Yes, rap beef battles started in the ‘hood, says a professor at the University of New Mexico, but it sure wasn’t on the streets of New York City, Philadelphia or south-central L.A. In fact, says the expert on American and Scottish culture, it wasn’t even in the United States. Professor Ferenc Szasz contends that free-style wars, where two or more rappers trade syncopated insults, actually come from the ancient Caledonian art of “flyting.” He says that Scottish slave owners took the tradition with them to the United States, where slaves got hold of it and made it their own. It later came back in the form of rap, he says. “Professor Szasz is convinced there is a clear link between this tradition for settling scores in Scotland and rap battles, which were famously portrayed in Eminem’s 2002 movie 8 Mile,” The Telegraph reports. Said Szasz: “The Scots have a lengthy tradition of flyting – intense verbal jousting, often laced with vulgarity, that is similar to the dozens that one finds among contemporary inner-city, African-American youth. Both cultures accord high marks to satire. The skilled use of satire takes this verbal jousting to its ultimate level – one step short of a fist fight.”

Singer’s re-location no thriller for neighbors. Singer Michael Jackson’s new choice of address in Las Vegas is creating some concern. Though he was acquitted of child sexual abuse in 2003, Jackson’s reputation for sleepovers and keeping company with juveniles still haunts him: Parents have expressed concern that the superstar lives down the street from Wasden Elementary School now that classes have begun. Jackson actually moved into the residence late last year, but drew recent attention when fans outside the house serenaded him for his birthday last month. Jackson’s security team sent pizza to the fans.

Rap publication not going out of business. Recently photographed eviction notices on the door of Source magazine’s Manhattan offices are misleading, say spokespersons for the publication. The long-time rap rag is only moving and severing ties with a previous staff, reps say. Long held by fans as a leading authority on hip hop, Source has helped launched the careers of many of today’s biggest rap stars.

Kirk Douglas petitions symbolic gesture. Long-time actor Kirk Douglas is using his MySpace page to help generate support for a national apology by the United States government for its involvement in slavery. Douglas, whose talent has earned him roles in everything from old Western flicks to TV shows like “Touched by an Angel” and a voice part on “The Simpsons,” is collecting signatures. The Oscar-nominated legend plans to eventually send his petition to the president. Douglas, 91, is the father of actor Michael Douglas.

Taraji Henson provides woman with food, shelter. A Hurricane Katrina survivor has three months of rent-free housing courtesy of actress Taraji Henson. Henson, who co-starred in Baby Boy and Hustle & Flow, was in New Orleans filming The Curious Case of Benjamin Button when she met the single mom and her children. “This woman lost everything during Katrina and came back and got her little apartment,” Henson says. “She had two daughters she was raising by herself and then her apartment caught on fire, so she lost everything twice. I wanted to give her something besides toys because where would they put it? They didn’t have anywhere to stay.”

Snoop owes actor Russell Crowe a favor. Rapper Snoop Dogg will have to speak to a group of Australian children as partial repayment of a favor to Gladiator star Russell Crowe. Snoop expects to tour the continent late next month after recently having his ban from the country lifted. Crowe, who lives in Australia, helped plead Snoop’s case to the government, calling the rapper a “friend.” “I submit to you that Snoop Dogg poses no threat to Australia or to any individual in this country,” Crowe wrote in a letter. “He has toured here three times before without incident and there are no reasons to assume this tour will be anything but the positive experience the last three have been. Snoop has built a stellar reputation with promoters and audiences worldwide.” Crowe added that he had a “selfish motivation” as well, saying that Snoop promised to appear at a youth charity event for Crowe’s South Sydney Rugby League Club. He wrote:  ”Some of our First Grade players will attend with him and he will deliver a powerful and positive message about rising through adversity, drawing on his own underprivileged background as an example. As you can imagine, such a visit will have a phenomenal effect.” Snoop had been banned due to his criminal record.

Former rap label boss accused of domestic violence attack on girlfriend

Suge Knight, former head of the bankrupt Death Row Records, faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon, possession of controlled substances and domestic violence after allegedly attacking his lady. Vegas cops arrested Knight after his girlfriend of three years said he punched her in the back of the head while he was driving early Wednesday. The alleged victim says she grabbed the steering wheel to draw attention to the car, in hopes that she’d receive help. The car jumped a curb and Knight allegedly chased her when she ran; police reportedly arrived just as he caught the woman. Cops say they witnessed Knight kicking the alleged victim and carrying a knife. With his prior record, if convicted, Knight seems a likely candidate to become the next rap industry figure to disappear for a while.

There are relatively few details available

The son of rap legend and hip-hop producer Dr. Dre was found dead at his home on Saturday.  BET.com’s Entertainment Spotlight has the latest.

Stalking’s not sexy, but can be inspiring, Terrence Howard says

He once rapped in the movie Hustle & Flow that it was hard out here for a pimp. But Terrence Howard knows from personal experience that it can also be hard for an ex, like it was when he separated from his wife. Howard, whose acclaimed acting will soon be compared with his music, wrote about the experience of stalking the mom of his three children after the couple split up. The song “No. 1 Fan” from his debut CD Shine It Through discusses the experience. “It was raining, and I was sitting there in front of the house, watching her come home from a date after we were divorced,” Howard tells the New York Times. “I was imagining what she did on this date, and watching her giving him a kiss. I went home and wrote this song.” Howard hopes his next big hit will be on the song charts, not in an appearance on “Cops.”

Rapper will tour with Ice Cube

Snoop Dogg will appear in concert in Australia with Ice Cube this fall after a ban against him was lifted. Snoop’s criminal record resulted in his being blocked from entering the continent by Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews last spring. But now he’s set to perform in the country for a 17-day tour beginning Oct. 21. The lift of Snoop’s ban has been met with anger by local activists who wanted the punishment to remain.

Baseball star doesn’t admit, deny cheating.

Four weeks after his wife Cynthia Rodriguez filed for divorce, Yankees star Alex Rodriguez has filed his response. The New York slugger, whose increasingly rumored affair with singer Madonna preceded his wife’s legal action, admits in paperwork that his marriage is “irretrievably broken.” A-Rod’s response, placed on record last week, points out that Cynthia Rodriguez signed a prenuptial agreement a month before the 2002 wedding. But the player agrees that he should pay child support and asks that a fair amount be decided. A-Rod’s soon-to-be ex wants the family’s $12 million Florida home, a chunk of his earnings during the marriage and custody of their two daughters.

Oklahoma freshman is booted off football squad for his Web antics. Incoming freshman Josh Jarboe is no longer a member of Oklahoma’s football squad – but he may have a future as an ignorant rapper. Coach Bob Stoops tossed Jarboe from the team after a video of the receiver rapping about guns and shooting people showed up on the Web. “We are disappointed in this outcome, but our complete review and this final decision is in the best interest of our program,” a statement from Stoops reads. “We outlined for Josh the expectations we had for him when he arrived and, unfortunately, those expectations have not been met. Josh needs to learn from this experience. We hope he can move forward in a positive manner.” The 74-second Web footage shows Jarboe rhyming angrily and with plenty of profanity. Now he can spit a few verses about one of the shortest college football careers in history.