A meeting with New York City authorities this morning (January 5) has resulted in a misdemeanor assault charge for rapper Jim Jones, his attorney told AllHipHop.com.

 
The Dipset leader turned himself in to the NYPD’s 18th Precinct to discuss an alleged Christmas Eve altercation.

 According to several conflicting reports, Jones was involved in a melee with singer/songwriter Ne-Yo and members of his entourage at the Fifth Avenue Louis Vuitton store in Manhattan on December 24.

 Jones surrendered to the NYPD in accordance with arrangements made by attorney Scott Leemon last week, Leemon told TMZ.com

 While details of the incident remain unclear, the information provided by Jones was enough to warrant a charge and a summons for a desk appearance.

 He is scheduled to appear in court on February 4. Jones was released without bail immediately after making his statement, Leemon told TMZ.

 He declined to comment further on the case.
As for Jones, he has declined to speak on the matter, despite several public appearances over the holidays.
At press time, a spokesperson for the NYPD could not be reached for comment.

Source: TMZ

 New music will not be the only thing fans can look forward to from 50 Cent and Busta Rhymes in the coming months.

 Under a new agreement between the rappers’ management company, Violator Management, and Wilton, Connecticut.-based Drinks Americas, Busta Rhymes and 50 Cent will be used to market the Leyrat Cognac and Sparkling Vodka brands.
The new alliance is not the first time Drinks Americas has reached out to the rap community.

 The beverage company entered into an equity partnership with super producer Dr. Dre in February 2008, to develop and market a series of premium alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages.
The venture stemmed from Drinks Americas’ June 2007 partnership agreement with the beatmaker’s label Interscope Geffen A&M.
The union is noted for being the first equity partnership agreement between a music company and a beverage company to develop new products.

In August, Drinks Americas revealed it would introduce Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Cognac.
The beverage maker was set to work with premium cognac producer Abecassis Cognac to handle the production, supply and European distribution of the entertainer’s liquor.

 In addition to Aftermath Cognac, an 80-proof flavored and unflavored sparkling vodka was set to be unveiled by Drinks Americas.

 The new drinks would hit the market around the same time as the release of Dr. Dre’s highly anticipated Detox album.

 News of Violator’s agreement with Drinks Americas comes amid agreements the company made to produce various celebrity branded drinks that include Willie Nelson’s Old Whiskey River Bourbon, Donald Trump’s Trump Super Premium Vodka, and Paul Newman’s Own Sparkling Fruit Drinks and Sparkling Waters.

Source: MTV

 In addition to his legal woes, embattled rapper DMX has fallen victim to the harshness of the current real estate market His luxurious Arizona home is in shambles and is now facing foreclosure.

 The five bedroom house, which lies on a sprawl in the Cave Creek valley outside of Phoenix, is currently on the market for $429,000, nearly $200,000 less than the multi-platinum selling rapper paid for the home in 2003.

 Had the home been kept in proper condition, it should be worth nearly $650,000, according to a local real estate agent in charge of selling the home.

 The house is being sold on behalf of the bank and according to DMX‘s wife Tashera Simmons, part of the reason for the home’s poor condition is that after the Simmons separated, no one took care of the home.

 In addition to the fact that the family ceased paying for the cleaning service that had previously taken care of the home in their absence, the home was further left damaged after a SWAT Team raid in May of last year.
The raid, which resulted in the X’s arrest on drug and animal cruelty charges, left several open access points for thieves to access the home.
Following the SWAT Team’s investigation, the house’s front door was left blown in, as well as several broken windows around the property.

 They also left the tile and carpet throughout the house charred.
In the months since, burglars have removed nearly all valuables in the home, including DMX’s ATV recreational vehicles.

 To make matters worse, when the bank took over the property, they found anything that the thieves deemed uninteresting simply laying in the pool.

 The real estate company selling the house, which was showcased on DMX’s 2006 BET reality show Soul of a Man, hopes to still sell the house, despite it’s current condition. 

Source: TMZ

 West Coast rapper Kurupt is gearing up for what he hopes to be an exceptional New Year.

 In addition to three new projects slated for release in 2009, the Dogg Pound co-founder has created a new imprint to be distributed through Fontana/Universal, he told mtv.com exclusively.

 The newly founded Penagon Entertainment will be operated jointly by Kurupt and his Atlanta-based management firm Lakeshow Management.

 The distribution agreement with Fontana/Universal will allow the former Death Row Records VP to retain all creative control over his music and those signed to the label. 
It also provides for the continued expansion of the label’s roster, while growing his resume as a business man.

Kurupt is also adding to his lengthy catalog of collaborations, with the release of a new album with DJ Quik.

The new LP, entitled Blaqout, will be released via Quik’s Mad Science Records, which is also distributed by Fontana/Universal.
The idea for the project came about while the two worked together on Snoop Dogg’s album, Ego Trippin’.

During their many discussions about music, Kurupt said they came to the conclusion that they should create an album together.
“Me and Quik are like night and day,” Kurupt said. “You can’t have one without the other - the perfect combination.”

 While putting the finishing touches on Blaqout, Kurupt is also preparing for the February release of his next solo LP, Street Lights, which will be the first project on Penagon/Fontana/Universal.

 The album heavily features production by West Coast producer Terrance Martin, known for his work on Snoop’s last album.
Also in the pipeline is 100 Wayz, the latest offering by Tha Dogg Pound, which is the first official album from the group since 2005’s Dogg Food.

In past interviews, the group has said that their intermittent releases should be considered no more than official mixtapes.
In preparation for the new release, Daz and Kurupt recently partnered with DJ Drama for Tha Dogg Pound Gangsta Grill titled Full Circle.

The duo is also working on a collaborative project with producer Pete Rock. 

Source: MTV

 Vincent Ford, the man credited with writing Bob Marley’s classic “No Woman, No Cry,” passed away in Jamaica on December 28.  According to Intrepid reporter Brittany Somerset, the songwriter’s death comes after a long struggle with diabetes. 

Both of Ford’s legs had been amputated due to complications from the disease.  Ford became good friends with Bob Marley as the two grew up in the Trench Town ghetto of Kingston, Jamaica in the 1960s.  The song “No Woman, No Cry” first appeared on Bob Marley’s 1974 album Natty Dread. 

The most well known version of the track remains the concert version off the 1975 album Live!  The song later gained even more international fame with its inclusion on the greatest hits compilation Legend (1984), now recognized as the best selling reggae album of all time.  Although Vincent Ford is officially credited as the sole songwriter of the seminal hit, rumors persist that Marley added Ford’s name to ensure his friend would have royalties for the rest of his life. 

Despite the whisperings, Ford went on to write three more songs for Marley’s breakthrough album Rastaman Vibration: “Positive Vibration,” “Roots, Rock, Reggae,” and “Crazy Baldhead.”  After Marley succumbed to cancer in 1981, Ford ran a soup kitchen in his native Jamaica and made no further forays into songwriting. 

“No Woman, No Cry” continues to be a popular cover song.  Throughout its 35 year history, the song has been reworked by The Fugees, Sean Kingston, Pearl Jam, Jimmy Cliff, Faith Hill, and Tila Tequila.   Vincent Ford was 68 years old. 

Source: Brittany Somerset

 The Los Angeles coroner’s office has determined that the August death of Andre Young, Jr. was due to an overdose of heroin and morphine.

 The 20-year-old, born Andre Young, Jr. was found unconscious and not breathing on August 23 by his mother at the family’s Woodland Hills home.

 He had spent the night partying with friends. An autopsy was completed within a few days, but the cause of a death was delayed per the results of a myriad of tests, including a toxicology report.
LA coroner spokesman Larry Dietz revealed that his division has officially closed the case as an "accidental death" due to "morphine and heroin intoxication."

 Since the untimely passing on his son, Dr. Dre has declined to speak on the matter, requesting that fans and media alike respect his family’s need for privacy.

"Dr. Dre is mourning the loss of his son," stated Lori Earl, the producer’s publicist. "Please respect his family’s grief and privacy at this time."

 The devastating loss came as Dre was preparing a December release of the oft-delayed and long-awaited Detox, his third and alleged final studio album.

 The LP is now expected to follow new albums in 2009’s first quarter from Eminem (Relapse) and 50 Cent (Before I Self-Destruct).

 To date, the only confirmed appearances on the album are Nas, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Eminem, and 50 Cent.  

Source: TMZ

 Gorilla Zoe’s new hit  "Lost" has the same verses from Texas rapper S.P.M.(South Park Mexican). S.P.M. Is signed to Universal and made his own label called "Dope House Records". Gorilla Zoe stated clearly in an interview "I Hate all Mexicans!". So this could be a sign that his target is to steal underground mexican rapper’s verses. Further information is beign gather by M.M. (Mexican Media) "i ask em no questions, they give me no answer. Following the wirfe but their walking in pampers. give me a ciggaret, smoking my cancer. keep the pain away but i still dont have no answer" The whole Verse1 and verse3 (after Lil’ Wayne) are all verse from Houston Texas Rapper S.p.m. S.P.M. Is currently in Garza West Penetentary, for something he didn’t do. The Jury say he had sex with his daughter’s friend, but no evedince was collected and the little girl didn’t show up to court. They had no evedince, no Mexicans in court, no hard proof that he did it. But they gaved him 40 Years in prison. He Is The Only Rapper To Ever Make 2 Albums IN Prison!!! "When Devils Strike" and "Last Chair Violonist" In Stores Now.  Source: Dopehouserecords.com

 The international Hip-Hop community has banded together to help French authorities in their search for Hip-Hop photographer Hermann Deza.
The 33-year-old was last seen leaving his house on December 26 and has not been heard from since.

 
Deza, known among his peers as Hermosdef, has neither his wallet nor his cell phone with him.

His family and friends have circulated a flyer with his picture and contact information for authorities in Puteaux, France, a northern suburb of Paris.

 In addition to posting the flyer on several popular French and US blogs, Deza’s family and friends are also utilizing social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook to help in the search.

They have even encouraged supporters to help further by using the flyer as their profile avatars.

The French-born son of Ivory Coast immigrants in Paris, Deza first became interested in photography while studying in London.

Describing both music and photography as his passions, he has made a career of capturing Paris’ vibrant soul and Hip-Hop community through portraits he calls “Afropics.”

His works include photos of US artists performing in France, such as Musiq Soulchild and Method Man, as well as some of the artists at the forefront of American-inspired urban music in France, including Les Nubiennes, soul vocalist Agnes Paris, and rappers Booba and Tiemoko.

He is a member of the Jazzefique Hip-Hop collective.

Anyone with information about Hermann Deza’s whereabouts is asked to contact the police precinct in Puteaux at +33 01.55.91.91.40.

Calls can also be directed to +33 06.63.85.98.23 or 06.13.58.88.33 

Source: TMZ

 Oscar nominated rapper/singer Queen Latifah became the victim of thieves when more than $10,000 worth of jewelry was stolen from her luxury villa in Tobago on Monday (December 29).

Police investigating the incident believe the theft was an inside job that may have been committed by a member of the house and grounds staff at Stone Haven Villas, Black Rock Tobago.

 According to Trinidad and Tobago’s Newsday, authorities state there was no forced entry into the villa, which reinforces the inside job theory. Latifah was in Tobago last week for the Christmas holidays.

 The 35-year-old entertainer, who checked into the $1,000 a night villa under the name Cynthia Hadden, reportedly stayed at the compound with a female friend.

 Police were informed of Latifah’s visit by Stone Haven management, which asked that special attention be paid to the area.

 Despite having three security guards on duty around the clock, a bracelet, two gold rings, a gold chain and a silver ring were taken, as Latifah attended a barbecue brunch in her honor.

 Guards conducted a search of the villa after the rapper contacted the Stone Haven manager, when she discovered the jewelry was missing.

Police were notified when the search came up empty. A statement was later taken from Latifah, who has since checked out of Stone Haven. The rapper was reportedly upset over the theft as she stated the jewelry had a sentimental value and that she would be willing to offer a reward for its return. Tobago police, who have conducted searches, have questioned staff assigned to the villa and Stone Haven employees. Acting police commissioner James Philbert expressed his department’s desire to retrieve the jewelry as he told Newsday that “several searches are being carried out and the police are trying to have the jewelry returned to Queen Latifah.” “Investigators said the larceny seems to be an inside job and efforts are being made round the clock to make a breakthrough,” he shared with the paper.

Source: TMZ

 Just in time for the new year, Nielsen Soundscan shared their annual report with select industry and media. This year’s results of retail and digital music sales included many Hip Hop stars such as Lil Wayne, Kanye West and Flo Rida.
For Wayne, the Cash Money Records veteran rapper had the top-selling album in any genre in his Tha Carter III . His sixth studio album, which included hits “A Milli”, “Lollipop” and “Mrs. Officer,” sold, according to the chart service, approximately 2,874,000 units this year.
The effort, released June 10, edged out Coldplay’s Viva La Vida, by over 700,000 units.
T.I.’s Paper Trail  came in at #8, selling 1,522,000 units, as Beyonce’s I Am…Sasha Fierce , released late this year, drew 1,459,000 units. The trio were the only urban artists in the Top 10, a list consisting of Country sensation Taylor Swift, veteran rockers AC/DC and Metallica, and the onetime Jive Records Rap artist-turned-Rock sensation, Kid Rock.
Despite Tha Carter III being the best-selling album, it was Taylor Swift, who had two Top 10-selling albums, that led all artist-sales, with over four million units from her entire catalog this year. Sampled by Boogie Down Productions in the ’80s, AC/DC also topped Wayne, putting the New Orleans rapper at third, selling 3,382,000 of total catalog in the last year. He was the only Hip Hop artist to make the Top 10.

Source: TMZ

 According to several reports, teen rapper Soulja Boy and his friends were allegedly robbed in his Atlanta home
After returning home from his album release party on December 30, Soulja Boy and his friends were robbed at gunpoint by six men.
And Soulja Boy’s friend Jbar was allegedly held hostage during the incident.
Contrary to reports that Soulja Boy and his friends were robbed by six men, a video has surfaced on YouTube in which two hooded men claim to be the ones behind the robbery.
They also claimed that it was just the two of them and they alternated between one gun.
The two men explained that they followed Soulja Boy and friends from his album release party to his home.
The legitimacy of the video, which was released only a day after the incident, remains questionable.
Representatives for Soulja Boy did reveal to Cnn.com that “a serious situation” did take place, but did not reveal any further information.

Source: TMZ

 A member of the Louisiana-based Jena Six is being treated at a local hospital after shooting himself in the chest.

The Associated Press reports that Mychal Bell injured himself Monday night (December 29) at his grandmother’s house in Monroe.

According to a police report, the shooting was reported at 7:40 p.m. At the time of the incident, Bell was staying at his grandmother, Rosie Simmons,’ home as his mother, Melissa Bell, arrived for a visit.
Melissa Bell told authorities that she and Simmons heard a gunshot coming from Mychal’s room and found him on his bed with a wound to his upper right chest.
Despite recovering a .22-caliber handgun, police were not clear on Tuesday (Dec. 30) as to who owned the gun.

Bell’s wound was not life-threatening, authorities said. Louis Scott, a lawyer who represented Bell and five other Jena High School students during the Jena Six case in 2006, revealed the shooting stemmed from his former client being upset that his recent arrest for shoplifting would ruin his dream of playing football for the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

“When it was broadcast that he was charged with shoplifting he just felt that the whole year had been wasted and that he had worked all of that time for nothing,” Scott said.

The police report on Monday’s shooting noted that the shoplifting arrest eventually took its toll on Mychal Bell.

Mrs. Simmons and Melissa Bell disclosed to police that “Mychal had made comments over the past two days that, because of the current media attention he had because of the shoplifting arrest, he didn’t feel like he could live anymore.”
Bell was arrested on Christmas Eve after he allegedly tried to steal several shirts and a pair of jeans from a department store.
The 18-year-old was later found hiding under a car after fleeing from a security guard and an off-duty police officer who tried to detain him.

Prior to the alleged shoplifting, Bell was known as one of the Jena Six. The group, comprised of black teenagers, garnered headlines after being charged with attempted murder for the beating of a white classmate at Jena High School in 2006.

Charges from the case, which centered on nooses being displayed at the school, resulted in national outrage and criticism that led to a civil rights march involving more than 20,00 people who traveled to Jena for the protest.

Although charges for all members of the Jena Six were later reduced, Bell was sentenced to 18 months as a ward of the state after pleading guilty to juvenile charges and moved to Monroe to be placed in foster care.

He was released from state supervision on Dec. 4.

Bell, who spent 10 months in prison awaiting trial after the 2006 arrest, is scheduled to graduate from Carroll High School in the spring.

Source: TMZ

Super-producer Timbaland will ring in the New Year with a newly processed $11,450 lien against his mansion, courtesy of an ongoing florist bill dispute.

The White Tulip Florist, a company based in Miami Beach, filed legal papers against Timbaland claiming the star purchased $25,850.00 in trees, flowers, and lights from their organization.
According to the company, these goods were to be used for Christmas decorations, and to date the producer has only paid $14,400.00 of the outstanding bill.
As the result, the White Tulip filed and received court-ordered lien on Timbaland’s Miami mansion.
Although representatives for the producer could not be reached, early reports allege the Timbaland is vehemently denying the florist’s claim of non-payment.

The Virginia native has requested the company provide a full wholesale cost disclosure of the alleged outstanding goods.

The lawsuit comes as Timbaland works on Shock Value Volume 2, the follow-up to the platinum 2007 original.

The new LP is tentatively set to feature appearances from Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Madonna, Jordin Sparks, Beyonce, and the Jonas Brothers.

Timbaland has also confirmed a reuniting with former protégé Ginuwine.

Their new work is set to appear on the singer’s sixth studio album, due out in 2009’s first quarter.

The super-producer’s high-profile work for Madonna, Ashlee Simpson, Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx, The Pussycat Dolls, Flo Rida, and New Kids on the Block helped make Timbaland one of the music industry’s top earners in 2008.

According to Forbes, the producer grossed $22 million for the calendar year.

Source: TMZ

 Jay-Z’s plans to add the title of hotelier to his ever-expanding empire has been halted, the New York Times reports.

The rapper/mogul’s planned J Hotels, which was scheduled to break ground this year, has been postponed indefinitely, as New York’s real estate development market takes a heavy hit.
 

The luxury hotel was proposed as the first five-star property in Manhattan’s developing High Line neighborhood, on the city’s Westside.

After purchasing the location, a former Time Warner Cable warehouse, for nearly $66 million, longtime developer Charles Blaichman enlisted partners Jay-Z and Abram and Scott Shnay to create the new full service J Hotels brand.
Blaichman, who is responsible for SoHo House and Spice Market, two of the biggest draws in the Meat Packing district, was also planning two other properties in the High Line neighborhood.

However, the struggling economy can no longer support the $370 million in loans and investment he would have needed to undertake the endeavor.

Still, Blaichman remains optimistic that his plans have been delayed rather than cancelled.

“It’s one of the greatest stretches of undeveloped areas,” he told the Times. “I still think it’s going to take off.”
Still, with the growth rate of construction in New York City down to .08 percent from 11.3 percent last year, experts say it may be as much as two years before any new buildings appear on the city’s sky line.
 

Source: TMZ

 Talib Kweli’s Blacksmith Music imprint has dissolved its distribution arrangement with Warner Brothers Records.

The Brooklyn MC confirmed the split to cnn.com today after rumors surfaced online that he had been released from his contract with the label.
 

“My label Blacksmith is no longer distributed by Warner Brothers, which means they will not put out Blacksmith future projects,” Kweli told AllHipHop.com. “I still have a deal to put out Talib Kweli and Reflection Eternal thru Blacksmith/WBR.”

Blacksmith Music was born out of a partnership between Blacksmith Management, originally established by Kweli’s partner Corey Smith, and Warner Brothers in 2006.

The roster includes Jean Grae, Strong Arm Steady and Guyanese/Canadian import Anjulie, the label’s sole non-Hip Hop act.
Since its launch, the label has released a compilation album entitled Blacksmith: The Movement, collaborative projects between Kweli and Madlib, and Jean Grae’s critically acclaimed, 9th Wonder-assisted Jeanius.
The label is also planning a new album by Strong Arm Steady, entitled Arms & Hammers and Party Robot, the debut album by Idle Warship, Kweli’s new group with singer Res and Canadian singer/rapper Graph Nobel.

While release dates have yet to be announced, all three projects were originally slated for 2008 releases, which would lend some truth to rumors that the split was related to the current economic situation.

Kweli’s fourth solo album, Prisoner of Consciousness and Reflection Eternal’s Train of Thought II were also scheduled for 2008 releases.
At press time, comment from Warner Brothers Records was not available. 

Source: Warner Bros

 Fast & Furious is the latest film in the The Fast and the Furious film series, the fourth produced but sequel to the first and second, and prequel to the third film. The film is currently in production and is scheduled for release in the United States on June 12, 2009. The plot connects with the original film of the series from which Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, and Jordana Brewster are reprising their roles.

Among others cast in the film are reggaetoneros Don Omar and Tego Calderon, Sung Kang will reprise his role from The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift as Han, Israeli model Gal Gadot, Lil Wayne, T.I., and actor Mine. In an interview, Tyrese Gibson stated that he would make a cameo to reprise his role as Roman Pearce from the second film. The actor stated that it will be “kind of like what Vin Diesel did in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.

Main Theme Of The Movie

Dominic Toretto (Diesel) and Brian O’Connor (Walker) are forced to confront a mutual enemy, despite their lack of trust in each other.

CAST (alot of rappers in this movie!!)

Vin Diesel - Dominic Toretto
Paul Walker - Brian O Connor
Michelle Rodriguez - Letty
Jordana Brewster - Mia Toretto
Laz Alonso - Fenix
Gal Gadot - Gisele
Tyrese Gibson - Roman Pearce
Sung Kang - Han
John Ortiz - Antonio Braga
Don Omar - Rico
Tego Calderon - Sunny
Ja Rule - Edwin
Lil Wayne - Alex
Xzibit - Danny
T.I. - Troy
T-Pain - Johnny
Akon - Dwayne
Vanilla Ice - Fred
Danny Trejo - Carlos

I have a mypace link if you wana see the teaser trailer http://www.myspace.com/fastandfurious

Source: Myspace

 Eminem has revealed details of his long-awaited new album, “Relapse,” in an exclusive interview with Billboard, conducted via email. The set is due next spring from Shady/Interscope.

Eminem is working on “Relapse” with longtime collaborator Dr. Dre, who put his own album, “Detox,” on the backburner to help bring the project to completion.

“Me and Dre are back in the lab like the old days, man,” Eminem says. “Just him banging away on tracks and me getting that little spark that makes me write to it. I don’t have chemistry like that with anyone else as far as producers go — not even close. Dre will end up producing the majority of the tracks on Relapse.’ We are up to our old mischievous ways … let’s just leave it at that.”

A handful of songs intended for “Relapse” have leaked online, most recently “Crack a Bottle,” leaving Eminem “really heated. It wasn’t close to finished, and it even has me doing guide vocals for Dre as a suggestion of how he could lay his verses down. It’s like someone catches you peeping in your window before you got the Spider Man costume all zipped up! Nobody is supposed to see that. We are gonna finish it up though and get it out there how it’s supposed to be.”

Eminem also responded to producer Swizz Beats’ recent comment that he’d submitted a track for the project described as a sequel to the hit single “Stan,” telling Billboard, “I haven’t worked with Swizz on this album.

“There isn’t a ‘Stan 2,’ and there won’t be,” he says. “Stan drove his car off a bridge and I’m not writing a song as Stan’s ghost. That would just be really corny.”

While working on “Relapse,” Eminem was also writing his autobiography, “The Way I Am,” with Sacha Jenkins. The book has received favorable reviews and has spent time in the top 20 of the New York Times hardcover nonfiction best-sellers list.

“For me, writing an album is an entirely different process from making this book,” he says. “The album requires a certain focus of mine that I can’t really explain — let’s just say it’s all I can really do while I’m doing it. With the book, the process was much more spread out, like, ‘Let’s get you together with Sacha for a few hours next week. Let’s go thru these photos and artwork, etc.’ The book was a lot more of a focus here-and-there thing as opposed to music, which totally consumes me every second.”

Eminem goes into great detail in “The Way I Am” about how much he was impacted by the 2006 shooting death of fellow Detroit rapper Proof, who was one of his best friends.

“Opening the book with Proof’s chapter was real important for me,” Eminem says. “Everything from my past moving into my future is marked by his passing. It’s sort of like life when Proof was with us, and life after — a real dividing factor. He means more to me than a book chapter could describe, but I’m glad I was able to put him first, like he did for me so many times.”

As for Shady Records’ 2009 roster, Eminem says 50 Cent’s delayed “Before I Self Destruct” will be out in February. “He’s still working on it and getting back together with me and Dre next week to finish up,” he says. “I have a couple of tracks on there with him. It’s sick.”

Afterward, Ca$his will release the follow-up to his 2007 “County Hound EP.” Says Eminem, “People are going to be surprised what he is capable of. I produced a bunch of records on there as well.”

Source: MTV

 The Dancehall fraternity suffered a severe loss early Friday morning: Just hours after most celebrated life and love on Christmas day with family and friends, dancer, Ice, was murdered.
“Ice,” real name David Alexander Smith, was best known for his internationally acclaimed “Gully Creeper.”

The dance took the world by storm after Bad Boy’s dancehall artist, Elephant Man, released a song of the same name and Jamaican Olympic Gold medalist and world record holder, Usain Bolt showcased the dance after each track win in the recent Olympic games in China.

According to police reports, the 36-year-old dancer, of Zenna Avenue in Kingston, was shot and killed by gunmen at a bar on Newark Avenue in Kingston on Friday morning.
Police said that around 7:55 a.m., Ice was at the establishment when men armed with guns entered.

The men immediately opened fire, killing Ice on the spot.

The police who are investigating reported that the Champagne Mitsubishi Lancer which was driven by Ice was taken by his attackers.

Smith, is the second Jamaican dancing icon from the “Black Roses Crew” to be murdered in recent years: the first was Smith’s dancing mentor, Gerald “Bogle” Levy.

Levy was gunned down at a gas station in Kingston in January 2005 and his case remains unsolved.
In June of 2005, Ice was among a group of men arrested and charged with murder, arson and several counts of shooting.

Source: CNN

No hard feelings. Despite being called out by Lil Wayne for putting out his unauthorized The Drought Is Over series, The Empire isn’t mad at Weezy. However, he does have some sound advice for the rapper.

“I’ve never been to a Lil Wayne studio session,” Empire told XXLMag.com. “He gotta look at his inside camp and understand that I got those records from somebody that sits right next to him on a bus…That’s co-signing him while he’s talking about me. I’m not gonna put his name out there, but it’s one of those guys. They’re sitting next to him every day.”

As previously reported, Weezy phoned into DJ Drama’s Shade 45 radio show to clear up comments he made about mixtape DJs in Foundation Magazine. Apparently, Wayne wasn’t pissed at DJs in general, but at Empire in particular. “For all DJs, just letting y’all know, that whole shit was meant for that Empire nigga,” Wayne declared during the phoner. “I don’t fuck with [him]. This nigga puts out a CD on me every month. I couldn’t [even] tell you what he looks like.” Empire has a different story.
“I spoke to Wayne,” the DJ assured. “After [The Drought Is Over] Pt.2, I spoke to him. We were supposed to work out a situation where we can work together. Wayne hosted my first Empire joint, so for him to say he don’t even know who I am, that was wrong.” He made the comments that I dropped CDs every month,” he continued. “That’s wrong. I dropped five CDs in two years. I made sure all of them were quality. My CDs are known for having the new music. These kids are running around putting stuff out like stuff I played or whatever leaks on the internet, I think that’s wack and I’ve been not feeling that. I feel like I did more good than bad. Those have been the hottest CDs in the streets for the past year and a half.”

To let him tell it, leaking Tha Carter III was wrong as well. Though he’s featured leaked records from earlier Carter III versions, Empire doesn’t agree with the DJs who leaked the CD in protest. “I could have took Tha Carter and put out a new Drought, but that’s not what I’m about,” he explained. “The kids that did that, that’s wack. They’re just trying to look for press.”

He didn’t leak the record and he won’t say if he profited from the Drought series, but he does have an opinion on Tha Carter’s third act. Actually, Empire thinks The Drought Is Over Pt.2 is a better record than Tha Carter III.”It’s not what I expected,” Empire confessed. “There’s definitely some records on there. The Dought Is Over 2, a lot of those records were samples that would have been really good if they could have been cleared. It would have been very costly to clear. That “Mr. Carter” record on Tha Carter III, that record is crazy. No records on none of my tapes equal that joint. But I don’t know, The Drought Is Over 2 is just crazy to me.”

Source: XXL

Yung Berg recently threw shots at Bow Wow on his street single, “Do That There,” taunting the pint-size emcee in the opening lines: “It’s too late to start writing your rhymes, homie/ we’ve been doing this.” Now, the “Sexy Lady” rapper said he’s getting the co-sign from Mr. Beef himself, 50 Cent. “First and foremost, 50 told me some smart shit. 50 told me move him [Bow Wow] out the game, period. He told me to crush him. He told me demolish him,” Berg revealed to XXLMag.com. “He told me do the ‘Do That There’ remix with him on it and then come up with my diss record and totally move him out of music. “But, I don’t wanna do that,” Berg continued. “I can see me and Bow fucking a lot of bitches together. My whole thing is either you’re going to be an alliance on this [Snoop Dogg] tour this summer, or it’s, ‘Fuck you!’ Period. I don’t need you as a friend. I came in the game by myself.” Don’t expect the Fif assist just yet, though. Berg and Bow are cool for the time being. In fact, Bow may appear on “One Night,” a YB record that already features Trey Songz. Then again, Berg is offering Bow one of two choices. “If he gets on the record then we’re cool,” Berg explained.

Two New Jersey men have sued Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige and super producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins for allegedly stealing their music.

According to TMZ, Jermaine Jumpp and Michael C. Adams believe that Jerkins’ beat for Blige’s single “Enough Cryin’” off her 2005 album The Breakthrough, sounds too similar to their song “On My Grind.” The duo claim they submitted a CD with a copy of their song to Jerkins’ office years ago.

 Police in Denver, Colorado are investigating a shootout following an E-40 Concert that left five people wounded.
According to police, the shooting occurred around 2:00 am outside of the club as it closed, after E-40 had performed without incident inside the venue.
Local residents in the area have stated that fights frequently break out at the club, which is located at 11th Avenue and Broadway in downtown Denver. 
A witness to the shooting said he heard automatic gunfire, followed by a large crowd scattering for cover.

“It was bullets flying everywhere. It was automatic. It was like a machine gun, ba-dop ba-bop ba-bop ba-bop. It was just really crazy,” witness Kendall Davis told Denver‘s 9 News. “At first we hear a wave of shots and we didn’t realize it was gunfire until we seen a lot of people running by. So then definitely I wanted to secure our building, so we hit all the lights, locked the front door, secured our business because we didn’t want any shooters running in.”

One victim is in critical condition while four others were treated for minor wounds and later released.

Source: TMZ

 Early reports from Baton Rouge, Louisiana indicate an unfortunate accident has killed a 2-year-old child at the home of rap star Lil Boosie.
The tragic accident occurred Tuesday afternoon (December 24) when a man accidentally ran his car over his own daughter.
The accident allegedly happened just after 5PM, and the young girl succumbed to her injuries roughly an hour later at a local hospital.
Early reports from Baton Rouge, Louisiana indicate an unfortunate accident has killed a 2-year-old child at the home of rap star Lil Boosie.

The tragic accident occurred Tuesday afternoon (December 24) when a man accidentally ran his car over his own daughter.

The accident allegedly happened just after 5PM, and the young girl succumbed to her injuries roughly an hour later at a local hospital.

The accident is said to have occurred at the Centurion Place subdivision in Pompey.

Neighbors confirmed to local news outlets that the death occurred at the home of Boosie, who regularly hosts gatherings for kids in the neighborhood.

The child reportedly attended the get together to play on a trampoline. The child’s parents are reported to have a total of five children.

After collecting what he thought was all of his family, the father unknowingly backed out of the driveway and crushed his daughter.

Although early speculation tagged Lil Boosie as the driver and the deceased as his daughter, those reports have not been confirmed.

Authorities are withholding the name of the driver and the victim, but have confirmed no criminal charges will be filed.

Last year, Boosie and rhyme partners Webbie and Foxx made national waves with the popular remix single “Wipe Me Down,” off their all-star compilation album Survival of the Fittest.

At press time, Lil Boosie could not be reached for comment.

Source: TMZ

Mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs and Ciroc Ultra Premium Vodka announced an ambitious, $1 million dollar charity offer for the city of New York to redesign the iconic New Year’s Eve ball.
The bold offer is the latest example of the brand’s ubiquitous presence in New York’s Time Square.
Just the eight days before New Year’s Eve, the company has already decorated the area’s landscape with numerous billboards.
If approved by New York City, Combs and Ciroc would alter the famous ball’s appearance to resemble the well-known blue stone emblem of Ciroc Vodka.

Combs and Ciroc have promised that the full $1 million dollar donation would go to needy charities around the city.

While some would dismiss Comb’s offer as farfetched and a publicity stunt, Combs explained to Cnn.com that his track record in executing upscale and lavish parties would ensure that 2008’s New Year’s Eve countdown would be groundbreaking.

“As the ‘Official Vodka of New Year’s Eve,’ it’s only fitting that we take over New York, the most iconic New Year’s city in the world,” Combs explained to Cnn.com. “I’m going to give every adult in America a taste of what it’s like to enjoy a sophisticated celebration with Diddy, and what better time than while ringing in the New Year.”

The blue stone image of Ciroc traces back to the “pastel” plant that was once native to the Gaillac region of France.

The dye produced from the plant was commonly used for painting and clothes during the 15th and 16th centuries.
Its distinctive look eventually made the dye a symbol of wealth in the region, and earned it the phrase “Pays de Cocagne,” meaning “the land of plenty.”

For Combs and Ciroc, it is this valued tradition that they expect to bring to 2008’s celebration.
“Having this iconic blue stone sit atop the New York skyline on New Year’s Eve is my way of wishing New York a fruitful New Year,” Combs stated.
In addition to their New Year’s Eve request, Sean “Diddy” Combs and Ciroc Vodka will soon announce an additional campaign focusing on responsible drinking and partying during the holiday season.

After making his mark in the music industry, Rza is ready to put Hollywood in a choke hold. XXLmag.com caught up with the rap renaissance man to find out about his directorial debut, The Man With The Iron Fist and how he sought Quentin Tarantino’s blessing before jumping behind the camera.

Rza, who has already put in work as a film composer, by scoring several cult classics - Ghost Dog: The Way Of The Samurai and Kill Bill – and actor - American Gangster –is now ready to direct his own film. But first he had to get approval from his friend, director extraordinaire Quentin Tarantino.

“He been my mentor for the last 6 years,” Rza told XXL. “[Let’s start from the beginning] the way this film came about, I wrote it and my buddy Eli Roth had got a chance to read it…he heard me talk about it first and he had got a big movie deal at the studio.”

“[So] he was like ‘Rza I wanna make your movie,’” he continued. “I sent the script over and he when he read it he was like ‘Yo, I definitely want to make this movie. But we gotta go back to the teacher to see if the teacher thinks you’re ready to make it.’ So basically before I could go tell Eli yes I had to go back to Quentin Tarantino and sit down like, ‘Look, do you think I’m ready to do my first film or do I need to wait another year or two.’ And he said ‘I think you’re ready yo.’ And so I was like ‘thank you master (laughs)’ I’m out there in the world ready to show my talent now.”

After responding to XXL’s milk carton via YouTube earlier this week, Tru Life caught up with XXLmag.com to explain his situation with Def Jam and Jay-Z.

Tru, who signed with Roc La Familia, Jay-Z’s world music subsidiary imprint under Roc-A-Fella, explained his new relationship with the label since Hov’s departure from the Roc’s parent company, Def Jam.

“I was Roc-A-Fella all day first off, let’s get that clear,” the L.E.S. rapper told XXL. “I signed to Roc La Familia but I was always Roc-A-Fella. I was just Latin, but when that folded it was easy, they just moved me over to Roc-A-Fella. I’m a smart business man so when I found out Jay-Z was gonna leave - cause I got the heads up, cause that’s my big homie - I didn’t wanna stay there either at Def Jam.”

La Coka Nostra (LCN), the white rap supergroup that consists of members of House of Pain, Limp Bizkit and Non Phixion, has signed with indie label Suburban Noize Records.

The group, which includes Everlast, DannyBoy, DJ Lethal Ill Bill, Slaine and Big Left, has been building a strong following for years. Their upcoming album, A Brand You Can Trust, will now be coming out on Suburban Noize Records, the indie label headed by Kottonmouth Kings’ frontman Daddy X. LCN will be joining the roster which already includes Jada Pinket Smith and her band Wicked Wisdom, 90s rap favorites X-Clan and Cypress Hil’s Sen Dog.

“It’s official! La Coka Nostra has joined forces with Suburban Noize to bring you our debut album, ‘A Brand You Can Trust’. We are very excited to be working with Kevin Zinger and the entire Sub Noize family and look forward to finally unleashing the LCN war machine upon the current candy-coated, watered-down and auto tuned-out musical landscape that popular rap music has become,” Ill Bill said in a statement.

During an interview with Esquire magazine reclusive rapper Eminem revealed more details about his highly anticipated album Relapse and his new, more positive state of mind.

“Within the last year, I started learning how to not be so angry about things, learning how to count my fucking blessings instead,” he told Esquire. “By doing that, I’ve become a happier person, instead of all this self-loathing I was doing for a while.”

Ice Cube is set to return to the small screen with plans to team up with NBA phenom Lebron James to create a television show based on the hoop phenom’s high school years.

In association with his CubeVision production company, Cube is linking with James- and his newly formed Spring Hill productions - for a one hour drama set to air on ABC . According to ESPN the Magazine, Cube and King James will be co-creators of the program and will each executive produce.

Not only does Ice Cube know what it’s like to be in the spotlight at a young age, but he also has experience with sports-related projects. The 39-year-old just appeared in The Longshots, a movie based on the the true tale of the first female to play Pop Warner football.

The yet-to-be-named pilot, said to be a mix between “Entourage” and the television version of “Friday Night Lights.” In accordance with network approval, all sides hope to begin production in the spring with the goal of a fall 2009 premier.

This is not the West Coast vet’s first time working on a project for TV. In 2006 he executive produced the debut episode of the racially charged show “Black.White” for the FX network

Source: Adam Fleisher

T.I., Young Jeezy and Ludacris will be coming to New York to play Long Island’s Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum later this month.

Arguably the three biggest rappers from Atlanta, Tip, Jeezy and Luda will be headlining “The Holiday Bash ‘08” on Saturday, December 27. The bash will also feature appearances from Dipset capo Jim Jones and R&B sister act Nina Sky.

Tickets for the show, which will be hosted by New York radio personalities Angie Martinez and DJ Enuff, are currently on sale at ticketmaster.com and range from $35.50 to $125.50.

Source: Elan Mancini