FAT TUESDAY'S GETTING
AWFULLY THIN

CRAZY LIKE A FOXY
Foxy Brown is the latest rapper to be implicated in a shootout, this one outside a New York radio station Sunday (2/25). According to Reuters, investigators said the shooting may have been sparked by a rivalry between Brown and Lil' Kim. Police said Kim was leaving the WHQT Greenwich Village studio, when rapper Capone of the duo Capone-N-Noreaga arrived. Security video shows that Kim's limo started to pull away, then stopped and let four or five men jump out. Shortly after, gunfire erupted. Police say 22 shots were fired from five different weapons. One man, Efrain Ocasio, was struck in the back. He was treated and released Monday (2/26) from a New York hospital. Two years ago, Kim lyrically dissed Brown on "Notorious K.I.M." Last year, Brown countered by attacking Kim on "Big Bang," a song appearing on Capone-N-Noreaga's album "The Reunion." While none of the rappers' camps would officially comment, Brown's anger was reportedly sparked when she heard Kim say her SAT scores were higher than Foxy's.

RENEGADE RAPPER ROPED IN
After more than two weeks on the lam, rapper DMX has turned himself in to police in upstate New York to begin his 15-day sentence for traffic and drug charges. The Ruff Ryder surrendered Monday (2/26) night in Cheektowaga, NY. DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, was sentenced for driving with a suspended permit, making an illegal lane change and marijuana possession near Buffalo, NY, in March 2000. He then failed to appear in court, prompting an arrest warrant. DMX will serve his sentence at the Erie County Correctional Facility in Alden, NY. The rapper will likely be released early for good behavior, possibly by March 6. An Island Def Jam spokesperson said it's all part of the marketing set-up for his new album.

WACKY WORLD OF WHITNEY
Whitney Houston has won another temporary restraining order against an overzealous fan. On Tuesday (2/27), New Jersey Superior Court Judge Kenneth MacKenzie issued the order in Morris County court against Desiree Weeks, a psychiatric patient in New York. Houston is also seeking a permanent restraining order against Weeks, with a hearing set for March 27. A previous restraining order against Weeks was lifted in June, but Houston moved to reinstate the order when it was learned Weeks escaped from the mental institution for 11 hours on Jan. 26. According to court papers, Weeks has barraged Houston with letters and cards, in which Weeks wrote the singer was her "supernatural reincarnated mother," stating, "you are my world." Weeks also sent gifts, including chocolates for Valentine's Day and a four-tiered cake. In December 1999, she mailed Houston a bra and panties, pajamas for her husband Bobby Brown and pillows for her daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown. Houston reportedly became enraged to find none of Weeks gifts were postmarked from Hawaii.

RAINFOREST FOR THE TREES
Jackson Browne, blues artist Keb' Mo and Dr. John are among the artists taking part in "Smart Sounds: Music for the Planet IV," a benefit show for the Rainforest Alliance. The concert will take place March 6 at the Beacon Theater in New York and will also include BR5-49, the Band's Levon Helm, Odetta, "Southside" Johnny Lyon and Kim Wilson of the Fabulous Thunderbirds. Musicians taking part in "Smart Sounds" will perform on instruments made from wood grown and harvested according to standards of the Alliance's Smart Wood program. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster, and a limited number of benefit tickets, which include entry to an after-party, are available directly from the Rainforest Alliance at 212-677-1900. All ducats are manufactured from natural hemp plants and, when smoked, produce an insatiable desire for Twinkies.