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Image: LL Cool J
Chris Pizzello  /  AP file
Did LL Cool J almost quit rapping when Jessica Simpson's album outsold his?
By The Scoop
msnbc.com
updated 9/18/2008 10:10:30 PM ET 2008-09-19T02:10:30

LL Cool J and Jessica Simpson make unlikely competitors, but the rapper is said to be furious that Simpson’s album, “Do You Know” outsold his own the week both debuted.

According to Nielsen Soundscan, Simpson’s first country album topped the country chart and came in No. 4 overall in the rankings by moving 65,000 units. LL’s “Exit 13” came in at No. 9 with sales of 44,000.

“LL is furious,” says a source close to his label, Def Jam. “He was so angry at one point that he was beaten by Jess that he actually threatened to quit rap.”

As it turns out, LL was likely just having a moment. A rep for LL says that “he has no plans to quit now,” and the he’s focusing on celebrating his “sixth consecutive top 10 album in his nearly 25 amazing years in music.”

He certainly seemed in good spirits Sept. 17 during the Hennessy Artistry Kick-off Event in L.A. One attendee passes on the observation that LL “brought girls onstage and threw money into the crowd.” Yes, real money.

Kimora freezes out the public
There’s a lot of buzz surrounding designer Kimora Lee Simmons’  Sept. 9 trip to Cold Stone Creamery in New York City.

As Life & Style reported, Cold Stone closed the store to the public for about an hour, but contrary to some of the rumors, there was nothing diva behind the move. Simmons’ rep confirms that she and her two daughters were there filming an episode for her reality show “Life in the Fab Lane.”

“The reason they had to shut the store down for an hour is because Kimora and the girls were mixing exclusive flavors that they passed out at a dinner after Kimora’s fashion show that same night. There was nothing diva about the visit, it was all planned,” says the rep.

Denise Richards to continue to haunt reality airwaves
Watching “It’s Complicated,” Denise Richards’ reality show, is enough to make a viewer's eyes bleed. Sluggish “story” lines and the "can-the-kids-participate-or-can’t-they" backstory made the show nearly impossible to watch.

Slideshow: Celebrity Sightings So when it seemed that "Complicated" would be canceled, no one really moaned too loudly. However, Richards is saying rumors of the show’s death are greatly exaggerated.

Us Weekly caught up with her in L.A. Sept 16 and Richards said, "(The show is) coming back for another season, we start filming in a few months.”

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Asked if she has any thoughts for ex-husband Charlie Sheen and wife Brooke Mueller, who are expecting their first child together, Richards told Us, "I am not commenting on that situation. I hope one day get to a place (where I can), but I'm not commenting right now."

Weekend box office
It’s a cluttered weekend at the box office this weekend, and with the Emmys upon us, focusing on a potential number-one flick hasn’t been easy.

Look for Samuel L. Jackson's creepy-cop drama “Lakeview Terrace” to take over the top spot. It’s got the magical PG-13 rating, is the only drama/thriller opening, and will be screened in 2,400 theaters.

That said, “My Best Friend’s Girl” could have a solid showing. Factors working against it: It’s rated R, and is one of two comedies that open (the other is “Ghost Town” starring Greg Kinnear). Working for it: “My Best Friend’s Girl” is opening in more than 2,500 theaters.

Courtney Hazlett delivers the Scoop Monday through Friday on msnbc.com.

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