Briefly: N.W.A., Staind, Mary J. Blige, Cat Stevens, Iron Maiden, Freedy Johnston

N.W.A. is recording "Not These Niggaz Again," its first album in 10 years, Launch reported. Consisting of Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, M.C. Ren and Snoop Dogg, N.W.A is recording in a mobile studio as its members travel with the Up in Smoke tour.

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On its official website, Staind posted that it is re-releasing its first record, 1996's "Tormented."

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Mary J. Blige and comic-book creator Stan Lee are launching an "animated global franchise," portraying Blige online as "an original Stan Lee Hip Hop Super Heroine." According to Lee, the Blige character will be "a cross between Cleopatra Jones and Barbarella," and a "self-described 'Protector of the Hood.'''

Lee previously created an animated global franchise with Backstreet Boys.

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Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, was denied entry into Israel, then deported, The Associated Press reported. Israel's government has claimed that on a prior visit, Islam delivered money to Hamas, an Islamic group.

Through a spokesperson at Universal Music Enterprises, Islam said, "Upon my return to London, I heard reports that the Israeli authorities were trying to excuse their actions by linking me to terrorist groups. Whereas, at present I am actually supporting orphans in Hebron [a city near Jerusalem] and all my donations in the past were given to humanitarian causes. I want to make sure that people are aware that I've never ever knowingly supported any terrorist groups--past, present or future.''

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Twec.com will webcast an interview with Iron Maiden on July 18.

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AOL announced that it will be utilizing RealNetworks' RealSystem 8 software for its streaming audio and video, the New York Times reported. The price of a RealNetworks' share rose 12% following the announcement.

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Minneapolis' City Pages reported a fight between Freedy Johnston and one of several hecklers during the singer-songwriter's performance at the Taste of Minnesota festival. Witnesses claimed that the hecklers were persistent in their heckling, and that Johnston did his best to deal with it before jumping a fence in front of the stage and attacking one of them. Some audience members broke up the fight, some doused the hecklers "with jeers and beers."