Rapper Ja Rule has laughed off reports of a rift between the star and his The Inc. label co-founder Irv Gotti, insisting they are "brothers".

Rap boss Irv Gotti and his brother Christopher Lorenzo have pleaded not guilty and posted $2m (€1.5m) bail to remain free men after being hit with money-laundering, racketeering and weapons charges in New York.

Superstar Jennifer Lopez launched her new lingerie line this week but was so busy she couldn’t attend the launch party.

An investigation of alleged ties between a rap music label and New York’s violent drug trade has resulted in the arrests of two men for credit card fraud, authorities said.