ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT REPORTS FROM THE TIMES, NEWS SERVICES AND THE NATION’S PRESS.

MOVIES

The Friendly Skies Become New Line Turf

New Line Cinema and United Airlines have hooked up on a two-month promotional campaign tied to the Aug. 3 release of “Rush Hour 2,” an action comedy starring Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker and Zhang Ziyi, in which the setting of Hong Kong is pivotal. On July 26, United’s L.A.-to-Hong Kong flight will be renamed “The Rush Hour Express,” with the exterior of the 747-400 featuring a “Rush Hour 2” logo and a special in-flight premiere. A trailer for the movie is already playing, and in August promotional cards will be placed on meal trays. “United was excited that we’re depicting them as the airline of choice on an extremely competitive route,” said Joshua Ravetch, vice president of production resources at New Line. “And we’re always looking for novel promotional partners where product placement is organic to the storyline. This is the first premiere of a major studio release on an airplane in recent memory.” “Rush Hour 2” is a sequel to the 1999 film that earned $250 million worldwide.

POP/ROCK

ODB Draws Prison Sentence on Drug Rap

Rapper ODB, who pleaded guilty in April to drug charges, was sentenced Wednesday to two to four years in prison. The New York Supreme Court judge also recommended that state correction authorities determine whether ODB--whose real name is Russell Jones--needs psychiatric or substance abuse treatment. Jones was arrested in July 1999 when police found cocaine and marijuana in his car after he was pulled over for running a red light. He pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance. Jones, 32, is a founding member of the popular Staten Island-based rap group the Wu-Tang Clan.

R&B; Group to Honor Trailblazers in October

The Rev. Al Green, whose hits “Let’s Stay Together” and “I’m Still In Love With You” defined the smooth sound of 1970s Memphis soul, will be honored with the lifetime achievement award when the Rhythm and Blues Foundation stages its 12th annual Pioneer Awards in New York in October. Among the other winners: Los Angeles tenor sax player Big Jay McNeely, Dee Dee Sharp, the Emotions, songwriting team Holland-Dozier-Holland and New Orleans producer Allen Toussaint. The Legacy Award will go to saxophonist Louis Jordan, whose rollicking hits created a template for R&B; music when he hit the scene in the 1930s.

QUICK TAKES

Eminem has received a visa from the Australian government to perform in concert there next week--with certain stipulations. Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock said in a statement Wednesday that Eminem was warned that the visa “carried with it a responsibility of respect for our multicultural society and values and the need to avoid vilifying or inciting discord.” ... The debate over whether “CBS Evening News With Dan Rather” is right not to have covered the Rep. Gary Condit-Chandra Levy story may be old news. Executive producer Jim Murphy said the broadcast was working on a piece related to the story that was scheduled to air Wednesday night.... The Ky-Mani Marley/Steel Pulse West Coast tour, including shows tonight at the Roxy and Saturday at the Galaxy Theatre, has been canceled because of scheduling problems. No new tour dates have been announced.