Vlad the rapper ...

Putin in da house? Da! He’s tracked Siberian tigers wearing military camouflage, sat in the cockpit of a fighter jet, and shown off black-belt judo moves. Now Vladimir Putin is adding another groove to his tough guy persona: hip-hop idol.

Since the Russian leader popped up last week on a music TV show surrounded by rappers, some in the Kremlin elite are following his lead. On Tuesday, lawmakers and musicians staged a “rap battle for justice” that included a freestyle message urging President Dmitry Medvedev to fight corruption and other problems faced by everyday Russians.

Putin appeared on Muz-TV to hand out awards and declare that Russian hip-hoppers can help fight drugs and other problems of the youth.

“I have to say that young people involved in these arts in our country give them their own Russian charm,” Putin said in televised remarks Friday night. “Because rap ... is being filled with social content, discusses problems of the youth.”

Rappers meanwhile sang Putin’s praises and declared they would welcome the chance to record a track with the Russian prime minister.

“For this is Putin, he is our idol,” rapper Roma Jigan said in one improvised flow.

His bounce is back...

Elton John says he’s back on his feet after being sidelined for the flu and an E. coli bacterial infection.

The entertainer spoke about his recovery before Monday’s annual benefit for the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which honored former President Bill Clinton and Sharon Stone among others.

“The worst thing about being in the hospital was that, actually, it’s the first time I’ve been in bed for about nine days in the whole of my life, except for maybe when I had my tonsils out,” he said. “So, I was all right. I had a good rest; I didn’t expect it. The worst thing was having to cancel shows. I hate that. But I’m back on my feet and I’m bouncing around now.”

Extorting Crawford ...

The 26-year-old man charged with trying to extort $100,000 from former supermodel Cindy Crawford has surrendered, German prosecutors said Tuesday.

Edis Kayalar walked into a police station late Monday to give himself up, according to prosecutors in Stuttgart. He has been charged in Los Angeles with one count of extortion. If convicted, he could face up to two years in prison.

A U. S. attorney’s spokesman said the U. S. has not formally requested Kayalar’s extradition, and he did not know when that would occur.

Kayalar allegedly threatened to release a photo of Crawford’s daughter gagged and tied to a chair when she was 7 years old. According to court papers, the girl says a former nanny took the picture as part of a “cops and robbers” game.