So much for Ludacris having a shot to become Barack Obama's running mate. The rapper's latest attempt to boost Obama's candidacy has been ripped by the campaign itself. The rapper's verse is being described as "outrageously offensive" to Obama's former rival Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and his current rival for the White House, Senator John McCain. The song, "Politics As Usual," claims Obama's becoming president is destiny. It uses the b-word to describe Clinton and says that McCain doesn't belong in "any chair unless he's paralyzed." The song also goes after the current occupant of the White House, saying George Bush is "mentally handicapped." The statement from Obama's campaign says while Ludacris "is a talented individual," the rapper "should be ashamed of these lyrics."

It's a legal battle between the "king of bling" and Wyclef Jean. The company founded by "Jacob the Jeweler" is going after the former Fugees star in court, claiming the hip-hop star owes him money for watches and jewelry he bought.  Jacob and Company Incorporated claims Jean got a bunch of bling for $765,100 -- and that he still owes a little less than half on the purchase. The suit says there have been "repeated demands for payment," but to no avail. Reps for Wyclef didn't respond to e-mails requesting comment. The company's founder, Jacob Arabov, has had his share of legal issues lately. He was sentenced in June to 2½ years in federal prison for lying to investigators of a multistate drug ring. The jeweler's other customers have included Kanye West, Madonna and Elton John.

Halle Berry may be getting some backup in her battle against the paparazzi. Some Los Angeles are leaders are trying to come up with tougher rules to keep at bay those who have the job of snapping photos of the stars. Officials from jurisdictions like Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Malibu and Calabasas are meeting today to discuss ways to fight back against the paparazzi. Among the ideas being floated about are to create a "safety zone" around celebrities or requiring paparazzi to carry credentials and laying down rules for their behavior. Last  week, Berry said she's seeking criminal charges against photographers who came up with photos of her and her four-month-old daughter. She claims the paparazzi trespassed in her backyard to get the shots.