People talk 04/18/03

Run-DMC at top of VH1's hip-hop list

NEW YORK -- The pioneering rap group Run-DMC tops VH1's list of the 50 greatest hip-hop acts, which includes Tupac Shakur, Nelly, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs and MC Hammer.

Run-DMC's Darryl McDaniels told The Associated Press he's humbled by the music channel's choice. The complete list will be revealed today during a "50 Greatest Hip-Hop Artists" special.

"What Run-DMC always wanted to do," McDaniels said Wednesday, "was represent hip-hop the way it should be represented."

Rounding out the top 10 is Public Enemy, Shakur, the Notorious B.I.G., LL Cool J, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Grandmaster Flash, Salt-N-Pepa and Jay-Z.

Run-DMC -- McDaniels, Joseph "Run" Simmons and DJ Jam Master Jay, or Jason Mizell -- helped take rap mainstream with multiplatinum records and hits including "It's Tricky" and "Walk This Way" with Aerosmith in the 1980s.

Mizell, 36, was shot to death in his Queens, N.Y., recording studio in October. His killing remains unsolved. McDaniels said: "We'll try to, in the remembrance of Jam Master Jay and everybody before us ... keep it real."

Other acts who made the list include The Roots, Lil' Kim, the Beastie Boys, Ja Rule, Afrika Bambaattaa, De La Soul, Missy Elliott and Queen Latifah.

Death of Mr. Rogers alters Seton ceremonies

GREENSBURG, Pa. -- Fred Rogers' death has transformed Seton Hill University's commencement ceremonies.

Rogers, the host and creator of the children's television show "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," had been scheduled to speak at the May 10 commencement of the private Roman Catholic school.

Instead, the ceremony will feature a tribute to Rogers, who died Feb. 27 of stomach cancer, and an address by publisher Steve Forbes, a former candidate for the Republican presidential nomination.

Forbes, president and chief executive of Forbes Inc., agreed to speak at the ceremony out of his regard for Rogers and at the urging of his two daughters, lifelong fans of Rogers, university officials said this week.

Rogers will receive a posthumous honorary degree from the school, about 30 miles east of Pittsburgh. Forbes also will receive an honorary degree, as will Rogers' wife, Joanne, a concert pianist.

Jolie donating $10,000 to help children's hospital

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Angelina Jolie said she'll donate $10,000 to help a children's hospital in northern Sri Lanka.

Jolie, a goodwill ambassador for the U.N.'s refugee agency, said Wednesday she was saddened after listening to a group of 500 orphan girls affected by the war between Sri Lanka's government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam.

The 27-year-old actress said she's making the donation to help rebuild the pediatric ward in a hospital in Jaffna, an area that was the center of the two decades-long civil war.

The government and rebels signed a cease-fire in February 2002.

A series of peace talks since September have raised hope that the war, which has killed 65,000 people, may be ended.

Jolie won a supporting-actress Oscar for 1999's "Girl, Interrupted." Her upcoming films include "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life" and "Sharkslayer."

Braxton to join cast of Disney musical

NEW YORK -- Toni Braxton is graduating from Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" to "Aida."

The sultry-voiced singer will join the cast of "Aida," the long-running, Disney-produced Broadway musical, on June 30 for a limited four-month engagement. Braxton, whose hits include "Breathe Again," "Un-Break My Heart" and "He Wasn't Man Enough," previously starred as Belle in the Broadway edition of "Beauty and the Beast" in 1998.

"Aida," which has a score by Elton John and Tim Rice, opened at Broadway's Palace Theatre in March 2000.

Set in ancient Egypt, it tells the love story of the Nubian princess Aida, sold into slavery, and her love for a handsome soldier, Radames.

'Contemporary icon' J. Lo will model luxury goods

PARIS -- Luxury goods maker LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton has signed singer-actress Jennifer Lopez for its fall-winter advertising campaign for star brand Louis Vuitton.

Designer Marc Jacobs wanted a "contemporary icon" to represent the company and sought "a sophisticated, influential and sexy woman," Vuitton said.

Lopez, 32, starred in 2002's "Maid in Manhattan." Her latest album, "This Is Me ... Then," was released in November.

The ads will appear in magazines and on billboards, the company said Wednesday.

-- From wire reports