AND YOU THOUGHT "COP ROCK" WAS EMBARRASSING

SHYNE ON, YOU CRAZY DIAMOND
The judge overseeing the trial of Jamal "Shyne" Barrow and Sean "Puffy" Combs rescinded a warrant for Shyne's arrest Monday (1/22) after learning that the rapper will not face serious charges from a car accident he was involved in Sunday night. Judge Charles Solomon issued the warrant after prosecutor Matthew Bogdanos said Shyne might face criminal charges from the accident, which seriously injured two people. Solomon, however, later pulled the warrant after it was revealed that Shyne would only face a traffic violation charge of driving with a suspended license. Jury selection in the highly publicized case, which stems from a December shooting allegedly involving Shyne, Combs and bodyguard Anthony "Wolf" Jones, is expected to resume today (1/23), unless of course, someone is shot.

LOVE IS A WONDERFUL THING & PAYBACKS ARE A BITCH
Michael Bolton lost his bid to overturn a $5.4 million jury verdict in U.S. Supreme Court Monday (1/22). Bolton was arguing against the ruling that his 1991 hit, "Love Is A Wonderful Thing," illegally lifted parts of an identically named song by the Isley Brothers. In 1994, a Los Angeles federal jury found that Bolton's song was copied in part from the Isley Brothers' 1966 tune. Sony, Bolton's former music company, was ordered to pay $4.2 million, Bolton was told to cough up $932,924, co-writer Andrew Goldmark was fined $220,785 and their music publishing companies were told to pay $75,900. "This sucks," a label rep was heard saying. "We all knew his success was one of life's greatest mysteries, and now that success is costing us a fortune. His new haircut is pretty nifty, though."

GRAMMY LINEUP TAKING SHAPE
Madonna and U2 are the first artists confirmed to perform at the 43rd annual Grammy Awards, slated for Feb. 21 on CBS. A full-court press for controversial rapper Eminem to perform at the event has also begun. Hitsdailydouble.com could not confirm NARAS' reportedly high-level attempts to persuade Bud Scoppa, a nominee in the best liner notes category, to recite his prose over beats provided by fellow nom Humpty Vission.

AIN'T TALKIN' ‘BOUT LOVE
According to Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony, a new Van Halen album should hit the stores by fall with a tour to follow, SonicNet.com reports. While speculators have been doing what they do best—that is, speculating—regarding David Lee Roth's possible return to the band, neither Anthony nor spokespeople for Warner Bros., the band's label, would confirm or deny that possibility. "We will be making some announcements very soon. All I can really tell you is we're in the studio working on new material," Anthony said about the as-yet-untitled album. "As opposed to the last album, ‘Van Halen 3,' it's more oriented toward the early Van Halen-type sound." Former Extreme vocalist Gary Cherone, who sang with the band for about 15 minutes, said, "I'm really not doing anything right now. I mean, if Roth doesn't work out or even if they need someone to carry road cases, I'd love to help out." Somewhere, Sammy Hagar is slugging down a Cabo Wabo tequila and sucking on a lemon.

WILL IT BE NUMBER ONE WITH A BULLET?
A film documenting the tumultuous story of the rise and fall of Death Row Records will screen Feb. 2 at the Hollywood Black Film Festival in Los Angeles. "Welcome To Death Row," made without authorization from imprisoned label head Marion "Suge" Knight or input from Death Row employees, reportedly chronicles the label's activity from 1992-1996, detailing such events as Dr. Dre's exit from the fold and the murder of rapper Tupac Shakur. The film's director, S. Leigh Savidge, said the making of the film was difficult given that most affiliated with Death Row declined to participate. "Those that made out like bandits aren't talking and want the story to become buried history," says Savidge, according to Billboard. "[Some] are still stunned by Death Row's astonishing success but were humbled, misused or simply relieved to have survived the experience." Savidge spoke to Billboard from a heavily guarded bunker located somewhere in the United States. Meanwhile, Suge is still hitting up our own Roy Trakin for cigarettes.

MTV UBER ALLES
The MTV Europe Music will return to Germany for the first time since the inaugural show in 1994, it was announced by MTV Networks Europe President/Chief Executive Brent Hansen. The gala will take place November 8 at the Festhalle in Frankfurt. Previous shows were held in Paris ('95), London ('96), Rotterdam ('97), Milan ('98), Dublin ('99) and Stockholm (last year). Rumors the show will be hosted by new BMGE boss Rolf Schmidt-Holtz and will include a tribute to the artistry of Rammstein went unconfirmed at presstime.