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August 31, 2002 - Friday's Gossip to Go with Flo on K104 had the DJ's and Flo talking about Michael Jackson's birthday present turned Artist of the Millenium Award at last night's MTV Video Music Awards. They also talked about the Pepsi firing of Ludacris after conservative talk show host Bill O'Reilly announced a boycott. Finally, they gave Christina Aguilera a rough time for her racy outfit at the VMAs. Listen to the clip here.

August 31, 2002 - Tons of photos from last night's Video Music Awards are on the net today, including shots of *NSYNC, Enrique Iglesias with girlfriend Anna Kournikova, Avril Lavigne, Eminem, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Christina Milian, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Justin Guarini, Kelly Clarkson, Ludacris, Kylie Minogue, Michael Jackson, Shakira, Willa Ford, and more. Check out photos from Yahoo, WireImagecom, GlobePhotos, GettyImages, and LFI (PressRoom, Arrivals1, Arrivals2, and Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs Party).

August 29, 2002 - Reuters has more details on Pepsi canning Ludacris over a boycott called by Fox News host Bill O'Reilly. Pepsi issued a statement saying, "We have a responsibility to listen to our consumers and customers and we've heard from a number of people that were uncomfortable with our association with this artist. We've decided to discontinue our ad campaign with this artist and we're sorry that we've offended anyone." Read more.

August 29, 2002 - Here's what I had to say to Bill O'Reilly:
I find it odd Mr. O'Reilly that here you are blasting Pepsi for hiring Ludacris and E! for airing Anna Nicole Smith when FOX had on porn star Jenna Jameson in three different FOX programs, all in the same week, YOUR interview with her on 'The Pulse' (which in a bid for ratings received plenty of commercial promos), Fox Magazine's interview, and Judith Regan's interview with Jenna, who incidently has a book deal with the porn star. Why aren't you putting the heat on Regan? I think the pot is calling the kettle black here.
Since O'Reilly is gloating about having "95% of the e-mail on my side", let's see these numbers swing the other way. Agree or disagree, e-mail him at oreilly@foxnews.com and spread the word. 

August 29, 2002 - A day after O'Reilly Factor host Bill O'Reilly called for a boycott of Pepsi over their hiring of Ludacris for an ad spot, the soft drink company buckled late Wednesday and fired Ludacris. Bill was gloating about how 3,000 Factor viewers responded to the report, mostly in favor. If you want to respond to Bill O'Reilly on this heavy handed hypocritical move (read what he's whining about and then here you have 'Celebrity Boxing' and 'Who Wants To Marry A Millionaire' on FOX... WTF?), email him at oreilly@foxnews.com. For a transcript to what Bill had to say, read on.

August 29, 2002 - Bill O'Reilly went off on Pepsi and Ludacris top open Tuesday's 'O'Reilly Factor' on Fox News. Bill called for a boycott of Pepsi after word that the soft drink company would be featuring commercials using Ludacris. O'Reilly cited Luda's 'vile lyrics' and that Pepsi was throwing morals out the window in order to appeal to fans of the rapper. Read on for a transcript of his debates with both Pepsi marketing rep Bart Casabona and Leon Winter, the author of 'American Skin Pop Culture, Big Business and The End of White America .'

August 23, 2002 - MTV News announced Thursday that Avril Lavigne, Ludacris, and Disturbing Tha Peace will prime the crowd before the VMAs next Thursday, as they've been tapped to perform during the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards Opening Act.

August 20, 2002 - LFI has photos of Xzibit, Papa Roach, and Ludacris performing live at the Anger Management Tour stop at Glen Helen Amphitheater in Devore, California on Friday (August 16). Check out the photos here.

August 18, 2002 - Scott Burroughs of SLAMM San Diego spoke recently with Ludacris who explained how he intends on staying atop the hip hop world. "Longevity is important," he admits. "It’s about reinventing yourself every time and trying to challenge yourself as far as your rap is concerned. You‘ve gotta grow and change everyday, ‘cuz music is changing everyday, but also stay true to yourself as an artist." Read more.

August 13, 2002 - WireImage.com has photos of Ludacris and Papa Roach touring on the Anger Management Tour 2002 for their stop at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California on Sunday. Check out the photos here.

August 6, 2002 - Jim Derogatis of the Chicago Sun-Times reviewed the Anger Management Tour stop on Thursday night when it pulled into a sold-out Allstate Arena. Derogatis writes of the Ludacris set, "The rapper interspersed his own jams with the standard, miserably cliched hip-hop routines of 'wave your hands in the air' and the 'left side/right side' battle. Combined with his frequent use of 'bitches' and 'hoes,' it all made him seem dumber and much less talented than he actually is, unless his recordings have been a fluke." Read more.

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