top." However it was the finish from the routine which had fans screaming when she undid her shirt revealing a belly band, alluding to some baby bump. Obviously there have been also honours passed out. Rhianna won the inaugural Best Video having a Message and finest Female Video, both for "Born By Doing This." Tyler the Creator was crowned Best New Artist and also the top award for Video of the season visited Katy Perry for "Firework." The evening also featured a tribute to Amy Winehouse from Russell Brand with never-before-seen footage from her recording with Tony Bennett along with a performance by Bruno Mars. The entire listing of those who win: Best Rock Video: Foo Martial artists, "Walk" Best Male Video: Attacking Young Boys, "U Smile" Best Stylish-Hop Video: Nicki Minaj, "Super Bass" Best Collaboration: Katy Perry and Kanye, "E.T." Best Female Video: Rhianna, "Born By Doing This" Best Video having a Message: Rhianna, "Born By Doing This" Best Pop Video: Britney Warrior spears, "Up until the World Finishes" Best New Artist: Tyler the Creator, "Yonkers" Video of the season: Katy Perry, "Firework"

Nick Ashford of Ashford & Simpson Songwriting Duo Dies (Video)

Nick Ashford, who wrote many Motown classics with his wife Valerie Simpson, died Monday. He was 70.Related Topics•Obituaries His longtime friend and former publicist Liz Rosenberg told the Associated Press that Ashford died in a New York City hospital. PHOTOS: Hollywood's Notable Deaths He had been suffering from throat cancer and had undergone radiation treatment. Among the songs Ashford & Simpson penned are "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "You're All I Need to Get By" and "Reach Out and Touch Somebody's Hand." He is survived by his wife and two daughters. Ashford & Simpson sing their '80s hit "Solid" in the video below. < Related Topics Obituaries

Toronto International Film Fest: George Clooney, U2, Brad Pitt and Salma Hayek Among Attendees

TORONTO -- Awards season has arrived with the Toronto International Film Festival rolling out its all-star roster of Hollywood actors and directors for its upcoming 36th edition.our editor recommendsNick Stahl, Scott Speedman Lead Canadian Movie Lineup at Toronto International Film FestivalToronto International Film Festival Raises Volume With Rock DocsHollywood Stars to Bring Personal Bodyguards to Toronto International Film Festival Brad Pitt, George Clooney, James Franco, Rachel Weisz, Salma Hayek and Viggo Mortensen will be backing a flurry of Hollywood and indie movie bows in Toronto, as will Keira Knightley, Clive Owen, Gerard Butler, Michelle Yeoh, Ewan McGregor and Abbie Cornish. They aren't the only stars to have their publicists and stylists running around for days in preparation for TIFF's September 8 to 18 run. Also coming in search of Toronto cameras are members of the irish rock band U2, Neil Young, Glenn Close, Hugh Laurie, James Gandolfini, Jane Fonda, Ethan Hawke, Tilda Swinton, Jason Reitman, Albert Brooks, Gerard Butler and Jon Hamm. The paparazzi will also be getting poses on the red carpet from Philip Seymour Hoffman, Antonio Banderas, Willem Dafoe, Catherine Deneuve, Charlotte Rampling, Emily Blunt, Erin Brockovich, Geoffrey Rush, Hugh Laurie and Jane Fonda. And homegrown Canadian stars like Ryan Gosling, Jay Baruchel, Seth Rogen and Christopher Plummer will also be looking to turn heads in Toronto, as will local directors Jean-Marc Vallee, Sarah Polley, Eric Canuel, Mary Harron, Deepa Mehta and Lea Pool. There should also be sparkly numbers worn in Toronto by Joely Richardson, Selma Blair, Jennifer Hudson, Juliette Lewis, Kirsten Dunst, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Marisa Tomei, Robin Wright, Megan Fox, Michelle Williams and Mira Sorvino. Also donning their best threads are veteran directors Cameron Crowe, Francis Ford Coppola, Gus Van Sant, Joe Schumacher, Jonathan Demme, Bobcat Goldthwait and Davis Guggenheim, who will open TIFF on September 8 with his U2 documentary. Other international filmmakers that are Toronto-bound include Werner Herzog, Michael Winterbottom, Geoffrey Fletcher, the Dardenne brothers, Janine Fung, Kore-Eda Hirokazu, Luc Besson, Chantal Akerman, Darrell Roodt, Dain Said and Emmanuelle Millet. And the red carpet in Toronto will also be rolled out for Juliette Binoche, Kyle MacLachlan, Luke Kirby, Nicolas Cage, Oliver Platt, Sam Neill, Sarah Silverman, Terrence Howard, Akshay Kumar, Emile Hirsch, Ewan McGregor and Freida Pinto. Related Topics Toronto International Film Festival Brad Pitt George Clooney Glenn Close Salma Hayek International

The Help, Rise of the Planet of the Apes Beat Four New Films

Russell Armstrong and Taylor Armstrong Russell Armstrong will be cremated and his ashes will be divided between his family and his wife, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Taylor Armstrong, People reports.Bravo President: Real Housewives of Beverly Hills will be re-edited before airingContrary to reports, Armstrong's lawyer, Ronald Richards, tells the magazine that there was never any conflict between Armstrong's family and his wife over his final arrangements."It's my understanding that Taylor has indicated to Russell's nephew that Russell's family can take most of the remains back to Texas," Richards says. "They have a family cemetery there. ... She also wants some of his remains, so I'm assuming she will agree to cremate him."Andy Cohen: We're looking at how to proceed with Real Housewives of Beverly HillsRichards had no update on the family's funeral plans.Armstrong committed suicide last week, forcing Bravo to re-edit footage from the new season of Real Housewives, which was set to premiere Monday, Sept. 5. The network has not yet decided whether to postpone the premiere.

Jean-Claude Van Damme hits UK to shoot UFO

Writer and director Dominic Burns has revealed how he got Jean-Claude Van Damme to star in his British sci-fi movie UFO: he emailed the actor's wife.Burns admits he was surprised by the response, telling BBC News he was "astonished when the star agreed to play the role."Van Damme will play a retired military advisor in the movie and according to the director the muscles from Brussels is looking forward to seeing Derby."We heard he once visited the city to take part in some sort of martial arts display for about an hour but then headed off. He'll be here for a little longer this time," Burns said.UFO begins shooting in Derbyshire this week and also features Sean 'son of Pierce' Brosnan.