• Snoop Dogg is planning to attend a rally at a prison to protest the execution of former gang leader, Stanley Tookie Williams. Snoop also requested a visit with Williams but got denied entrance into the facility, thus securing his place as the first black man trying to get in to prison. [NME]

• Irv and Christopherr Gotti's Murder Inc. money laundering trial started yesterday in Brooklyn — and Ja Rule and Ashanti were on hand to show their support of the Gottti's. And, of course, to get their names in the news for the first time in years. [VH1]

• The Kaiser Chiefs have cancelled upcoming shows after contracting a "highly contagious and rare virus." The band hasn't released any details about their mystery disease, but if its this bird flu everyone's talking about, they should probably keep out of the States for a while. [Aversion]

• Walk the Line director James Mangold just remembered that Johnny Cash was "thrilled" to be played by Joaquin Phoenix. It seems likely that in his final weeks, soon after losing the love of his life, these are the sorts of things that were on Cash's mind. [MTV]

• Stateside success is no longer "in Robbie Williams' schedule." Yes, and enjoying your music certainly isn't in ours. [Billboard]

• Aaron Carter is shopping around for a new record label, after "getting screwed" by the one he has been with since he was 7. Ugh, is this even music news? [Lowdown]