Jay-Z and Beyonce deny wedding reports

Are Bonnie and Clyde about to get hitched? Several media outlets have reported that Jay-Z and Beyonce are getting married in a private ceremony in the Caribbean this weekend, but the couple has denied those reports. The New York Post reported that a planned four-day birthday bash for Jay-Z, who turned 37 December 4, was an elaborate ruse designed as a cover for a secret wedding. The paper said guests were invited to a party aboard a yacht anchored off St. Barts, from where they would be ferried to the nearby island of Anguilla for a wedding ceremony to be held at a luxury resort called Cap Juluca. Reps for both Jay-Z and Beyonce have denied the reports to Reuters, and the New York Daily News reported that the birthday bash actually occurred last weekend, noting that Beyonce is set to appear in Los Angeles Monday at the premiere of her new movie, Dreamgirls.

AOL Music to broadcast Ciara concert

Ciara fans looking to hear the R&B diva perform her new songs live will have a chance to do so Sunday night. AOL Music Live is set to broadcast Ciara'a concert from the Nokia Theatre in New York City live at 9 p.m. ET. The concert will stream from the site live and will be available on demand after the show ends. The singer's sophomore album, Ciara: the Evolution, hit stores this week and is projected to sell "well over 300,000 units in its first week," according to AOL. "Our audience has been clamoring for more and more Ciara, and we are excited to offer this live show just as her new CD hits," said Jack Isquith, executive producer of AOL Music Live, in a statement. AOL Music Live has broadcast concerts by a slew of big-name artists in recent months, including Jay-Z, Nelly Furtado, My Chemical Romance, Foo Fighters, and Josh Groban.

Nas defends Jay-Z in Def Jam flap

The brouhaha over Jay-Z's ability to support and promote his artists on Def Jam while doing so for his own album continues, and this time it's Nas who is coming to his new ally's defense. Once bitter rivals, Nas and Jay-Z settled their differences late last year and Nas signed to Def Jam. In an interview with Complex magazine, Nas rejected recent claims by LL Cool J that Jay-Z was putting his career before other Def Jam artists. "The music should be enough, and sometimes things slip through the cracks," Nas told the mag. "But people getting mad at Jay is corny. Especially someone like LL Cool J. He's too old of an O.G. to be mad at Jay. He's been at Def Jam since we were kids dreaming about being on Def Jam. We gotta get off this bull**** 'cause I never remember those artists talking about any white executives. That's some slavery s***. If my record comes out and goes wood, I can't blame Jay because it's my doing."

Nas told the mag he rejected an offer to become president of Atlantic Records last year, saying, "Artists are f****** crazy and they'd want to blame me for s***. I can't deal with that right now." He also said that he's not worried that he doesn't have as many revenue streams as some other big-name rappers. "You gotta realize that all rappers complain about their careers, but you ain't heard Nas complain about his career," he said. "You don't get here just f****** around. If Snoop Dogg makes a Snoop hot-dog then Nas gotta make one? If I decide I want to do movies or clothes I'll do them. None of this s*** is rocket science."

In terms of his career path, Nas said he's modeling himself after B.B. King. "If you look at these n***** that love hip-hop, they're broke or they're frustrated artists," he said. "I'm trying to learn from B.B. King. I'm going to be rapping when I'm 80."

B.B. King to get presidential honor

Speaking of B.B. King, the legendary blues guitarist is set to receive America's highest civilian honor at a ceremony hosted by President George W. Bush next week. The 81-year-old musician will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Bush, who has branded King "an inspiration" to many American musicians. The ceremony will take place at The White House. "For more than half a century, the King of the Blues and his guitar Lucille have thrilled audiences, with King helping to give the blues its special place in the American musical tradition," Bush said in a statement. Historian David McCullough, the late Negro League baseball star John "Buck" O'Neil, former New York Times columnist William Safire, and six others are set to receive the honor.

Outkast star set for hoops comedy role

For his latest movie role, Andre 3000 better bring his "A" game. The Outkast rapper--real name Andre Benjamin--has signed a deal to join Will Ferrell in the basketball comedy Semi-Pro. The New Line project is set in the '70s world of the now-defunct American Basketball Association and follows Jackie Moon (Ferrell), the owner-coach-player of the fictional Flint Michigan Tropics. Moon must lead his team on a desperate attempt to make it to the big leagues. Benjamin plays a self-styled ladies' man who is the best player on the team. Woody Harrelson already has been cast. Benjamin is the cocreator of Cartoon Network's Class of 3000. OutKast received two Grammy nominations this week for songs on the soundtrack album to its Idlewild movie.

Mel B, Murphy squabble over child

In a tale straight out of Surreal Life, Eddie Murphy and former Spice Girl Melanie Brown are engaging in a public tiff over whether or not Murphy is the father of Brown's unborn child. Murphy told a TV reporter this week that he was no longer dating Brown and that assuming the child was his was being "presumptuous" "until [the child] comes out and has a blood test," according to TMZ.com. Brown's publicist released a statement Thursday dismissing Murphy's comments. "I am obviously upset and distressed at some of the comments made by Eddie Murphy to the media," Brown, 31, said in the statement. "I have no idea why anybody would want to conduct themselves in this kind of manner about such a personal matter in such a public way. My main concern is for the well-being of my daughter, Phoenix, and of course the baby. I was astonished what Eddie said. There is absolutely no question that Eddie is the father."