Dido "struggled to cope" with stardom. The 36-year-old singer admits her sudden acceleration into the spotlight was surreal and she has not released anything since 2003 record Life for Rent because she was adjusting to fame.

She said: "When I got back from touring, it took a while to take in what had happened. I was so unprepared."

Eminem was on the toilet when he came up with his nickname Slim Shady. The "Lose Yourself" rapper finds his bathroom an inspiring place where he comes up with a lot of ideas.

He said: "I was sitting on the toilet and a lot of good material came out of that. This name popped into my head. I was kind of skinny and I thought maybe it should be something slim."

Eminem has been branded a liar by his mother. Debbie Nelson claims the image her son - real name Marshall Mathers -painted of her being a bad parent addicted to medication, living off welfare and neglectful of her youngest child is wholly untrue.

In her new memoir My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem, Debbie says: "At first I went along with it for Marshall's sake - if I made one mistake as a mother, it was giving in to my eldest son's every whim."

Dr. Dre's son has died. Andre Young Jr., 20, was reported to be unresponsive when his mother Nicole Young checked on him at around 10 a.m. on Saturday, so she immediately called emergency services to her Woodland Hills house.

It is not yet known how Andre died, but toxicology tests are being carried out to determine the cause of death.

50 Cent has overtaken Jay-Z to be named the Hip-Hop Cash King of 2008.

The "Candy Shop" singer topped the new list, compiled by Forbes.com, after making a staggering $150 million in the last 12 months.

Rapper/actor LL Cool J has become a victim of a phone prank - by superstar rapper Eminem. Marshal Mathers called in under the guise of a fan during a radio interview.

LL was a guest on DJ Tony Touch's radio show on Sirius Satellite Radio station when a fan named "Jason from Miami" called in to challenge the rapper to a round of "Name That Tune," where Jason would recite the "Control Myself" artist lyrics and he would have to guess what song is that.