IS JA RULE FED UP WITH IRV GOTTI?: Rapper reportedly upset that his album 'The Mirror' hasn't left the wall.

The Inc founder Irv Gotti and his star artist Ja Rule are rumored to be bickering over the rapper's new album "The Mirror" because its release date keeps getting pushed back.

"Irv tried to release two singles - 'Uh-Oh' and 'Body' - and they got no radio play, so he got nervous," a source tells the New York Post's Page Six. "The album was supposed to come out Sept. 18 and was pushed back to Nov. 13 and now has no date except 2008. Irv wants Ja to record over the holidays and Ja feels he's done enough. He's furious."

A rep for Ja, however, denies that her client and Irv are fighting, stating: "That's not true. They get along very well. They're brothers."

She said "The Mirror" will "likely come out in February. Ja's going back in the studio to do a couple more tracks. It was a mutual decision."

Lil' Kim Mimics Britney Spears, Freestyles Over 50 Cent Track,Disses Remy Ma On New Mixtape

Queen Latifah's Flavor Unit Management now has two royal ladies on its roster. Latifah herself, of course, and the Queen Bee, Lil' Kim. Kim told MTV on Wednesday night that she now has the Flavor Unit as well as Lance "Un" Rivera on her management team.

"We never stopped speaking to each other," Kim said of realigning with Un. As you might know, Kim originally signed to Undeas Records, which was the company formed by Rivera and Notorious B.I.G. in the '90s. Kim and Un stopped working together years later after a falling-out.

"We were family," Kim said of the man she still affectionately calls "Uncle Paulie." "It's like you get into an argument with your uncle and you gotta go left to come right sometimes."

On Wednesday night at New York's Battery Studios, Un was among many who were applauding Kim's return to her roots: hardcore music. Both Track Masters, Poke and Tone; Mister Cee, Big Daddy Kane's former DJ and the man credited with discovering Biggie; Brooklyn's Maino; and some new talent Kim is helping to cultivate were laughing, eating Mr. Chow's takeout and loving the tracks Kim was previewing from her new mixtape, Ms. G.O.A.T. That's right, as in the "Greatest of All Time."

"I always wanted to do a mixtape," Kim said in the vocal booth, where she was working on a remake of the Lady of Rage's "Afro Puffs." "I used to see how 50 used to do it so hard. And I was a big fan of 50 when he first started putting out his mixtapes, and I'm still a fan. I seen his growth. But it all started with the mixtape. He caught my ear. It was a great movement. I said 'Damn, it's not a lot of girls doing
it ... .'

"But I did this for my fans," she added. "It's been a year and a half since I been home from jail; I felt I owed them something. Although Kimberly Jones was getting her business straight and Kimberly Jones was getting herself straight, my music was my love."

Other tracks from the mixtape include a remix of Britney Spears' "Gimme More" titled "Kimme More." "It's Lil' Kim, ho," the so-called Black Erica Kane says on the record's intro, mirroring Spears' "It's Britney, bitch" line. There's also a brand-new track called "Chillin' Tonight," and a freestyle over 50 Cent's "I Get Money" in which Kim disses Remy Ma.

"It was 'enough is enough,' " she said of the rhymes aimed at Remy. Kim says she was tired of Fat Joe's former protégé dissing her in interviews and talking slick on records.

"Every female in the game, they're painting their own picture," Kim added. "I do what I do, they do what they do. May the best woman win. It's only one G.O.A.T."
Kim has hopes of releasing an official LP as early as February, but it won't be on Atlantic Records. She's very close to gaining her long-talked-about release from the label.

"We're in the middle of wrapping up the last bit of paperwork, and yeah, I'll be in charge of my own masters, my own career," she explained. "This is something I wanted to do for a long time.
"I had a great run there," the Brooklyn sex symbol added. "We had a great history. But I came to a point where I felt it was time for me to do the independent thing and move on and take control of my own career. Thanks to Atlantic. They're letting me fly."

Kim's new album still doesn't have a title, but she guaranteed "a lot of surprises." Mister Cee and DJ Whoo Kid are helping Kim put together her mixtape, which should be out within the next couple of weeks.

Look for much more on Kim, her reconciliation with 50 Cent, quarrels with Remy Ma and her Ms. G.O.A.T. mixtape in next week's Mixtape Monday.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1575431/20071129/id_0.jhtml

Mannie Fresh’s Sister Killed!

Please pray for the family..........

Mother of two found gunned down in Algiers home Family members of a woman shot and killed in her Algiers home tell Eyewitness News she is the sister of New Orleans rapper Mannie Fresh. Video: Watch the Story Police said the 41-year-old woman, identified by family members as Angela Bryant, was found dead in her home in the 1000 block of Farragut Street around 8 a.m. Thursday from an apparent gunshot wound, although police believe she was gunned down sometime late Wednesday evening. Police said two children - ages three and seven - were at the home at the time of the shooting. Both were found unharmed and safe. Police have asked for the public's help in locating the victim's vehicle - which is missing. It was described as a black 1998 Lexus LS 300 with license plate PTF 205 - it has black tinted windows. Police said they were searching the residence with a fine tooth comb. Carrie St. Cyr, the mother of the victim, told Eyewitness News Reporter Jill Hezeau that Bryant just got married in October. She said Wednesday was her birthday and the family had gone out to dinner to celebrate. She said the victim's husband was out of town, but that he was on his way back.

Click Here to Watch News Clip

DID R. KELLY 'CROSS A LINE' WITH EX-REP'S DAUGHTER?: Rumors run rampant but Regina and George Daniels refuse to comment

The Internet is on fire with rumors surrounding R. Kelly and the daughter of Regina Daniels, the singer's longtime publicist who suddenly and mysteriously quit her post saying only that a line had been crossed.


Talk around the black blogosphere Wednesday suggests that Daniels abruptly left the job because Kelly slept with her (step) daughter, who is said to be 19-years-old. A photo of Kelly embracing the girl surfaced yesterday.


When contacted by EUR's Lee Bailey, Regina Daniels refused to comment on the photo, or further explain her reasons for leaving the position.


“Unless you’re calling to see how I’m doing, I’m still not going to comment on R. Kelly. I’ve said all I have to say,” Daniels told Bailey. She also said that if her husband, veteran music retailer George Daniels, wants to comment, Bailey can talk to him.


Bailey called George Daniels, who also said "no comment," but clarified: "Bottom line is [R. Kelly] crossed a certain line with me and my wife that you shouldn't cross. I respect his talent. You can't deny he's a talented person. But beyond that, everything else is just gone."


Daniels also affirmed that Kelly "never put his hand on Regina, or nothing like that." When asked if he is aware of Wednesday's explosion of Internet rumors about their daughter, he said, "I'm aware of that, too. No comment."


As previously reported, Regina Daniels released the following statement earlier this month announcing her resignation:


"Friends and Colleagues – After careful consideration and counsel, I have decided to formally announce my resignation as publicist for R&B artist R. Kelly.

My resignation was effective as of August 28, 2007. Throughout the course of my 25 years as a publicist, I have prided myself on loyalty, respect and professionalism. It saddens me that I was not always shown those same courtesies during my 14 year tenure as Mr. Kelly's publicist.

Though I have a great appreciation for Mr. Kelly as an artist, there are some lines that should never be crossed professionally or personally. Mr. Kelly crossed a line that forever altered the scope of our relationship. For this reason I made the decision to resign.

My husband, music retailer George Daniels, has also disassociated himself from Mr. Kelly."

New Rick Ross Album Bumped To February

Rick Ross has announced Feb. 19 as the new release date for his sophomore album, "Trilla." The set was initially slated for Dec. 18 and is the follow-up to his 2006 debut, "Port of Miami," via Slip-N-Slide/Def Jam.

The new album's first single, "Speedin'" featuring R. Kelly, is No. 76 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

"'Trilla' means real enough and was really inspired by Michael Jackson's 'Thriller,'" Ross tells Billboard.com. "It's going to be the biggest street album of the year."

Jay-Z guests on the song "Maybauch Music," while Lil Wayne and Trick Daddy can be heard on "Luxury Taxing." "Trilla" also includes features from Akon, T-Pain and Floetry's Marsha Ambrosius, as well as production from the Runners, who produced his 2006 hit "Hustlin', DJ Toomp and Cool and Dre.

Ross' debutm "Port of Miami" has sold 722,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Birdman arrested in Tenn.

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - Rapper Bryan "Birdman" Williams was among 16 people charged with possession of marijuana Tuesday after the RV they were riding in was pulled over by police for making an improper lane change.

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Kingsport Police Cpl. Tim Horne said he stopped the vehicle after seeing it force a tractor trailer into the emergency lane on Interstate 81.

Horne said he could smell marijuana from inside the rented RV and located about a pound of marijuana in a trash can in the kitchenette after obtaining consent to search the vehicle.

Williams, 38, his wife Brittany, 18, and his brother, Ronald Williams, 43, were each charged with possession of more than 1/2 ounce of marijuana as were 13 others, several of whom are also affiliated with the rap industry and Cash Money Records, which was founded by Bryan and Ronald Williams.

Among those arrested were road manager Shahid Muhammad, 40, Cash Money Records promoter Casey Collins, 42, and music promoter Ovide Antoine, 32, of Miami, Fla.

All 16 remained jailed late Tuesday night. It was not known if any of them had an attorney.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is assisting in the investigation because an assault rifle, a handgun and a magazine for a .45-caliber handgun were found on the RV, Horne said. No weapons charges have been filed.

The group said they were traveling from New Orleans to New York for a BET network shoot, Horne said.

Hits featuring Birdman include "Stuntin' Like My Daddy" and "Army Gunz."

Usher and Tameka welcome Baby Boy

Fired NYC DJ to return to air

NEW YORK - A hip-hop disc jockey who was fired for making threatening racial and sexual remarks about a rival's wife and 4-year-old daughter will return to the airwaves, a public relations firm said Monday.

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DJ Star, whose real name is Troi Torain, and his half-brother, Timothy Joseph, or Buc Wild, will host a morning show on a city FM station, said Bryan Pierce of 5W Public Relations. The name of the station, which was being represented by 5W, will not be disclosed before a news conference Wednesday, Pierce said.

In May 2006, Torain, who was co-host of the syndicated "Star & Buc Wild Morning Show" on Clear Channel Radio's Power 105.1 FM, offered $500 to any listener who could provide information about the rival DJ's daughter's school and used racial slurs when talking about his wife, who is part Asian. He said he wanted to sexually abuse the daughter and urinate on her.

A telephone message left for Torain's lawyer, James P. Cinque, was not immediately returned Monday. There was no listed phone number for Torain's Pennsylvania home.

A spokeswoman for Clear Channel Radio said Monday that Torain would not return to any of its stations.

Torain, who is in his early 40s, was briefly charged with child endangerment after his sex-laced rants about rival DJ Raashaun Casey's family. Prosecutors later dropped the child endangerment charge, saying they wanted to spare Casey's daughter further attention.

Torain's morning show had aired in markets including Philadelphia, Miami and Richmond, Va.

Feds Gunning for T.I.

Los Angeles (E! Online) - The feds are literally pulling out the big guns in an effort to convict T.I. of weapons charges.

According to papers filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Atlanta, prosecutors will attempt to present evidence showing the hit-making emcee illegally possessed firearms three times prior to his highly publicized arrest last month.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says the priors show T.I. has a history when it comes to illicit weapons.

The rapper, whose real name is Clifford Harris Jr., was nabbed for allegedly trying to purchase machine guns and silencers Oct. 13, just hours before a scheduled performance at the BET Hip-Hop Awards.

He has pleaded not guilty to two felony counts, possession of unregistered weapons and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count.

Judge Alan Baverman allowed T.I. released on $3 million bond and placed him under house arrest with 24-hour electronic and human monitoring until his trial.

Prosecutors hope to introduce three previous arrests, "all after having been convicted of a felony offense."

The first violation took place in December 2001. T.I.'s GMC Yukon was pulled over and cops found a concealed 9 mm pistol, per court papers. He also gave officers the false name of Douglas Morgan. However, the case failed to lead to a conviction.

But T.I. was convicted in a separate case the following November for possessing a 10 mm gun, which was also concealed in the SUV.

The third incident occurred in December 2004, when authorities raided T.I.'s home and found a gun with an attached silencer and a stash of ammunition, along with photographs of him brandishing said guns. That case also failed to result in a conviction.

T.I.'s legal troubles date back to 1998, when the aspiring rapper, then 17, was arrested for selling crack. He was found guilty of felony drug dealing and sentenced to seven years' probation.

Because of that, he's a convicted felon, and it's a federal crime for him to possess any firearms.

His lawyer, Dwight Thomas, could not be reached for comment.

The prosecution maneuvers come exactly one week after Thomas filed motions seeking to get the charges tossed on the grounds that the feds wrongfully detained the entertainer, did not fully inform him of his rights and searched his vehicle without a warrant and without probable cause.

T.I. had sought to hold a large Thanksgiving dinner, but the judge put the kibosh on the festivities after objections by prosecutors.

Manhunt for killer of Fabolous' friend

BY JOTHAM SEDERSTROM and JONATHAN LEMIRE
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS

Sunday, November 25th 2007, 4:00 AM

Cops were hunting for a suspect Friday in the brutal stabbing at a posh Manhattan nightclub that took the life of a friend of the rapper Fabolous.

Shamel McKinney, 25, was knifed in the chest and back while partying at troubled hot spot Duvet early Friday.

Detectives are poring over video from local surveillance cameras and have found a bloody 7-inch switchblade in a nearby Dumpster, but they have not determined what prompted the attack, police said.

McKinney's devastated relatives and friends gathered at his family's Crown Heights, Brooklyn, apartment to mourn the popular young father of two and pick a casket for his funeral.

"He was a good father," said his brother Carl McKinney, who at the thought of his sibling's two small children became too distraught to say more.

Shamel McKinney was a longtime friend of Fabolous, the Brooklyn-raised hip-hop star who has had frequent run-ins with the law.

Police sources said Fabolous was at the W. 21st St. club in the hours before McKinney was killed, though the dead man's family insisted Friday that the rapper was not there.

Calls to Fabolous' lawyer and agent were not returned.

KANYE WEST TO SELL BEVERLY HILLS HOME: Rapper puts vacant N. Crescent pad on the market for $8.699M

Shortly after his mother was laid to rest in Oklahoma, news surfaced that rap artist Kanye West is selling his vacant Beverly Hills home of nine months.


The artist, who attended funeral services for his mother Donda West on Tuesday, has placed the house at 631 N. Crescent on the market for $8.699 million, according to the blog Real Estalker.

He purchased the property in February for $7,150,000 but never moved in, the website reports.


The six-bedroom house on the 0.79-acre lot has four baths and is in what is called tear-down condition. The sale price also includes plans to build a new house on the property.

Public records show that West reportedly transferred the house title to his KWLA International LLC company in August.

NE-YO KICKED OFF OF R. KELLY TOUR: Kelly's folks say contract was never signed; Ne-Yo's camp says it's because he was upstaging main act

Ne-Yo was informed Monday that he was being permanently removed from his supporting slot on R. Kelly's current Double Up tour, despite overwhelmingly positive reviews received from "entertainment reporters, music critics, bloggers, fans, and concert goers," read a statement from Ne-Yo's rep.


A contractual dispute is the tour's official reason for Ne-Yo's departure. But according to camp Ne-Yo, Kelly fired the singer because he "brought too much heat" for Kelly to compete against.

"He's written hit songs for Beyonce ("Irreplaceable") and Rihanna ("Unfaithful"), spending a combined 19 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100, said Ne-Yo's business partner and manager, Tango, in a statement. "He's written songs slated to be on Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Lionel Richie, and Enrique Iglesias' new albums. …The fans were really feeling his performances. He's good; maybe he's too good – that's the problem."

Ne-Yo adds: "I don't understand their actions because I was rehearsing, doing media, promoting the tour, and performing. In my opinion, I was doing everything possible to make the tour a success. I love being on stage in front of fans because of the immediate feedback you get. You know right away if they are feeling you; and they were really feeling our show. …To my fans and ticket holders – I apologize if you are disappointed," he said.


R. Kelly's rep, Allan Mayer, said the singer played no role in firing Ne-Yo, whose real name is Shaffer Smith: "Ne-Yo's departure from the 'Double Up' tour was the result of a contractual issue between him and the tour promoter. R. Kelly had nothing to do with it."

After a shaky start in Columbus, Georgia last week – during which Ne-Yo had to take over Keyshia Cole's opening slot when she failed to perform following J. Holliday – the tour continued with all three opening acts in Atlanta and continued through the south with scheduled stops in Greensboro, Birmingham and Charlotte.

A LITTLE BABY TIMBALAND IN THE WORKS?: Word has it that a woman is about to have his child later this month

The New York Post's Page Six is reporting that producer-rapper Timbaland has impregnated a woman who works at his record label, Mosley Music Group.

A source for the column says the woman is due to give birth to a baby girl by the end of this month.

The two are not dating, although the artist reportedly promised to be "involved in the child's upbringing," Page Six reported.

The source added: "He's very excited about the baby and has been very supportive to the mother."

WYCLEF CONFIRMS RELATIONSHIP WITH LAURYN HILL: Artist says he broke up with her after she started acting 'crazy.'

Wyclef Jean confirmed his relationship with Lauryn Hill during a visit to Power 92 Chicago's the Chocolate Jock Morning Jump-off show.

According to co-host Kendra G, Wyclef said he believes the eccentric behavior of his former Fugees bandmate is due to a bi-polar condition, and not drug use as rumors have suggested.

Clef also claimed Hill's Grammy-winning album "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" was dedicated to him.

As a response, Wyclef said he recorded the track "Someone Please Call 911" with Mary J. Blige.

Wyclef stated, "So I would say that after our relationship she went through whatever she had to go through but this is like 14years later…she gotta get it straight!"

R. KELLY'S PUBLICIST QUITS: Regina Daniels releases statement saying singer 'crossed a line that ... altered the scope of our friendship.'

Something has gone horribly wrong between R. Kelly and his longtime publicist, Regina Daniels.


The woman who has cleaned up the singer's public relations mess for the past 14 years has suddenly quit.

Daniels, the recipient of a shout out at the end of Kelly's "Step in the Name of Love" remix, released the following statement:



"Friends and Colleagues – After careful consideration and counsel, I have decided to formally announce my resignation as publicist for R&B artist R. Kelly.


My resignation was effective as of August 28, 2007. Throughout the course of my 25 years as a publicist, I have prided myself on loyalty, respect and professionalism. It saddens me that I was not always shown those same courtesies during my 14 year tenure as Mr. Kelly's publicist.


Though I have a great appreciation for Mr. Kelly as an artist, there are some lines that should never be crossed professionally or personally. Mr. Kelly crossed a line that forever altered the scope of our relationship. For this reason I made the decision to resign.


My husband, music retailer George Daniels, has also disassociated himself from Mr. Kelly."


Meanwhile, R. Kelly kicked off his "Double Up" tour on Wednesday (Nov. 14) as he awaits trial on 14 counts of child pornography.

50 Cent tells MTV about mentor Eminem, collaborating with Kanye West and reveals all about his next album…

50 Cent has spoken to MTV Base News while on tour in the UK and revealed all about life as the most controversial rapper on the planet.

Covering everything from his battle with Kanye West earlier this year to the sound of his new album Before I Self Destruct, we gave Curtis a good grilling.

“The tour is great I’m really enjoying myself,” he said while at the 02 Arena. “I’ve had to make some minor changes because I’ve been using a live band in parts… it’s a really different show to anything I’ve done before- There’s a lot more showmanship.”

When talking about playing concerts across the globe 50 turned to his mentor Eminem and revealed why Shady rarely tours:

“I’ve toured more than him because he has Hailey and he likes to physically be at the house,” he told MTV Base News. “A lot of people don’t know the reason behind him touring less- but Hailey would put boxes in front of the door thinking this would stop him going.”

“He (Eminem) would fly back on a private plane after the show so he could drive her to school in the morning so for him the tour was exhausting.”

50 Cent also told us about what could be his final studio album Before I Self Destruct. Rumour has it he’s collaborated with Kanye West on the album, so we had to ask…

“This album is more aggressive and darker- I’ll produce something that hands down will be the best record of that time period. There’s no duet with me and Kanye,” he said. “There was a track that I created and Kanye produced but it’s not made it to the album.”

And when asked about double standards with swearing on records Fiddy said: “Matter a fact my next single I’m going the start it ‘It’s Britney Bitch.’”

KANYE REPLACED BY WILL.I.AM AT V.S. GIG: Plus, mother's funeral scheduled for Tuesday in Oklahoma; location of Dr. West's surgery revealed.

Kanye West pulled out of his scheduled performance at last night's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in the wake of his mother's death.


Will.i.am replaced the grieving rapper on the bill, which also featured a reunion performance from the Spice Girls and took place at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles and will air Dec. 4 on CBS.


The New York Daily News quotes a friend of the family who described West as devastated and seemingly "in denial" about the Saturday passing of his mother, Dr. Donda West, following cosmetic surgery. The source said Kanye didn't think his mother needed any physical improvement.


"I don't think Kanye was aware Donda was getting the surgery, or certainly the extent of it," the family friend told the Daily News. "He loved and supported her just the way she was. He thought she was beautiful."

The source also said a funeral for Dr. West has been scheduled for Tuesday in Oklahoma City.

Additionally, the Los Angeles County coroner has reportedly revealed the location where Dr. Jan Adams performed surgery on Dr. West. According to the Daily News, the procedures took place at Brentwood Surgery Center, described in the paper as "a low-rent storefront clinic perched above a FedEx Kinko's store in a West Los Angeles strip mall."


Meanwhile, still more allegations are surfacing against Adams, who said Monday that he performed a tummy tuck and breast reduction on Dr. West one day before she stopped breathing on Saturday, but denies doing anything wrong to cause her death.

Court documents were discovered showing that Adams' estranged wife filed for a domestic violence restraining order against him a year ago following a situation on Thanksgiving.

Adams' now-ex-wife, Susan Field, moved to keep Adams at least 100 yards away from her and their three children on Nov. 28, 2006, as well as prevent him from calling, emailing or otherwise contacting them, reports E! Online.

In documents, Field said Adams went off on her for taking a phone call during the family's Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 23. "He wanted to speak to whomever was calling me," she stated. "My friend did not want to talk to him, which angered him even more. I left the balcony [where they were fighting] and went upstairs into one of the bedrooms to stop the arguing…

"[Adams] began screaming and yelling profanities at me, calling me every name in the book. He started to take off his cufflinks. I was very afraid. He continued to yell and scream at me, saying 'I'm going to rip your face off,' 'I'm going to f---ing kill you,' 'I'm going to beat you,' 'You need to be beaten,' 'when I get you home, I'm going to beat you.'"

Field said that he came at her with a closed fist, but stopped short of making contact.

"He then began to swing his arms, with his hands open, in an attempt to slap/hit my body," she wrote. Then, their son Tyler entered the room and approached his father; Adams then threw Field against the bed and she fell onto the floor.


In February, Adams also filed papers pertaining to the dissolution of their marriage. Field is ordered to adhere to a personal conduct restraining order that doesn't expire until 2009, under which both she and Adams are ordered to refrain from "molesting, striking, stalking, threatening, sexually assaulting, battering, harassing, or telephoning the other party at work, at home, or on any cellular phone."

In more bad news for Dr. Adams, the Discovery Health Network has opted to remove from its lineup "Plastic Surgery: Before and After," the show Adams hosted for five years before leaving in June. Four episodes scheduled to air this week have been pulled from the schedule.

Jadakiss Inks New Deal With Roc-A-Fella

Katie Hasty, N.Y.
Jadakiss has signed to Roc-A-Fella/Ruff Ryders and will release his third, as-yet-untitled studio effort next year. The rapper's two previous efforts, 2001's "Kiss Tha Game Goodbye" and 2004's "Kiss of Death," bore the Ruff Ryders imprint but were worked through Interscope.

"Kiss of Death" entered at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 upon release and has gone on to sell 1.03 million units in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The effort was helped by the popularity of its singles, "Time's Up" featuring Nate Dogg, "Why" featuring Anthony Hamilton and "U Make Me Wanna" featuring Mariah Carey.

Jadakiss has previously been engaged in beefs with Roc-A-Fella artist Beanie Sigel, but the pair buried the hatchet several years ago at a concert in Philadelphia. They have since appeared on DJ Khaled's 2006 album, "Listennn ... The Album."

JAY-Z DOES IT AGAIN ON BILLBOARD: Rap mogul enters the chart at No. 1; ties Elvis for second most chart topping albums

It's now official, Jay-Z's "American Gangster" sold 425,000 copies in the U.S. last week, according to Nielsen SoundScan, to become his 10th No. 1 album on The Billboard 200 chart.

Jigga has now tied Elvis Presley in second place for the most No. 1 albums on the chart and trails only the Beatles with 19. In the past nine years, all eight of Jay-Z's solo studio albums have reached No. 1, in addition to his "Collision Course" project with Linkin Park and his "Unfinished Business" collaboration with R. Kelly.

The Def Jam president knocked off The Eagles' "Long Road Out of Eden," which slips to No. 2 ahead of Garth Brooks' "The Ultimate Hits" at No. 3.

After debuting at No. 2 last week, Chris Brown's sophomore Jive album, "Exclusive," falls to No. 4. The top ten is rounded out by Carrie Underwood's "Carnival Ride," Josh Groban's holiday album, "Noel," Britney Spears' "Blackout," Taylor Swift's self-titled album, Angels & Airwaves' "I-Empire" and Cassidy's "B.A.R.S. The Barry Adrian Reese Story" at No. 10.

Meanwhile, the official "American Gangster" soundtrack bowed at No. 36 this week with 21,000.

New GZA album on the way

January 8th...Guests include RZA, Raekwon, Mos Def, Sean Price, Killah Priest, Bronze Nazareth & more. Production by RZA, DJ Muggs, Nottz, Bink! & Bronze Nazareth

Jay-Z's "American Gangster" Projected To Sell Over 400,000 Units

Jay-Z's "American Gangster" Projected To Sell Over 400,000 Units

Jay-Z's tenth studio album, American Gangster, is projected to sell between 425-450,000 in first week sales.

According to Hitsdailydouble.com, American Gangster is on track to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 this week, selling between 425,000 to 450,000 units and officially tying with Elvis Presley for second place among artists with the most No. 1 albums. Last year Hov's highly publicized comeback album, Kingdom Come, which also came out in November, sold 680,000 copies.

Jay's American Gangster was inspired by the Ridley Scott's film of the same name, starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe and based on the life of Harlem-based heroin kingpin Frank Lucas. Considered to be his first conceptual album, American Gangster is Jay-Z's rendering of the rise and fall of a hustler.

In related news, this weekend SIRIUS Satellite Radio closed out a week of programming dedicated to Jigga by broadcasting an exclusive concert performance from his five-city tour.

Hov took over hosting duties at SIRIUS' "Hip-Hop Nation" last week, rechristening it "JAY-Z Nation."

On Saturday (November 10), the station aired a live recording of Jay-Z's House of Blues concert in Chicago. The concert featured guest appearances by Kanye West, Freeway and Beanie Sigel.

Flip Mode Squad Parts Way with Busta Rhymes

The Flip Mode Squad have parted ways with mentor Busta Rhymes and changed their name to simply F-M-S. The group’s Rampage says, “We just decided to do our own thing… It’s not under Flip Mode anymore. It’s under F-M-S, just me, [Baby] Sham, [Rah] Digga and [Spliff] Starr, and F-M-S stands for Famous Millionaire Squad.” Rampage adds that Busta’s legal troubles had nothing to do with the split. “If they say he did it, then he did it. I ain’t with him all the time… I just don’t got nothing to do with people being murdered at video shoots or none of that. I’m just trying to do music, man.” — Elle Castro

Kanye West makes statement about mother's death

Kanye West has released a statement about the passing of his mother--and has asked fans to donate money to his teacher training institute.



West's mother died as a result of complications after surgery at a Los Angeles hospital on Saturday (November 10).

The statement reads: "Kanye West, his family and friends would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of support and kind words that have come in from across the country since the death of his mother, Dr. Donda West.



"After working in higher education for 31 years, Dr. Donda West and Kanye West co-founded the Kanye West Foundation, with the mission of helping to combat the severe dropout problem in high schools across the country.

"The first and signature initiative of the Kanye West Foundation is Loop Dreams. Designed to capitalise on students' existing interest in hip-hop, Loop Dreams challenges students to learn more about what's behind hip-hop culture in order to help them develop skills, express themselves creatively and be empowered.

"In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Dr. West's name to the Kanye West Foundation/Loop Dreams Teacher Training Institute. Those donations can be made by visiting the Foundations website, kanyewestfoundation.org or by mail at Kanye West Foundation, 8560 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069."

courtesy of NME.com

DONDA WEST MAY BE LAID TO REST IN OKLAHOMA: Plus, report surfaces of pre-existing condition

An official announcement regarding services for Kanye West's mom was still pending as of press time, however, a spokesperson for Howard-Harris Funeral home in Oklahoma City told local news outlet KOCO Channel 5 that the family had contacted them regarding preparations for her funeral.


Meanwhile, a thyroid condition may have been what kept one plastic surgeon from moving forward with the requested tummy tuck and breast reduction surgery on Dr. Donda West, who died Saturday from what may be "complications due to surgery," the L.A. coroner announced Monday. An official autopsy was scheduled to be completed by today.


Beverly Hills surgeon Dr. Andre Aboolian told TMZ.com Monday that he met with Dr. West two weeks ago to discuss her requested cosmetic procedures. At that time, he expressed concern over a pre-existing condition and suggested that she get clearance from an internist whom Dr. Aboolian recommended.


The entertainment news program "Access Hollywood" reported yesterday that Dr. West's pre-existing condition may have involved her thyroid. According to TMZ, Dr. West never went to the internist and subsequently had the procedures performed by Dr. Jan Adams.


Meanwhile, a statement released Monday by Kanye West's family thanks supporters for their words of encouragement following his mother's sudden passing.


"Kanye West, his family and friends would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of support and kind words that have come in from across the country since the death of his mother, the statement read.


"In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Dr. West's name to the Kanye West Foundation/Loop Dreams Teacher Training Institute. Those donations can be made by visiting the Foundation's Web site, www.KanyeWestFoundation.org or by mail at Kanye West Foundation, 8560 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069.


The family statement also outlined Dr. West's involvement in the Kanye West Foundation before her passing.


"After working in higher education for 31 years, Dr. Donda West and Kanye West co-founded the Kanye West Foundation with the mission of helping to combat the severe dropout problem in high schools across the country," the statement read.


"The first and signature initiative of the Kanye West Foundation is Loop Dreams. Designed to capitalize on students existing interest in hip-hop, Loop Dreams challenges students to learn more about what's behind hip-hop culture in order to help them develop skills, express themselves creatively and be empowered."

'NICKY' BARNES NOT HAPPY ABOUT 'GANGSTER' PORTRAYAL: Frank Lucas rival says film downplayed his importance in the dope game

Harlem drug kingpin Leroy (Nicky) Barnes says his role in New York's heroin trade during the late 60s and early 70s is grossly underrepresented in the new film "American Gangster," which details the rise and fall of his drug rival Frank Lucas.


"This whole thing about him being an entrepreneurial genius is nonsense," Barnes told the New York Daily News from his undisclosed location in the federal witness protection program. "I didn't see it. I did business in all five boroughs, Atlanta, D.C., Philly and Baltimore. Frank had 116th St. and maybe a few places in New Jersey."


In the Universal Pictures film, Denzel Washington portrays Lucas as a likeable family man but ruthless killer who dealt heroin by shipping the substance in the coffins of dead soldiers coming home from Vietnam. The movie features Barnes briefly as a "loud-mouthed buffoon" played by actor Cuba Gooding Jr.


Barnes tells the newspaper: "I like Cuba Gooding Jr. He probably did the best he could. But they depict me as a footnote in Frank's life when it was the other way around.


Barnes also disputes Washington's characterization of Lucas as articulate and understated, in contrast to Gooding's pimped-out dimwit.

"I wore flashy clothes, but not outrageous," says Barnes. "Check out the photos of me at the time. And have you listened to Frank talk? Frank is functionally illiterate. I've read all of Shakespeare. I can quote his sonnets. I read Dickens, Melville, Emily Dickinson. I won a poetry contest against inmates from the entire prison system.

"I did things Frank is incapable of. They took attributes of me and gave them to Frank. He was an empty vessel."

"They said I approached Frank for his dope," says Barnes. "I always got my drugs from the Italians. They have this scene where Frank yells at me for using the name of his dope - 'Blue Magic.' It never happened!

"This business about him being the protege of Bumpy Johnson - I never heard anything about Frank and Bumpy.

"Frank never went to Southeast Asia to get Ike Atkinson to bring him to a general in the Golden Triangle. Ike told me he won a bag of dope from some guys in a card game and unloaded it on Frank. His dope never came in the coffins of G.I.s from Vietnam. Check the public record.

"They're showing Frank as credible by undermining me. It's mythology. They portray Frank as their strident Afro-centric guy standing up to the white mobsters. Did you see Frank on Charlie Rose's show? He was the only one saying, 'Mister Rose.' He was like a lawn jockey."


In its defense, Universal says the studio "has every confidence that the material facts are conveyed truthfully in 'American Gangster,' from abundant research with direct sources and from the public record."

Barnes, meanwhile, is featured in a documentary currently in theaters, titled "Mr. Untouchable."

JAY-Z DEDICATES NY CONCERT TO KANYE: Mogul asks for a moment of silence before the final song

Let's get serious for a minute," announced Jay-Z during the encore of his sold-out concert Sunday night at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom.


The hip hop mogul and mentor of rapper Kanye West was near the end of a two-hour concert in support of his new album "American Gangster" when he asked for a moment of silence to mark the passing of West's mother, Dr. Donda West.


"This show is dedicated to Kanye West who had a death in the family." According to People magazine, the crowd quickly fell silent.

"We got you, Kanye. Stay strong," he added before beginning his final song and current single, "Roc Boys."

SIRIUS Satellite Radio to Broadcast Exclusive JAY-Z Concert from Current Tour

The concert will air on JAY-Z Nation, the exclusive one-week channel dedicated to JAY-Z, and feature appearances by Kanye West, Freeway, and Beanie Sigel

NEW YORK, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SIRIUS Satellite Radio (NASDAQ:SIRI) announced today that it will broadcast an exclusive concert from music icon and mogul JAY-Z recorded live at the House of Blues in Chicago on his five-city tour in support of his new album American Gangster. The concert features guest appearances by Kanye West, Freeway, and Beanie Sigel and will air on JAY-Z Nation channel 40 on November 10th at 10 pm ET with a replay on Sunday, November 11th at 8 pm ET.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991118/NYTH125 )

JAY-Z Nation, the exclusive twenty-four hour, commercial-free music channel dedicated to JAY-Z, launched on November 5th for one week in support of the release of JAY-Z's new album American Gangster. The channel continues SIRIUS' tradition of creating exclusive artist branded channels dedicated to iconic figures at the top of their game. Recent exclusive channels launched on SIRIUS include Grateful Dead Channel, E Street Radio and Garth Brooks Radio, among many others.

American Gangster, JAY-Z's tenth studio album, is inspired by the film with the same title based on the life of drug kingpin Frank Lucas. After screening the film, JAY-Z was inspired to create, American Gangster, his first 'conceptual album' depicting the birth, rise and fall of a hustler.

To learn more about JAY-Z Nation please visit www.sirius.com.

MOTHER OF KANYE WEST HAS DIED: Rep for rapper confirms Dr. Donda West passed away Saturday night in Los Angeles

Dr. Donda West, the mother of rapper-producer Kanye West, has died, a rep for the artist has confirmed to Chicago's WLS-TV and WGCI-FM. She was 58.

Hot 97's Miss Info was one of the first outlets to report early Sunday that Dr. West, who served as Chair of the English Department at Chicago State University before retiring to manage her son, had passed away Saturday night in Los Angeles.

Kanye West was in London when told of his mother's death and was reportedly en route back to the U.S. a short time later.

Rhymefest, who co-wrote West's hit single "Jesus Walks," told Essence.com that Kanye called him from London at 10 a.m. CST Sunday to tell him the news. No further information about the cause of death was available as of press time.

Essence.com reports that Dr. West was the CEO of West Brands, LLC at the time of her death. She also served as chair of the Kanye West Foundation.

Additionally, Dr. West has authored a book titled, "Raising Kanye, Life Lessons from the Mother of a Hip Hop Superstar," which pays homage to her famous son while reflecting on all the things she learned about being his mother along the way.

SNOOP, COMMON, KEYS, COLE AT VIBE AWARDS: Special honoring year's trend-setters to air Nov. 19 on VH1

VH1 Soul is teaming up with VIBE Magazine for the VH1 Soul Presents: VIBE Awards Special, a one-hour taped program honoring the top music artists and trend-setters of the year.

The special includes special dedications and tributes from some of the biggest names in hip hop and R&B, celebrates excellence and innovation in urban music, lifestyle and culture. Among those scheduled to appear include Wyclef Jean, Rodney Jerkins, Dallas Austin, Farnsworth Bentley, DJ Clue, Andre Harrell, Kay Slay, VIBE Magazine's Editor-in-Chief Danyel Smith and many more.


The show will also feature presenters including Keyshia Cole, Alicia Keys, Nelly, Common, Snoop Dogg, Big Boi, and Q Tip.

Hosted by rapper and actress Eve, the VH1 Soul Presents: VIBE Awards Special, premieres on VH1 Soul on Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 9 p.m. and on VH1 on Monday, Nov. 19 at 10 p.m.

This year's winners of the VH1 Soul/VIBE award are:

Hip Hop Artist of the Year
Lil Wayne

R&B Artist of the Year
Beyonce

Best Collabo
Fabolous featuring Ne-Yo "Make Me Better"

Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Robin Thicke

Producer of the Year
Timbaland

Song of the Year
"Buy U A Drank" by T-Pain featuring Yung Joc

Video of the Year
"Umbrella" by Rihanna featuring Jay-Z

VStyle (celebrates Hip Hop and R & B's most cutting-edge, influential and
innovative style and fashion trendsetter)
Beyonce

VIBE Props
Jay-Z

Mixtape of the Year
"Can't Tell Me Nothing" by Kanye West

Ringtone of the Year
"Party Like a Rockstar" by Shop Boyz

VHollywood (celebrates artists who have demonstrated that their talents
truly do excel beyond stage)
Will Smith

RAEKWON AIRS WU-TANG'S DIRTY LAUNDRY: Rapper says group must squash beefs before release of new album next month

Raekwon says squabbling members of his rap group the Wu-Tang Clan need to get their act together in the run up to the Dec. 11 release of, "The 8 Diagrams," their first new album since 2001's "Iron Flag."


"Bottom line, it's a lot of business that's f*cking up the creativity," Raekwon explained on the Missinfo.TV blog Wednesday. "When you're dealing with two beefs...money and art, that's serious. You can't work for something you can't trust."


Last month, Ghostface Killah told Billboard that he was frustrated with Wu-Tang's request that he delay the Dec. 4 release of his new album, "The Big Doe Rehab," so the Wu-Tang disc could come out that day instead. He also said he hadn't been paid his share for touring with Wu-Tang this summer.


Although he declined to address specific gripes, RZA talked to Billboard yesterday about the inherent difficulties of blending his sensibilities with those of his group mates.

"My idea with this album was to have an hour of your day be different -- you go into this other world of beats, hardcore lyrics and imagery of hip-hop," he said. "I wanted the listener to be stimulated by the music. I don't know if everybody agreed with it. Everybody has their own opinion. This is in my vision at the end of the day."

RAPPERS FIGHT AT CHRIS BROWN'S 'EXCLUSIVE' PARTY?: Juelz Santana and Jim Jones reportedly spark brawl

The New York Daily News is reporting that rappers Jim Jones and Juelz Santana showed up and showed out at Chris Brown's "Exclusive" album release party at New York's Tenjune on Tuesday night.


According to columnists Rush & Malloy, the rap stars showed up just after the fire marshal said the venue had reached capacity. When security refused to let them inside, Jones reportedly took it personally and got loud.


"You don't disrespect me, n**ga!" he reportedly yelled as he knocked down the security barricade.


"Santana and the entourage then bowled over the three bouncers at the door. Twelve more guys followed and a brawl ensued as they tried to pry open the door of the popular nightspot," the paper reported. "Reinforcements from inside Tenjune swarmed out and shoved the aggressors back onto the street."

T.I. HOPES JUDGE HAS THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT: Rapper files motion to lift house arrest rules so he can host Thanksgiving dinner

Under current rules of T.I.'s house arrest on federal weapons charges, the rapper can have no more than three visitors at a time at his home in Jonesboro, Georgia – which throws a monkey wrench in his plan to host the family dinner for Thanksgiving.


According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, lawyers for the rapper filed a motion in federal court Tuesday (Nov. 6) asking that the three-visitor-limit – as part of his $3 million bond – be waived for the holiday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and only for a group of visitors whose names he submitted for approval.


Should the judge grant T.I.'s request, the artist must pay for additional guards for the dinner, according to the motion. And due to his bond conditions, he is forbidden from drinking any alcohol.

T.I., born Clifford Harris Jr. was arrested on Oct. 13 and charged with possession of three unregistered machine guns and two silencers, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count if convicted.

Michael Jackson says he ignores negative stories

NEW YORK - Michael Jackson knows his reputation as a freak — but just ignores it. "I don't pay attention to that," the 49-year-old singer tells Ebony magazine. "In my opinion, it's ignorance. It's usually not based on fact. ... Every neighborhood has the guy who you don't see, so you gossip about him. You see those stories about him, there's the myth that he did this or he did that. People are crazy!"


Jackson, a twice-divorced father of three, says he hasn't changed all that much since releasing his blockbuster album "Thriller" nearly 25 years ago.

"That Michael is probably the same Michael here," he says in the magazine's December issue, on newsstands Monday. "I just wanted to get certain things accomplished first. But I always had this tug in the back of my head, the things I wanted to do, to raise children, have children. I'm enjoying it very much."

Jackson says success "came with a lot of pain."

"When you're on top of your game, when you're a pioneer, people come at you. ... But I feel grateful, all those record-breaking things, to the biggest albums, to those No. 1s, I still feel grateful," says the singer, who has sold more than 750 million albums worldwide.

What does he make of today's music?

"I don't think people are being as experimental and innovative enough," he says. "I know people can easily say, `Well, we don't have the Michael Jackson budget.' Wrong, you can be so creative with almost nothing. And that's usually the best stuff, when you strip it down to the bare minimum and go inside yourself and invent."

Jackson — whose last album, 2001's "Invincible," went double-platinum but failed to produce any monster hits — is reportedly collaborating with the likes of Kanye West for his forthcoming album, Ebony said.

"I always want to do music that influences and inspires each generation," he says. "Let's face it, who wants mortality? You want what you create to live, and I give my all in my work because I want it to live."

Remy Ma, Busta Rhymes, Ja Rule, and Lil Wayne share the stage in New York courts

By Edith Honan

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The docket at New York State Court on Wednesday read like a who's who of the hip-hop world as four major rap artists faced separate charges, highlighting the fine line between image and reality in U.S. rap music.


Grammy-winning rapper Busta Rhymes faced assault charges. Popular female rapper Remy Ma was accused of shooting and critically wounding a Bronx woman. Lil Wayne and Ja Rule made separate appearances on weapons charges.

The cases were unrelated but their timing meant that the dingy, dimly lit corridors of the Manhattan courthouse were brightened by fans pulling out camera phones to snap pictures of the stars.

"It's a coincidence," said Remy Ma, 26, whose real name is Remy Smith, after learning her trial for the shooting at a Manhattan nightclub will likely begin in the next few months.

Dressed in a gray miniskirt, cobalt blue tights and towering high heels, the Grammy-nominated musician signed autographs and fielded reporters' questions about her clothes.

"I know all of them. They're all my friends," she said of the other three defendants.

Kyra Gaunt, a professor of music and anthropology at Baruch College, said rap artists who emerge from tough neighborhoods like Remy Ma often have problems juggling the desire to stay out of trouble with their brash hip-hop aesthetic.

"Because the genre plays with reality, a lot of people get lost. All of a sudden, the line between representation of reality and reality is no longer separate," said Gaunt.

ASSAULT, WEAPONS CHARGES

Remy Ma, a Bronx native, won the highly rated Black Entertainment Television award for best female hip-hop artist in 2005. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 25 years behind bars for the July 14 shooting of Makeda Barnes-Joseph.

Busta Rhymes, whose real name is Trevor Smith and whose hits include "Dangerous" and "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See," faces four consecutive trials for two assault and two driving violations.

He has twice turned down a plea deal that would have jailed him for a year in exchange for a guilty plea to four misdemeanor charges.

New Orleans artist Lil Wayne, declared "rapper of the year" by The New Yorker magazine in August, and Ja Rule, who has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide, were arrested separately in July after leaving a Lil Wayne concert in Manhattan.

Police said Lil Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Carter, was found smoking marijuana and carrying a weapon. Ja Rule, whose real name is Jeff Atkins, was stopped an hour earlier by police who said he possessed a .40-caliber handgun.

They both face charges of illegal gun possession. Trial dates have not yet been set.

Lauren Raysor, a lawyer representing Joseph-Barnes, chided the news media for lavishing attention on the accused.

Pointing to this week's Village Voice, whose cover features Remy Ma in a black leotard, she shook her head. "I tell you, they have definitely glorified a criminal," she said.

(Editing by Alan Elsner)

LET IT 'BEE' KNOWN, 'GANGSTER' RUNS BOX OFFICE: Denzel's film squashes Seinfeld's 'Bee Movie'.

Despite the crystal-clear DVD bootlegs of "American Gangster" that have flooded the streets of major cities in the past two weeks, enough people actually paid for a ticket to give it a No. 1 ranking at the weekend box office.


The film, starring Denzel Washington as New York drug kingpin Frank Lucas, took in $46.3 million to top Jerry Seinfeld's family cartoon "Bee Movie," which earned $39.1 million to place second.


The two pictures gave a much-needed sales jolt to a lack-luster autumn at the box office. After six-straight weekends of declining revenues, overall business rose, with the top-12 movies taking in $127.2 million, up 12 percent from the same weekend last year, when "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" was No. 1 with $26.5 million.

"American Gangster" was the biggest opening ever for the film's two stars. Crowe's previous best was $34.8 million for "Gladiator," also directed by Scott, while Washington's was $29 million for "Inside Man."

"These are two great actors telling this true story of Frank Lucas," said Nikki Rocco, head of distribution at Universal. "You couldn't have picked a better cast."


The following are estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released later today.

1. "American Gangster," $46.3 million.
2. "Bee Movie," $39.1 million.
3. "Saw IV," $11 million.
4. "Dan in Real Life," $8.1 million.
5. "30 Days of Night," $4 million.
6. "The Game Plan," $3.85 million.
7. "Martian Child," $3.65 million.
8. "Michael Clayton," $2.9 million.
9. "Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?", $2.7 million.
10. "Gone Baby Gone," $2.4 million

Jay-Z taking over Sirius Radio channel

NEW YORK - Jay-Z is taking over Sirius Satellite Radio's hip-hop channel — for a week. The 37-year-old rap mogul will debut as host of Jay-Z Nation on Monday, Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. said Friday. He will take the helm at Hip-Hop Nation channel 40.

Jay-Z's latest album, "American Gangster," will be released Tuesday. The CD takes its title and inspiration from the new movie co-starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe about Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas.

"Jay-Z is one of the pre-eminent creative forces in the music industry," Sirius executive Scott Greenstein said in a statement. "Over the last decade, he has truly changed the face of hip-hop and music culture."

Jay-Z Nation will feature music from the rapper's albums and songs by his favorite hip-hop artists.

50 Cent banned by U.S. television

50 Cent's new single "I Still Kill" has been banned by TV stations MTV and BET in America.

The track has been renamed "I Still Will."

50 Cent told New York Magazine: "I don't think they have a problem with the group the Killers being called 'The Killers' and I don't think anyone's protesting that Guns N' Roses is called 'Guns N' Roses.'"

He added: "I think that their perception of me is dark so they're going to ask for those things to be changed."
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Beyonce Knowles to release dance album

T-Pain surrenders in license violation

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - T-Pain turned himself in Friday after being wanted on an outstanding warrant for driving with a suspended license, police said.

Officers observed T-Pain, whose real name is Faheem Najm, driving a Lamborghini Gallardo in June. At the time, his driver's license had been revoked for being a habitual traffic violator, officials reported.

The 23-year-old Tallahassee native turned himself in at the Leon County jail and was later released. He was to perform Sunday at the Tallahassee Civic Center.

A telephone message left with T-Pain's manager Friday night was not returned.

T-Pain's first album, 2005's "Rappa Ternt Sanga," produced two hit singles, including "I'm In Luv (Wit a Stripper)." His sophomore album, "Epiphany," produced the hit "Buy U a Drank." He also has worked as a producer with Britney Spears and R. Kelly.

DA BRAT CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED ASSAULT: Rapper accused of smashing bottle over a woman's head.

Da Brat found herself in handcuffs early Thursday after she was accused of smashing a bottle over the head of a waitress at Jermaine Dupri's Atlanta-area nightclub.


DeKalb County Police say the 33-year-old rapper, born Shawntae Harris, was charged with aggravated assault in the incident, which took place at about 1:20 a.m. early Thursday.


According to the police report, the 24-year-old waitress got into a shoving match with Da Brat after the rap star accused the woman of bumping into her. At some point, the waitress walked away, but moments later, the rapper allegedly grabbed a bottle of rum and hit the woman in the face.

The victim was driven to a local hospital, where she was treated for a deep laceration to the cheek and some swelling above her eye socket, police said.

The first female rapper to have a platinum-selling album, Da Brat has appeared on the VH1 reality shows "Celebrity Fit Club" and "The Surreal Life"; and most recently served as a judge on MTV's "Celebrity Rap Superstar."

UPDATE:

Da Brat was released late thursday night from DeKalb county jail after posting a $50,000 bond.

RZA COMMENTS ON 'AMERICAN GANGSTER' PIRACY + INTERVIEW: Rapper says he can't hate on bootleggers, but hopes blacks will support film at box office

Rza of the Wu Tang Clan recently spoke out about the bootlegging of his film "American Gangster," which opens today starring Denzel Washington as real life drug kingpin Frank Lucas and the rapper as a police officer.


In an interview on Chicago's Power 92 "Trey the Chocolate Jock Morning Jump-off" show, Rza said he isn't mad at the piracy because he understands how the hood operates, co-host Kendra G tells us.


However, Rza acknowledges that Universal Pictures spent over $100 million to make a film about a black man, and if more films about African Americans are to be made, blacks must show financial support by actually purchasing a ticket.


Listen to Rza's interview here:

 

 

SUPERHEAD SAYS SHE'S DONE WITH BILL MAHER: Karrine Steffans hints at possible verbal abuse as the reason for splitting

Karrine "Superhead" Steffans says she is free and clear of her on-and-off again boyfriend Bill Maher, who hosts his own political-themed roundtable show on HBO.


The video vixen-turned-best-selling author has aired out all of the TV host's dirty laundry to various members of the media, including EUR's Lee Bailey and next month's issue of Vibe magazine.


She says, "Bill wants someone he can put down in an argument, tell you how ghetto you are, how big your butt is, and that you're an idiot. That's why you never see him with a white girl or an intellectual.


"I might as well have been a Muslim woman with my head wrapped, walking 10 paces behind my man. [But] I couldn't be 'Bill Maher's girlfriend' anymore - not when I'm Karrine Steffans . . . best-selling author."