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PEOPLE & ARTS A29
In this Sept. 27, 2015, file photo, Bobby Brown attends the 26th
Annual Heroes and Legends Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Bobby Brown working
on ‘unvarnished’ memoir
HILLEL ITALIE
AP National Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Get
ready for a “raw and un-
varnished” memoir by
Bobby Brown.
The platinum-selling singer,
ex-husband of the late
Whitney Houston and fa-
ther of the late Bobbi Kris-
tina Brown has a deal with
Dey Street Books for “My
Prerogative,” the publisher
told The Associated Press
on Tuesday. The book is
scheduled to be released
in June.
Brown, in a statement is-
sued through Dey Street
Books, called the memoir
a journey through his “cra-
zy, exciting, fascinating
world.”
“Right after I signed on
to write my story, I went
through one of the most
agonizing traumas I had
ever experienced with the
death of my daughter,”
Brown said, referring to the
July 26 death of 22-year-
old Bobbi Kristina, who was
found face-down and un-
responsive in a bathtub
Jan. 31 at her home in Ro-
swell, Georgia.
Houston, Bobbi Kristina’s
mother, was found dead
in a bathtub in Beverly Hills, ery Little Thing,” ‘’Humpin’
California, in 2012.
“But I was surprised by
how therapeutic it was
to work on this project,
to look at the entire arc
of my life and to realize
that although there has
been considerable pain,
I have also been incred-
ibly blessed,” Brown said.
Friday 16 October 2015
Jay Z testifies in dispute over
his hit song “Big Pimpin’ “

Associated Press
“I hope my fans and other In this Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015 file image taken from video, rapper and entrepreneur Jay Z
readers of this book will
be entertained by this appears outside of court in Los Angeles. Associated Press
trip into the crazy, excit-
ing, fascinating world of ANTHONY McCARTNEY attempted to show him a duced the “Khosara Kho-
Bobby Brown. And I hope AP Entertainment Writer passage in a book Carter sara” melody to him just
they will feel that I have LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jay had written about his lyrics, as he was about to leave
been as honest and open Z told a jury Wednesday the performer wryly said, a meeting. He said there
with them in these pages that he believes he has a “You can read it from over wasn’t anything like it on
as I have tried to be my valid license to use Arabic there.” the radio at the time, and
entire life.” Financial terms music featured on his 1999 The courtroom burst into he put together the bulk
for “My Prerogative” were hit “Big Pimpin’” that is now laughter, as it did again of the song over the next
not disclosed. Dey Street the subject of a copyright when Carter was asked few hours. The rapper said
Books called the memoir infringement trial. by his own attorney about he likes working with Tim-
“raw and unvarnished” The rap superstar spent artists whose careers he baland because they push
and promised that Brown roughly 90 minutes testify- had fostered, including Ri- each other.
will “tell the full story of ing in a federal courtroom hanna, J. Cole and Kanye “He tells me his beats are
his life and set the record Wednesday, recounting his West. better than my raps. I tell
straight, particularly about life, his successes and the “Some people may have him my raps are better
his relationship with Whit- creative process that led heard of him,” Carter’s at- than his beats,” Carter
ney Houston.” him and music producer torney, Andrew Bart, said said. “It’s an ongoing thing
“’My Prerogative’ is the Timbaland to create “Big of West. that I keep winning.”
story of a man who has Pimpin’,” which was his first “One or two,” Carter re- Mosley and many in the
been on the top of the major hit single. sponded. “He’s running for courtroom laughed.
mountain and in the Jay Z and Timbaland are president.” Carter sang the produc-
depths of the valley and being sued by an heir of The rapper was more se- er’s praises, calling him a
who is now finally ready to Baligh Hamdi, an Egyptian rious when questioned genius whose work tran-
talk about his career and composer who created about the rights to “Kho- scends any one genre.
family life, from the pas- the 1957 hit “Khosara Kho- sara Khosara,” which he Jurors on Wednesday also
sion and the excess to his sara” that has elements said he thought had been heard from experts on
creative inspirations and featured in the rapper’s hit. properly negotiated af- Egyptian law and a vid-
massive musical success,” The rapper, whose real ter issues were raised fol- eotaped deposition of
according to the publish- name is Shawn Carter, lowing the release of “Big Hamdi’s nephew, Osama
er’s statement. used one of his old CDs — Pimpin’.” Ahmed Fahmy. Fahmy tes-
Brown, 46, has been a star introduced into evidence Carter gave mostly curt an- tified that he never con-
since co-founding New by a lawyer for Hamdi’s swers, responding “yes” or tacted Carter, Mosley or
Edition more than 30 years family — to illustrate his “no” or “correct” to many numerous music compa-
ago, his hits including “Ev- point. questions. nies he sued before filing
“We have the rights as you Lawyers for Carter and Tim- suit in 2007, calling the case
Around” and the song that can see on the bottom of baland, whose real name “the work of an attorney.”
provides the title for his the CD,” Carter told jurors, is Timothy Mosley, told jurors Defense lawyers are ex-
memoir, “My Prerogative.” referencing liner notes that on Tuesday that Hamdi’s pected to begin their case
But many think of him first credits “Khosara Khosara.” family had been repeated- on Thursday.
for his tumultuous time with The rapper mixed his tes- ly paid for the use of “Kho- Ross has accused Carter
Houston, to whom he was timony with no-nonsense, sara Khosara.” Four notes of lacing vulgar lyrics over
married from 1992 to 2007, one-word answers, humility from the song’s 74 notes Hamdi’s beautiful melody
his run-ins with the po- about his success and hu- are repeated throughout without receiving the prop-
lice and his struggles with morous moments. “Big Pimpin’,” a music ex- er permission, although
drugs and alcoholism.q When Pete Ross, the law- pert testified Wednesday. “Big Pimpin’s” lyrics are not
yer for Hamdi’s nephew, Carter said Mosley intro- an issue in the case.q