Jay-Z's 40/40 Club Fails Inspection, New Year's Party At Risk

Jay-Z's Las Vegas 40/40 franchise may not open in time for New Year's Eve as planned.

Recent reports claim the Sin City venue failed to pass inspection, putting plans for a Vegas 40/40 New Year's Eve celebration in serious jeopardy.

According to PerezHilton.com, close sources have revealed that, "Unless Jay-Z and his team miraculously come up with certain licenses and certificates by Sunday (Dec. 30), then they won't be able to go on with their New Year's Eve party plans."

Hov's inspection woes have deeper repercussions -- if the club can't meet the necessary requirements, then Jay-Z and his partners will be forced to refund all opening night tickets, adding even further expense to a venture that has yet to see any profits.

Despite unforeseen problems with the Vegas 40/40, Jay-Z fans in the area will still have an opportunity to witness the Brooklyn MC and entrepreneur in concert.

As previously reported, Jay-Z is scheduled to perform at the Palm Casino Resort's luxe Pearl Concert Theater tomorrow. Tickets for the show, which were originally priced for $225, sold out within an hour of going on sale.

Kanye West is also scheduled to perform at the Pearl Concert Theater for a New Year's Eve performance.

Yung Joc Talks Gun Charge, "I Would Never Deliberately Commit An Act That Would Jeopardize My Freedom"

After facing arrest for bringing a loaded gun to an airport, rapper Yung Joc has issued a statement maintaining his innocence.

"I have the utmost respect for the laws of this country and would never deliberately commit an act that would jeopardize my freedom, my family, or my career," Joc said via his lawyer, Stanley Jackson Jr.

As previously reported, Joc (real name Jasiel Robinson) was arrested at a Cleveland Hopkins International Airport security checkpoint on Sunday, Dec. 23 and charged with carrying a concealed weapon. Authorities found a semiautomatic handgun and ammunition in his carry-on luggage.

Joc failed to appear in court for his arraignment on Wednesday morning, prompting prosecutors to request a warrant for his arrest, which was revoked when the rapper finally showed up seven hours late.

Joc left the courthouse on Wednesday without comment, but according to TMZ.com, issued the statement yesterday expressing frustration that the arrest has overshadowed his positive deeds.

"I've worked very hard to achieve my goals, and it's unfortunate that this current situation has garnered more attention than the many donations I've made and the charitable work I've done with various organizations," he said.

Joc also went on to speak about his innocence; he previously told police he was not aware the gun was in his luggage.

"I'm proud to be a citizen of America, where we are taught to believe that every person is afforded the presumption of innocence," Joc said. "That being said, I have full respect for the judicial system and its due process. I look forward to resolving this situation and moving forward to a positive and prosperous 2008."

The Atlanta rapper's next court date is January 25, 2008.

Pimp C Did Not Die From Foul Play, Says Coroner

Investigators say they are about two weeks away from determining the cause of Pimp C's mysterious death.

As previously reported, 33-year-old Pimp C, one-half of the legendary Southern rap duo UGK, was found dead in an upscale Hollywood hotel room on Dec. 4.

While the rapper was found with drugs on his person, prescribed to him by his doctor, without apparent injury and no drug paraphernalia present, authorities believed he died of natural causes.

According to KBTV Channel 4 in Port Arthur, Pimp C's hometown, the Los Angeles coroner's office has officially ruled out foul play and said there were no signs of trauma.

Pimp C's funeral was held on Dec. 13 and drew about 2,000 attendees, including Houston rappers Chamillionaire, Mike Jones, Slim Thug and longtime partner and friend, Bun B.

BRANDY GETS GOOD NEWS: She won't be charged in deadly car crash.

We're sure Brandy is somewhere taking a huge sigh of relief. That's because the Los Angeles city attorney's office says it will not charge actress-singer for a deadly car crash last year.

There is "insufficient evidence" for a jury to find her guilty of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter beyond a reasonable doubt, said Nick Valasquez, a spokesman for the city attorney's office.


The decision runs counter to a recommendation from the California Highway Patrol that Brandy, 28, be charged in the crash.


That recommendation from the CHP brought a terse retort from Brandy's lawyer, Blair Berk, who released a statement to TMZ.com, making her thoughts known.


"These past 12 months have posed an extraordinary hardship for Brandy and her family, who have been unfairly forced to live under a cloud of suspicion initially caused by the ill-advised and premature press release sent out by the California Highway Patrol accusing Brandy of wrongdoing before the police investigation was even finished. However, Brandy continues to be mindful that she was so fortunate to be uninjured in this accident and there was a life lost that should be remembered."


Meanwhile, Najee Ali of Project Hope and a coalition of black leaders sent out a press alert Friday morning saying that they still intend to "respond" to LA City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo. And of course, the big question is why, what's the point?


"Why? We called upon LA City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo to not file any charges against Brandy when the accident was made public a year ago and we continue to hold our same position," Ali said. "Our coalition stated then that Brandy's celebrity status made her a target by CHP officials who were trying to make a name for themselves."


Brandy, whose last name is Norwood, was driving on a Los Angeles freeway December 30 last year when traffic slowed and her Land Rover smashed into the back of a Honda.


That car was involved in several other collisions. The driver, 38-year-old Awatef Aboudihaj, died in the accident. It was also disclosed that she (Aboudihaj) had been smoking marijuana and may have been under the influence.

JOE BUDDEN PUMPS NEW DEAL: Rapper inks with Amalgam Digital for release of new album

Mood Muzik 3: The Album," the long-delayed new studio effort from Joe Budden, will finally be released on Feb. 26 as part of his new deal with Amalgram Digital.

Budden says the independent record/digital label offers him a whole new host of opportunities to connect with hip hop fans.

"With the Mood Muzik series gaining mass attention, this is just our effort to maximize on awareness," Budden said in a statement. "Amalgam understands our vision, as we do theirs, so this will be first of many ventures to come. We have a full length album entitled 'Padded Room' coming second quarter 2008. We're prepping for a big year…are you in the mood yet?"

"Mood Muzik 3" is comprised of various Budden songs that were released on mixtapes, as well as unreleased material.

Short-handed Wu-Tang Clan keep energy crackling

By Gary Jackson

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The still-enormously popular Wu-Tang Clan stormed the West Hollywood House of Blues on Sunday like conquering hip-hop heroes. Problem was, they were a man short -- make that two.

But the high-wattage energy level in this 90-minute set was maintained principally because of the group's huge membership. An ever-evolving crew that included Ghostface Killah, U-God, Method Man, GZA, Inspectah Deck, Cappadonna, Raekwon the Chef, Masta Killa and RZA recently released "8 Diagrams," a well-crafted collection that saw precious airtime during the evening.

Wu-Tang relied on a deep catalog of heavy-hitting singles that began with its anthem "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta F' Wit," an appropriate opener that helped sustain the group's energy all night. Conspicuously missing was RZA, the acknowledged musical director of the group. As the set roared on, shouts of "Where's RZA?" amplified, but no explanation was forthcoming. Similarly missed was "The Heart Gently Weeps," a brutal depiction of the inevitable violence that seems to be inextricably tied to the hip-hop culture. It borrows the track from George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."

Method Man is the most comfortable of the MCs onstage. He commandeered the microphone throughout the evening, sprayed bottled water, dove repeatedly into a mosh pit and then had the audacity -- not to mention trust -- to have the audience hold him upright as he rapped. It's a tried-and-true hype "method," and it worked again.

Method Man then launched into a lengthy tribute to the dearly departed clown prince of Wu-Tang, Ol' Dirty Bastard, who died of an drug overdose in 2004 after quite the tumultuous life that featured high-profile jail time, police chases and several classic hip-hop hits, including "Shimmy Shimmy Ya" and "Protect Ya Neck."

About three-quarters into the set, the energy level took a dip as Raekwon launched into a monologue on how the group has been misunderstood. It's hard to agree, what with the crowd's adoration at ear-splitting levels. One element that Wu-Tang Clan has is an eerie, choirlike quality; whether planned or not, such an untapped element should be explored more. Where you at, RZA?

Wu-Tang Clan needs to improve its endgame. The concert finished with Method Man puffing a joint handed to him. Then everyone just sauntered offstage, leaving the sold-out audience without a chance to applaud or request an encore. Can you say "awkward exit?"

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

YUNG JOC IN HANDCUFFS AT CLEVELAND AIRPORT: Rapper allegedly had loaded gun in his carry-on

Rapper Yung Joc was arrested at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and charged with carrying a concealed weapon after police said a loaded gun was found in his carry-on bag.


According to the Associated Press, the 25-year-old was taken into custody at about 6:20 a.m. Sunday before boarding a Delta Air Lines flight. Police said they found a semiautomatic handgun and ammunition in Robinson's carry-on bag. He told them he didn't know the weapon was there, said police spokesman Lt. Thomas Stacho.


Joc, whose real name is Jasiel Robinson, was charged with the felony on Sunday. He was freed on $50,000 bond Monday and is scheduled to be arraigned today.


"Yung Joc maintains his innocence. He would appreciate privacy as he addresses these allegations," said his lawyer, Stanley Jackson Jr.

LIL KIM'S EX FACES DEATH PENALTY: Man, 33, looking at the needle if found guilty of ordering rival's execution.

Damion "World" Hardy, the 33-year-old ex-boyfriend of rapper Lil' Kim, faces death by lethal injection if found guilty of ordering the execution of a rival that also took the life of an innocent bystander.

The alleged hit man, Eric (E-Bay) Moore, also faces the federal death penalty for the Aug. 10, 2000, slaying of Ivory Davis, who was shot twice as he sat in his car outside New York's Club NV at Hudson and Spring Sts, reports the New York Daily News.

Davis, mortally wounded, drove off and fatally struck a pedestrian, Swedish filmmaker, Johan Camitz.

Hardy and Lil' Kim once lived together in her New Jersey mansion, reports the Daily News. He drove around in a Land Rover that she gave him and the couple was believed to be engaged, a law enforcement source said.

Hardy, the reputed leader of a murderous drug crew called Cash Money Brothers, served time for shooting at narcotics cops in Brooklyn and was a notorious presence at the Lafayette Gardens projects in Bedford Stuyvesant, where his crew controlled the drug trade, law enforcement officials said. In 2003, cops said he confronted rapper 50 Cent in a New Jersey hotel parking lot, sparking a shootout after the rapper dissed Lil' Kim on the radio.

A lawyer for Hardy claims he has since undergone a religious conversion, legally changing his name to Isa Ibn Jibril. He is also mentally ill, the lawyer said. Last week, a federal judge ordered Hardy to undergo a psychiatric exam to determine if he is competent to stand trial on federal racketeering and murder charges.

"I am the Christ. I am the Messiah," Hardy ranted in court in 2004 after he was arrested at JFK Airport as he returned from a religious pilgrimage in the Middle East.
"Do not be the one to go against the law," he went on. "Adhere to the law's command before I give you warning. A day that is drawing near. A day of grief and regrets. Boiling water will be poured over your heads."

Defense lawyer David Ruhnke refused to say if Lil' Kim would be asked to testify at the penalty phase of the trial if Hardy is convicted.

Jay-Z to retire as president of Def Jam Records

Lupe Fiasco Talks Retirement, ''The Industry Of Recorded Music Doesn't Appeal To Me''

After Jay-Z declared him "a breath of fresh air" and his debut album received three Grammy nods, Lupe Fiasco went back into the studio to create his sophomore offering, The Cool. In this exclusive, we talk to Lupe about his group project with Kanye and Pharrell, why he's ready for retirement and the reception of new his album.

Having just dropped his sophomore album this week, Lupe Fiasco is characteristically cool. He's not concerned with album sales and he's not making any bets. "No, no predictions," he tells. "I feel good though, I feel really good about it. The response from the peoples has been amazing. The reviews have been very, very good. It's a very well received album so that mission is complete. Now it's time to see if it sells what everybody is hoping it will sell. I don't really got no hopes."

Though he has no personal goals for first week sales, Lupe does agree that his album may be one of the best of 2007. "Yeah, I wouldn't say best, but good. Definitely in the running even outside of hip-hop."

On The Cool Lupe touches on various taboo subjects. On "Intruder Alert" he addresses the subject of rape, and on the highly criticized "Gotta Eat" he rhymes from the perspective of a cheeseburger.

"It's called imagination," he says in defense of the songs premise. "You should use it. The song is really about health. The hook is 'My man says feed me feed me when @#*$%s gotta eat that's when sh-t gets greasy.' You look at the health situation in the hoods and it's just bad. There's no Whole Foods. There's no nutrition. Nobody is vegetarians. It's cheeseburgers and steak sandwiches. We're slowing killing ourselves of heart disease and all that. If the bullets don't get you the diabetes will. It was basically just making that statement so that people can start having the conversation."

Lupe is already looking towards the release of his third and final LP. "One more... LupEnd is what it's actually called," he told. Im'a always perform until the day I die. It's just the industry of recorded music doesn't appeal to me. That dream of getting a record deal and all that is lost. I woke up from it. But in between time, in the meantime, you'll probably get a CRS album. But yeah, one more full length solo debut LP."

CRS, which stands for Child Rebel Soldiers, refers to the group that Lupe formed with fellow rappers/producers Kanye West and Pharrell Williams.

"We had the one record," he jokes. "The US Placers record with Tom Yorke and actually my girl Vashtie just did a dope video for that. It's pretty fresh. [Watch Here]. We're about, like, no songs deep. One song deep, a lot of ideas, a lot of conversations about how we want to roll out and what we want it to look like, what we want it to feel like. So we're in discussion right now but hopefully end of 08, we'll have something proper."

With so much talk of retirement in rap these days it's easy to question whether or not LupEnd will actually be the end for Fiasco. He assures us that it will. "Nah, if I go I'ma go. I just want to make sure I leave behind a legacy."

DMX Collapse Rumors "100% False," Say Reps

Rumors that rapper DMX collapsed at the Sony recording studios on Dec. 20 and was rushed to the hospital have been swirling all over the net, but his lawyer and label say the story isn't true.

"I just spoke to X the day before yesterday, he's at home in Arizona so it really doesn't make any sense to me how they're saying he was at Sony studios," said X's label rep at Bodog Music, his new label home. "It's definitely 100 percent false."

The rep added that X hasn't even been in the studio and is not scheduled to work on his debut release under the label for another week.

"He's at home with his wife for Christmas," he said.

X's entertainment lawyer, Scott Mason, also said his client has not been at Sony and he even called X this afternoon after hearing the rumors, to learn the rapper was asleep in his bed.

X's rep thinks the story was just created to go along with a sketchy video circulating around the net that, according to New York's Daily News gossip section, shows DMX "looking nervous and acting erratically while working on an album."

"This video that leaked on the net has got people thinking that he might be on something, that's what kind of made them wanna make up a story like that," he said.

Mason said the video was recorded at least two weeks ago while X was recording in Miami.

Grand Hustle Christmas Gift Giveaway on Monday

On behalf of Grand Hustle’s K.I.N.G. Foundation
and Grand Hustle/Atlantic recording artist T.I.



WHO: Grand Hustle’s K.I.N.G. Foundation featuring Young Dro, Big Kuntry King and the P$C

WHAT: Christmas Eve gift giveaway

WHEN: Monday, December 24, 2007

WHERE: 2PM @ Club Crucial (150 households will receive gifts for their children) , raffle to follow
2517 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30318
404-794-2114

Grand Hustle’s K.I.N.G. (Kids in Need of Giving) Foundation is an organization that focuses on assisting youth and families, designed to foster healthy living and lifestyles, to improve the quality of life, and to establish healthy families.

Rapper Remy Ma sued by shooting victim

By LARRY NEUMEISTER, Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK - Rapper Remy Ma is being sued for $20 million by the woman she is suspected of shooting in a dispute over money.


Makeda Barnes-Joseph was shot twice in the abdomen on July 14, after leaving a party in Manhattan's Greenwich Village. Authorities said the shooting occurred after Remy Ma, whose real name is Remy Smith, accused Barnes-Joseph of taking $2,000 that was missing from her purse.

The lawsuit says the shooting left her disabled, anxious and depressed. The suit also named as defendants Universal Music Group, and individuals who play important roles in Remy Ma's career, because they should have known she "had a history of unlawful, violent and anti-social behavior."

The defendants "encouraged her to engage in a pattern of harassment, threats, intimidation, physical violence and illegal acts which were designed and calculated by these defendants to enhance, market and promote the persona of 'Remy Ma,'" according to the suit.

A spokeswoman for Universal Music Group in Manhattan did not immediately return a call for comment Friday.

Barnes-Joseph, a Bronx resident hospitalized for more than two weeks after the shooting, said in the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Manhattan that she was leaving a birthday party for a friend when Remy Ma, who also attended the party, approached her car with a handgun.

According to the lawsuit dated Thursday, the 26-year-old rapper opened the passenger door of Barnes-Joseph's car, pointed a gun at her and demanded that Barnes-Joseph dump the contents of her pocketbook.

When she did not release it, Barnes-Joseph was shot in the stomach and abdomen by the rapper, who then searched the pocketbook while Barnes-Joseph bled, the lawsuit said. Finding nothing, she tossed the purse and contents aside and left without summoning medical assistance, the suit said.

Remy Ma has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges filed in connection with the shooting.

Her lawyer, Ivan Fisher, said the lawsuit "appears to be a publicity stunt consistent with the way Ms. Barnes and her lawyer have, together with their publicist, been attempting to claim 15 minutes of fame on account of a terrible accident."

Fisher has said that since her arrest, Remy Ma has been unable to get sufficient U.S. bookings, and a proposed recording contract has been put on hold. She is free on $250,000 bail.

As she recovered, Barnes-Joseph had to undergo surgery and blood transfusions and remains disabled, fearful, anxious and depressed and still unable to return to work, the lawsuit said.

Because her injuries will require continuing medical treatment, Barnes-Joseph is entitled to at least $20 million in damages, the lawsuit said.

Smith was nominated for a Grammy as part of the Terror Squad for the 2004 summer smash "Lean Back." Besides her solo career, Remy Ma has appeared on recordings with performers Busta Rhymes, Fat Joe, Eminem and R. Kelly, her Web site says.

DMX Gambles With New Label

Rapper DMX has signed a new deal with online gaming firm Bodog Entertainment after getting dumped by Sony Music.

The gravel-voiced rap star has been between labels ever since Sony dropped him earlier this year (07), but he's keen to return to the charts with a vengeance with two complete albums.

Both Walk With Me Now and You'll Fly With Me Later will be released by Bodog in 2008.

In a statement, DMX says, "I'm thankful for the fact that Bodog believes in me. We share the same vision."

Bodog's music division is fast asserting itself as a rap leader - bosses recently scored international distribution rights for the Wu-Tang Clan's comeback album 8 Diagrams.

FANTASIA SAYS SHE'S NOT PREGNANT: Plus, her 'Color Purple' successor has been announced.

A rep for Fantasia Barrino has come forward to shut down reports that "The Color Purple" star is expecting a child with rapper Young Dro.


"Fantasia is not pregnant and the Internet rumors are entirely untrue," Barrino's publicist told Us magazine.com.


Meanwhile, her Broadway run as Miss Celie in "The Color Purple" is scheduled to end on Jan. 6. Actress Zonya Love was announced Thursday as her replacement beginning on Jan. 9.


As previously reported, Jan. 9 will also mark the arrival of Chaka Khan and Bebe Winans in the roles of, respectively, Sofia and Harpo. Additionally, LaKisha Jones, who joined the cast Dec. 19 in the role of the Church Soloist, will play Sofia at matinee performances beginning Jan. 9.

REMY MA'S CAMP DENIES LESBIAN REPORT: Rep releases statement after woman makes claims on YouTube

As if Remy Ma's camp doesn't already have its hands full with her attempted murder charge, a rep for the artist is now vehemently denying allegations from a Bronx woman who claims she and the rapper are lovers.

The unidentified woman, interviewed in a YouTube video by Cliffy Barz of the Web TV show "Harlem Streets," claims to have "had relations" with Remy Ma and refers to engaging in a specific sexual act with the artist.

At one point in the video, which Barz uploaded to YouTube on Sunday (Dec. 16), the woman is asked to get Remy on the phone. A female voice answers and says hello to the woman, but the conversation is short. The female on the other end hangs up after she is asked by the woman, "Why you be frontin' on me and all that?"

On Tuesday, Remy's camp addressed the video in the following statement:

"The fraudulent video hoax that has surfaced of an alleged female lover of Remy Ma is completely false and reps for Remy Ma emphatically deny these claims. The staged video and storyline, as well as the voice on the phone posing as Remy are all fictitious and have made it very obvious that this is a deliberate attempt to undermine Remy's name and character. Remy Ma has not nor has she ever been involved in a same sex relationship with the accuser or any other woman however Remy is respectful of those who choose the alternative lifestyle. Again, this video and claim are both 100% untrue and we hope that the involved accusers are aware of the civil liberties violated in the taping of this video."

Woman Claims To Be Remy Ma's Lover
Click Here to see the video.

Sheek Louch Recruits Jim Jones & Bun B For New Solo Disc

D-Block rapper Sheek Louch has plans to drop his third solo album Silverback Gorilla via Koch.

The Lox member will release his album in March of 2008, featuring the lead single "Keep Pushin'." The album will also include guest spots from fellow D-Blockers Jadakiss and Styles P along with Jim Jones, The Game, Fat Joe and Bun B of UGK.

In a statement from the record label, Koch General Manager Alan Grunblatt said Sheek Louch "defines gangsta rap in New York."

The Yonkers-bred MC has previously released the solo albums Walk With Me and After Taxes.

In related news, fellow Lox member Styles P recently dropped his Koch debut, Super Gangster (Extraordinary Gentleman). It landed at No. 52 on the Billboard 200 last week, selling 28,500 copies.

Prodigy Goes Against The Grain On "H.N.I.C. 2"

In a recent interview, the infamous Mobb Deep emcee talks about bringing back rap music's mystery and how he prefers to make videos for YouTube along with the tone of his upcoming album, HNIC2.

"It's very, very rebellious, put it like that," Prodigy told of the sequel to 2000's H.N.I.C. "It's like, my n*ggas call me Go Against the Grain P' ... I'm just really speaking my mind about a lot of things in this world, just dealin' with certain issues about religion, about politics, about health, about real sh*t. Just real sh*t."

It doesn't get much realer than P's videos. Grimy and often violent, Prodigy said he prefers the straight-to-YouTube approach to maintain creative freedom.

"My whole reason for doin' what I'm doin' is because I just want to be able to express myself to the fullest," he said, "without having to make changes for certain TV channels that don't want to play (a video) because it's too graphic for them or they don't understand where we comin' from. So instead of doin' that, I'd rather just do what I do without no constrictions, without having to conform. I can just be myself. Because I want the fans to see me, naturally."

The video for H.N.I.C. 2's lead single "ABC," which was directed by longtime collaborator DanTheMan, is a dark, eerie tale of revenge that ends with P's character murdering the dirty cop who violated his wife and tried to set him up.

In real life, P says that a run-in with crooked cops is the prime reason he's headed for prison this January. But is he concerned about sending a violent message through the video?

"Nah, not even, because I feel like nowadays that's what's needed in rap," he said. "That's what's missing, the mystery of it. That's what made rap popular, from the beginning, because it was only for a small circle of people in the 'hood. And by it being for a small circle of people it had a mystery about it. The rest of the world was like 'Yo, what the hell is this? What's goin' on over here?'"

"So, I'm trying to bring that feeling back really," he added, "just like the whole mystery about it, where it's not for everybody. It's only for a small community. And the rest of the world is just gonna hear about it and be curious."

Fabolous Says Street Family Are Rappers Not Robbers, Denies Being On Scene Night Of Friend's Murder

Brooklyn-bred rapper Fabolous recently spoke up about his whereabouts on the night that his longtime friend was murdered, as well as the NYPD's allegations that his Street Family crew are notorious for robbing celebrities.

Fab's attorney has maintained from the beginning that his client was not at Duvet, a popular Chelsea nightclub in New York City, where last month, Fabolous associate, Shamel McKinney, was stabbed to death.

The rapper (born John Jackson) said he spent Thanksgiving night, the night of McKinney's death, with his family at his New Jersey home, no where near the city.

"On Thanksgiving, I think I came out of the house one time - to go get eggnog," Fab told New York's Daily News. "And there wasn't any eggnog at Club Duvet."

But a promoter puts Fabolous on the scene that fateful night, insisting that he's the one who invited the rapper to the party and that Fabolous and his crew had a verbal altercation with a bouncer at the door.

Fab said not only was he not there, he didn't even find out about McKinney's murder until he "woke up to the bad news" the next morning.

"It was very much a shock to me," the rapper said. "When you hear stuff happened to bad guys, you're like, 'Okay, yeah, it was coming to them.' Shamel's not that kind of person. I was waiting to hear more of the story. Unfortunately, when I heard the story, I ended up being in it.

Police are investigating a theory that McKinney, a father of two with a rap sheet, was stabbed while attempting to rob someone of a chain. Cops believe he is a member of an alleged group of thieves that go by the name Street Family.

Sources have said the group is known for staking out clubs for celebs and snatching their jewelry. Fabolous who is associated with the group, denies those allegations.

"I in no way support criminal activity," Fab said, calling Street Family "a crew of rappers," not "a gang of street homies."

"Most of the people that are around me work in association with what I do in the music business," he continued. "I don't have any hangers-on. I can't really afford them. I'm the kind of person, if I do wrong, I'm going to stand up as a man and say, 'All right I did this and I deserve whatever's going to get done,' But to be wrongfully accused or attacked because of your celebrity, I have to stand up for myself."

A suspect in the murder, 25-year-old Anthony Taylor, was arrested in Atlanta earlier this month and scheduled to be brought to New York for questioning.

The Nation's First HipHopSodaShop Slated to Open Tomorrow on December 18 in Tampa, FL

World Renowned Hip-Hop Icon Doug E. Fresh To Perform
Hip Hop Mogul Andre Harrell to Host the Evening
Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, and others in Harlem's Dipset, JT Money, Pretty Ricky, Abebe Lewis of Miami's Circle House Studios, Syndicated Radio Host from Phoenix, Jerome Carter, Among the Featured Hip-Hop Guests


NEW YORK, Dec. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- H3 Enterprises, Inc. (Pink Sheets: HTRE - News), the world's first publicly traded Hip-Hop company, announced today that it will be launching the nation's first HipHopSodaShop in Tampa, Florida on Tuesday December 18, 2007. The HipHopSodaShop franchise is the backbone of the H3 related businesses and encapsulates not only the numerous revenue streams that the company has developed, but also embodies the "community conscious" approach that H3 applies to all of its endeavors.



Dr. Benjamin Chavis, CEO and President, stated, "Tomorrow we are making Hip-Hop history. At the same time, December the 18th will mark the beginning of a new business franchise that will blend the worlds of Hip-Hop and Wall Street. We are about community economic development and the HipHopSodaShop represents the best of the positive attributes of Hip-Hop culture that will provide an entrepreneurial strategy to help our communities overcome poverty. Most record companies and leading artists 'drop' albums on a Tuesday. This Tuesday, H3 Enterprises is 'dropping' the HipHopSodaShop concept for the whole wide world to enjoy."

Keith Chutlian, Chairman of the Board, commenting on the historic grand opening tomorrow, stated, "H3 is the only business I've seen that blends culture, profit, and charity by bringing financial empowerment and giving back to H3 communities both on the ground and on the internet. We're creating a real and virtual way to focus the best of hip hop culture into an artistic, interactive, and rewarding experience. Our scalable model encompasses various sectors such as restaurants, entertainment, and technology in the U.S. and abroad to generate phenomenal growth."

The HipHopSodaShop comes complete with a healthy quick service menu, merchandising, a state of the art recording studio, 30 giant LCD screens, the latest Xbox 360 live video games, and a large area dedicated to competitive on-line video gaming. The first HipHopSodaShop is over 11,000 sq ft and is a modern day cultural arts center where many forms of Hip-Hop can be expressed by patrons and embraced by the community.

It's a recipe for success: combine popular music with healthful dining options and flavor with socially-responsible capitalism. The eclectic menu includes limited fried foods and no monounsaturated or polyunsaturated (trans) fats. The shop will feature "rap" sandwiches with few carbohydrates and a beverage line made with antioxidant-rich white tea and sweetened with chicory syrup instead of sugar. Clever monikers, sprinkled throughout the menu, are geared to strike a chord with diners while encouraging financial literacy.

The venue, which is less than a mile from the University of South Florida which has over 40,000 students, is located at 1241 East Fowler Avenue, Tampa, Florida. The 11,000-square-foot space has undergone renovations to become a full-service, conceptually-chic restaurant. It is equipped with a recording studio, multiple 4'x 5' video screens, tableside video-gaming apparatuses and a DJ/MC booth with surround sound. Targeted to a youthful demographic, aged 13-35, the restaurant will hold special events like open mic nights, live HD sportscasts, live outdoor concerts and cyber gaming. The store will also carry clothing, MP3 players and recorded music.


SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

7:00am Live Radio interview with Dr. Benjamin Chavis on WCBS
WILD 98.7

Dr. Benjamin Chavis speaks about the Grand Opening of
the HipHopSodaShop.

*** WCBS Wild 98.7 will be broadcasting live all day
from the HipHopSodaShop***

12:00pm Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

Local officials and dignitaries will participate in this
special event to mark the Grand Opening of the first
HipHopSodaShop.

4:00pm Every One's Youth United Marching Band, St Petersburg, FL

A special performance by a group of talented, local young
musicians.

5:00pm Red Carpet Ceremony

With various hip-hop celebrities and artists.

6:00pm until ... Special Performance by Doug E. Fresh

Dubbed the "World's Greatest Entertainer" for his
unrivaled ability to rock a crowd, Harlem and the
originator of the human beat box, Doug E. Fresh is best
known for the two-sided, multi-platinum hits "The Show"
and "La Di Da Di." Fresh has embraced hip-hop activism
and used his voice to speak out against a variety of
social ills.

Hosted by Andre Harrell

Former president of Motown Records and founder of Uptown
Records, this multi-talented music and entertainment
entrepreneur has established a reputation in the industry
as one of the most astute, progressive and creative
executives in the business. As a music and film producer,
Harrell has helped launch the careers of such acclaimed
artists as Jessica Alba, Halle Berry, Mary J. Blige,
Jodeci, Heavy D and the Boyz, 98 Degrees and mentored
Sean "Puffy" Combs.

All Day Celebration Tent

Complimentary food samples and soda fountain items from
the HipHopSodaShop menu will be provided to the general
public. A tent will be provided for outdoor viewing of
all performances, with first-come first-served access as
well as video screens both inside and outside the tent
that will provide live screening of all performances.
There will also be limited complimentary access to video
gaming and a variety of HipHopSodaShop exclusive
merchandise will be available for purchase.

Celebrities!

Hip-Hop superstars including Jim Jones, Juelz Santana,
and Max B from Harlem's legendary Dipset, along with a
host of Southern rap stars will be in attendance to show
their solidarity with H3, Dr. Ben. and the
HipHopSodaShops. MTV Real World stars Shauvon Torres,
Isaac Stout and Johanna Botta will also be attending. The
entire Celebrity List will be announced in full on
Monday.

All activities are open to the General Public on a first-come,
first-served basis

Directions: Phone:
1241 E. Fowler Ave. (813) 977-1200
Tampa, FL 33612
(1/8 of a mile east of Interstate 275 at the Fowler Ave exit and 3/4 of a mile west of the University of South Florida)

Press Availability:

Please contact The T.A.S.C. Group(see above) regarding issuance of press passes and to schedule interviews with the leadership of the HipHopSodaShop and the participating Hip-Hop celebrities.

About H3 Enterprises, Inc. and the HipHopSodaShop:

H3 Enterprises, Inc. is the parent company of the HipHopSodaShop, with its corporate headquarters located at 116, John Street, New York, NY 10036. As the first publicly traded Hip-Hop company, H3 Enterprises, Inc. is dedicated to the mission of empowering young people through investment, education and economic development.




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Source: H3 Enterprises, Inc.

JAY-Z OPENS UP TO BILLBOARD: Mogul reflects on wild 2007; keeps eye on changing scope of music industry

For the umpteenth time, Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter talks about the persistent rumors regarding his status at Def Jam, but also reflects on the label's boat-load of Grammy nods, the reception of his "Kingdom Come" and "American Gangster" albums and much more in an interview with Billboard.com.


The artist earned five Grammy nods this month, including best rap album for "Kingdom Come" and song/record of the year for his featured role on Rihanna's "Umbrella." As president of Def Jam records, Jay-Z was also pleased with the label's 26 Grammy nods overall.


Billboard: Were you surprised?


Jay-Z: Yes, I was. But we definitely put the work in and it's great to be recognized for it. And "Umbrella's" nominations for song and record of the year were fantastic. Rihanna came out of the gate with huge records; our whole thing was to make sure she didn't get buried under those records and become the "Pon the Replay" girl. So to see her come full circle and get her Grammy nods was an incredibly rewarding feeling.


Billboard: What was your reaction to the public's reception of "American Gangster" versus last year's "Kingdom Come?"


Jay-Z: "American Gangster" seems to be overwhelmingly a critics' darling. I knew immediately it wouldn't sell more than "Kingdom Come." It could, but who knows? If I were a cynical person, I'd just say that people are hypocrites. [They'll say] I want a record with no obvious singles but just great music. Well, here it is. It should sell more than 10 million copies, more than any of the other albums I've ever made. It's just the way this industry works. But of course, I love the reception to "American Gangster."


I wasn't completely surprised by the reception to "Kingdom Come." I knew it wasn't for everybody. I was trying to do different things sonically and with the subject matter; stretching the things you can talk about as far as being an adult. And I know that's not popular because hip-hop is a young man's sport.


Billboard: Does it have to remain a young man's sport? You're still recording.


Jay-Z That's the cross I have to bear. I have to take those shots to keep doing it. And I'm going to keep doing it. I have no choice, whether it be me or the artists I align myself with.


Billboard: Where do you see hip-hop a year from now?


Jay-Z: As a person who is optimistic about hip-hop, I look at albums like "American Gangster" and Kanye West's "Graduation" as albums that people can emulate because they were made with nothing but the highest of integrity and passion about putting your all into the music. People tend to emulate success, so hopefully they'll emulate the blueprint of those albums and we'll have some great music. I believe that if you are a musician making great music, all the smart guys will figure out the model for what's next and how to monetize it.


Billboard: What do you think of the Radiohead model, asking consumers to pay what they think is appropriate? Will any acts on the R&B/hip-hop front embrace that model?


Jay-Z What Radiohead did shocked everybody. It was a genius idea. I'm sure someone [in R&B/hip-hop] will follow that model.


Billboard: Would you?


Jay-Z: Of course.

Prodigy Warns Rappers In Midst Of Prison Bid, "It's Time To Really Wake Up... We Actin' Like Clowns"

As a solo rapper and one-half of the Queensbridge duo Mobb Deep, Prodigy has built his career on street savvy and true-to-life rhymes. In this exclusive, we talk to P about dirty cops, his upcoming jail sentence and why rap buffoonery needs to stop.

On January 9, Prodigy will begin serving a three-and-a-half year jail sentence for weapons charges , a result of police pulling the rapper's vehicle over last October and finding a gun inside. Prodigy says the time in lockup will actually help him re-focus after working nonstop for the past 15 years.

"I've never, ever had a vacation in my life," he told. "I've never stopped and said aight I'm gonna take a break today ... So by me goin' to jail right now, it's just givin' me a chance to stop, relax and just really get myself together ... I'm goin on a little vacation, that's all."

Although he's found the silver lining in his prison sentence, Prodigy has hardly made peace with the cops who he said illegally searched his car and asked him to set up G-Unit boss 50 Cent.

"The cops did something illegal man, it needs to be known," Prodigy said. "In my case, they just searched my car without asking because they felt like they had the power to do that I guess. And they did it. They found a little gun in my car and they locked us up, locked me and (Alchemist) up."

"And then, on top of that," he added, "while I'm in there they're tellin' me 'We'll rip up your arrest sheet, we'll rip up the arrest report and let you and your friend walk right now and forget this ever happened if you help us set 50 Cent up.'"

He said cops later lied on the stand to cover up the fact that their search was illegal, forcing P to cop a plea rather than go away for 15 years.

"These n*ggas is foul man, they real foul," he said. "They'll make up sh*t and make their case stick. Then it's your word against the cop's word. Who's the grand jury gonna believe? Some rapper that raps about guns and violent stuff that they don't understand ... or are they gonna believe the friendly neighborhood officer?"

He said he believes dirty cops are responsible for the unsolved murders of 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G., and that it's time to stop flashing ice grills and start thinking about self-protection and survival.

"It's time to really, really wake up man," he said. "These n*ggas is murderin' us out here. They lockin' us up forever out here and we runnin' out buyin' jewelry, actin' like clowns in videos ... Like how can you be a f*ckin' buffoon in a video when this sh*t is goin' on in the world? It's time to f*ckin' snap out of that sh*t."

P does get a little revenge against dirty cops in his new video, "ABC," off his forthcoming album HNIC2. Stay tuned for P's thoughts on the video, his new album and violence in hip-hop in Part II of this exclusive.

Beanie Sigel Says ''Everything Ain't Good At Roc-A-Fella,'' Tapes Non-Violence PSA

With the recent release of his latest album, The Solution, South Philly rapper Beanie Sigel hit up Angie Martinez's Hot 97 radio show to discuss his feelings about the new situation at Roc-A-Fella.

A hesitant Sigel expressed some unhappiness to the New York radio personality over the lack of support for Roc-A-Fella artists.

"Everything ain't good," he said. "It ain't good man. I mean people's situations ain't good right now ... Just with our projects, I feel as though the support ain't there. Ain't no support there."

As far as who's to blame, Sigel isn't pointing fingers in any particular direction.

"I don't know, whoever," he said. "It's a domino effect. Lot of people. One person can't get the blame for that."

"It just ain't the same like with the Roc-A-Fella stuff," he added. "We got all these artists man, we should be doin' records, we should be in the studio, we should be on tours, doin' whatever, shows and all that. It ain't happenin' man."

In related news, Beans is urging youth to exercise their mind, not their trigger finger, in a new anti-violence public service announcement he recorded for hometown Philadelphia TV station, Fox 29.

The PSA opens with Sigel declaring "there's a black cloud over our city" and continues with the Roc-A-Fella artist urging youth to turn away from violence.

"It's just a message that's directed towards the youth and for the youth," Beans told Fox 29. "It gotta come from somebody that they not only respect but they know that been through what they goin' through. We are losing our youth at a rapid pace."

Philly area violence has left 375 people murdered over the past year. Though Sigel isn't exactly a poster child for peace, having been shot and imprisoned, not to mention rapping about violence on wax, he said his street background makes the message all that more credible.

"I got the scars, you know what I mean," he said. "I got the wounds. Why should they listen to me? Who else they gon' listen to?"

"I've been on both sides of the fence and the road that they travelin,' so it's gon' come to an end," he continued. "You'll lose your life in two ways, by death or just in jail ... The message is simple, just make smart choices. Better choices."

Ray J Teams W/ Shaq For New Koch Record Deal

R&B crooner Ray J recently inked a new record deal with Shaquille O'Neal and Koch records to release his latest full-length record entitled All I Feel.

The multi-talented artist signed a multi-album venture that will see his Knockout Entertainment partnering with Shaquille O'Neal's Deja 34 Entertainment company. Koch signed on to market and distribute the new discs, with A&R duties handled by the "Drama King," DJ Kay Slay.

"I feel great about bringing Knockout Entertainment to Koch," Ray J said about the new venture, via press release. "I enjoy making great music and I believe in working very hard. I'm excited to be with a team who believes in me and my ideas,"

Ray J's first album slated for release through the new deal will be All I Feel, the follow up to 2005's Raydiation, which was released on Sanctuary Records. The new disc is scheduled for a spring 2008 release and will feature guest appearances from Snoop Dogg, The Game, Lil' Wayne and production by hit maker Rodney Jerkins. The set's first single, "Sexy Can I," will feature Yung Berg and is currently being serviced to nationwide radio outlets. The video for "Sexy Can I" is also scheduled to be shot later this month in Miami.

From Akon to Jay-Z, R&B/hip-hop a solid performer

By Gail Mitchell

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - There was no major-league comeback to rival Mary J. Blige's 2006 breakthrough or Mariah Carey's 2005 emancipation. And hip-hop sales overall weren't anything to write home about. But R&B/hip-hop in 2007 still managed to chime in with several headline-making notes.

Building on the momentum sparked by the fourth-quarter 2006 release of his sophomore album, "Konvicted" (Konvict/Upfront/SRC/Universal Motown/UMRG), music man of the hour Akon parlays his lead atop Billboard's Hot Rhythmic Artists charts into four additional chart-topping slots: Top Artists and Top Artists-Male (which combines the Billboard 200 and the Billboard Hot 100), Top Billboard 200 Artists-Male, Hot 100 Artists and Hot 100 Artists-Male.

Beyonce continues to be the female artist to beat in R&B and pop. Kick-him-to-the-curb anthem "Irreplaceable" netted the former Destiny's Child frontwoman honors atop the Hot 100 Songs and the Hot 100 Airplay recaps as well as the queen-bee post on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Artists, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Artists-Female and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Artists.

Also of note: Akon and Justin Timberlake were the only top R&B/hip-hop acts to finish in the top 10 of the Top Billboard 200 Albums recap for 2007. Beyonce is at No. 11, while Kanye West comes in at No. 12. The only other R&B/hip-hop entry in the Top Billboard 200 Albums top 20 is Jay-Z with "Kingdom Come" (Roc-a-Fella/Def Jam/IDJMG) at No. 20.

STRONG SONG SHOWING

It's a different story on the recap of the Hot 100 Songs. R&B/hip-hop acts log six of the top 10 songs: Beyonce, Rihanna featuring Jay-Z ("Umbrella"), Gwen Stefani featuring Akon ("The Sweet Escape"), T-Pain featuring Yung Joc ("Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')"), Akon featuring Snoop Dogg ("I Wanna Love You") and Fergie featuring Ludacris ("Glamorous").

Championing blue-eyed R&B/soul alongside Timberlake were two new ambassadors: Amy Winehouse and Robin Thicke. Thicke by far leaves the deepest impression among R&B/hip-hop fans, netting nods as Top R&B/Hip-Hop Artists-Male, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Airplay for "Lost Without You." Thicke also left his soulful imprint on adult R&B listeners, topping the Hot Adult R&B Artists rankings and Hot Adult R&B Songs.

This time last year, rap icon Jay-Z claimed a No. 1 debut with "Kingdom Come," which clocked in with an opening-week total of 680,000 units, according to Nielsen SoundScan. That momentum maintained year-end locks on several categories: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Artists, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, Top Rap Album Artists and Top Rap Albums.

Jay-Z finishes out 2007 and rings in a positive outlook for 2008 with another No. 1 debut, for "American Gangster" (Roc-a-Fella/Def Jam/IDJMG), opening with 425,000 scans. That ties the rapper with Elvis Presley for the second-highest number of No. 1s overall (10). Only the Beatles have more, with 19. It will be interesting to see how strong the legs are under "American Gangster" when the year-end tallies roll around again.

GRADUATING WITH HONORS

West's "Graduation" (Roc-a-Fella/Def Jam/IDJMG), the third chapter in his school of hip-hop trilogy, earned applause for its 957,000-unit first-week debut -- and injected a much-needed dose of excitement back into the game. It comes in at No. 4 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums list followed by two sales bright spots in 2007: T.I.'s album "T.I. Vs T.I.P." (Grand Hustle/Atlantic/AG) scanned 468,000 in its first week, and 50 Cent's "Curtis" (Shady/Aftermath/Interscope/IGA) sold 690,000 units.

At a time when music groups are more an exception than the rule, brothers Spectacular, Baby Blue, Pleasure and Slick Em -- better-known as Pretty Ricky -- suggestively sang their way to the top of the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Artists-Duo/Group category. Their hit single "On the Hotline" claims No. 36 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, while album "Late Night Special" (BlueStar/Atlantic/AG) pulled in at No. 30 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

Others making noise in marquee categories include T-Pain and Yung Joc atop Hot RingMasters and Hot Rhythmic Songs, respectively. Cementing his reputation as one of this year's most valuable assist men, T-Pain also claims Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriters status, while fellow songwriter/producer/artist Timbaland heads the Hot 100 Songwriters and Pop 100 Songwriters lists. Another production up-and-comer, Polow Da Don is No. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Producers recap.

Beyond the recap numbers are R&B/hip-hop stories begun in 2007 that still resonate. There is Musiq Soulchild's revitalized career with "Luvanmusiq" after a shift from Def Jam to Atlantic; notable bows by such newcomers as J. Holiday, Rich Boy, Chrisette Michele, Ledisi and Plies; strong showings by such veteran acts as Chaka Khan, Angie Stone and Queen Latifah; and such sophomore hurdlers as Keyshia Cole, Ne-Yo, Lloyd and Fantasia.

Reuters/Billboard

WILL SMITH IN 'I AM LEGEND': Actor expected to be alone ... at the top of the box office ... again.

The phrase, "even if you were the last man on earth ..." takes on new meaning come this weekend, when the latest Will Smith blockbuster "I Am Legend" hits theaters nationwide.

Smith stars as scientist Robert Neville who is somehow immune to a man-made virus that wipes out earth's human inhabitants, with the exception of The Infected – the mutant victims of the plague.


With the exception of the revelation of the mutants, Smith stars solo on screen for most of the film, along with man's best friend. The star told reporters that being alone on screen was certainly one of the most challenging parts of filming and the most attractive.


“That was the terrifying part of taking on this film,” he said. “There are probably 80 pages of me and a dog. I’ve had good times on camera before and people have enjoyed me in the movie theater, but that might be a little too much Will for anybody.”


Smith explained that he and the writers and producers met with POWs and inmates to discuss the isolationist aspects of his role.


“We really found the things and the people that could really create the texture of what it truly means to be by yourself,” he said. “And one thing that was across the board was schedule. Geronimo ji-Jaga, formerly Geronimo Pratt, said that you would schedule things like cleaning your nails,” Will explained. “The only way to maintain sanity is that you had to have a regimen, you had to have a schedule ... you had to do things that you trained your mind that had to be done during this time.”


Next, Smith had to work on the internal monologue that was described by POWs, when there’s no other human stimulus.


“When you have no stimulus – no one’s talking to you – you have no external stimulus, you lose the stimulus response concept with your thoughts and feelings,” Smith told us. “A guy said you forget the names of simple things. He said he remembers sitting in his cell, and for about four hours he was trying to remember what fingers were called. He couldn’t remember. He said that’s what happens when you don’t have the stimulus response. The mind really loses basic, simple concepts. And we really worked in that area with the internal monologue. Rather than just saying ‘It’s a beautiful day today,’ you have to say, ‘Yes, it is.’ You have to say both things to yourself.”


Smith continued that audiences will still be quite entertained, even though it’s just him talking to himself at times.


“The extensive internal monologue that you have to create, it does a weird thing on camera,” he said. “When you see it, it looks full; it looks like a whole lot of things going on that's just a dude sitting there with a dog.”


Unlike other films opening this weekend, “I Am Legend” is hardly the warm and fuzzy holiday film. Instead it’s a psychological thriller of sorts with some major big-budget effects – something you might expect from Smith during the summer blockbuster months.


In fact, Smith met co-screenwriter Akiva Goldsman at the 2002 Academy Awards, the year Smith was up for Best Actor for “Ali” and Goldsman won Best Screenplay Adaptation for “A Beautiful Mind” that year where they posed the question about how the big movies come out in the summer, and the good movies come out in the fall.


“Why are they separated? Is there any possibility that you can take both and marry those ideas?” he asked. “You can make a big movie that has a big idea and the big concept, yet you can put a person at the center of it and really follow a character through whatever the reality of that situation is.”


“I Am Legend” is based on the book of the same name by Robert Matheson, and Smith plays the role once made famous by Charlton Heston in 1971’s “Omega Man” also based on the book and “The Last Man on Earth,” starring Vincent Price. However, as early critics are saying, “I Am Legend” is not a remake.


“As far as the other versions, the thing that I felt that we would be able to do with this film is that there’s never been this level of technology to support the film. You can actually shut down six blocks of Manhattan and if a car goes by in the background, you can remove it later. You can actually see empty New York. That level of technology has never been around to support the weight of the story.”


As the last man on earth, what comfort would movie star Will Smith keep with him?


“A pistol, because I’m out of here,” he laughed. “That was another thing with this film that I realized. It’s such a primal, child-like idea -- ‘I wish everybody was gone. I wish I was by myself.’ No you don’t. As much as people get on your nerves on the freeway, as much as people irritate you through your daily life, if you took everyone away, it would be the most miserable existence that you could experience. Human connection and the groups that we form, and being a part of something that moves and changes the world is such a basic, human, simple idea.”


“I Am Legend” opens today in theaters nationwide. For more, check out the website at http://iamlegend.warnerbros.com.

The Powerful Finale of BET's 'Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is' Premieres as the #1 Series Telecast in Network History

Beyonce's Sis, Solange Knowles, Signs With Geffen

Solange Knowles, younger sister to international pop-star Beyonce, recently inked a deal with Geffen Records and plans to release her sophomore album next year.

According to Billboard, Solange has been working out of a studio in L.A., but don't expect the result to sound anything like Beyonce.

"Her record is totally bananas," Geffen Records chairman Ron Fair said. "It's not what people would expect from her. The music is more eclectic and international. She's in her own lane."

"It's a touch of retro with beautiful R&B songs and influences of early Natalie Cole and Carole King, and she's only 22," he continued. "I'm crazy about the Pharrell Williams' record that she recently finished, called 'I Decided.' We're finishing the album now."

The disc titled Just What I Want, is the follow-up to 2003's Solo Star, which was on Columbia and is slated to hit shelves in the second quarter of 2008.

Jay-Z Invests Millions In New Manhattan Hotel

Music mogul Jay-Z is proving once again that he's a business, man, by adding another venture to his already extensive portfolio.

According to the New York Post, along with several partners, Hov has reportedly purchased a $66 million site at 510 W. 22nd St. which runs through to 511 W. 21st St. in New York City.

The mogul hasn't yet decided what to do with the Chelsea property, purchased under the name "J Hotels," but he's considering either turning it into a swanky, luxury-lodging spot or a high-end art gallery. The property has the potential to reach 12 stories.

Hov's partners - local developers Abram Shnay, his son Scott and Charles Blaichman - have all been involved in several projects, including the Philip Johnson-designed Urban Glass House in TriBeCa.

"It's a great piece of property adjacent to the High Line in a great neighborhood," Scott Shnay said.

While this is Jay's first venture in the hotel/art gallery business, the rapper already has a chain of highly successful sports bars. In fact he has one of his 40/40 Clubs just blocks away form the proposed site, along with one more in Atlantic City, two overseas in Tokyo and Macau and another domestic spot opening in Las Vegas on Dec. 30.

In related business news Hova sold his Rocawear clothing company to the Iconix Brand Group for $204 million earlier this year and while he currently remains president of the successful Def Jam Recordings, his contract for that position is up for renewal at the end of this month.

Jay-Z will perform Dec. 29 at The Palms in Vegas. The day before his new SinCity outpost of the 40/40 club opens at the new Palazzo portion of the Venetian.

Beanie Sigel Almost Loses Maserati Over $1,700

Philly rapper Beanie Sigel had a friend rescue his Maserati from impound a short time before it was placed on the auction block.

According to the Philadelphia Daily News, an undisclosed friend paid about $1,700 in outstanding tickets on Sigel's car, freeing the 2005 Maserati from a Philadelphia Parking Authority impound lot just 12 hours before it was to be sold at auction.

The car was reportedly booted and towed in South Philly a month ago.

PPA spokeswoman Linda Miller could not identify who picked up Sigel's Maserati, though she did confirm it had been recovered.

Sigel's fourth album, The Solution, dropped on Dec. 11 with guest spots from R. Kelly, Scarface, Styles P, and Raheem DeVaughn.

Michael Jackson Ordered to Put Up or Pay Up

Los Angeles (E! Online) - Michael Jackson is on deadline.

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge on Wednesday issued a court order giving the reclusive entertainer 25 days to turn over financial information to a law firm that previously won a $256,000 judgment against him in July.

Should Jackson balk at turning over the records requested by the firm of Ayscough & Marar, he instead has the option of making good on his unpaid legal fees.

Jackson engaged the firm during his 2005 child-molestation trial to perform such tasks as obtaining court orders to block information from being publicly released and delaying discovery in several civil cases.

The firm also represented him in a lawsuit brought by former business associate Marc Schaffel, who ultimately won a $900,000 judgment against Jackson.

In October, Ayscough & Marar won a second judgment against the singer, ordering him to cover the $175,000 in attorneys' fees the firm spent in hiring outside lawyers in the original case.

Jackson is currently appealing the $175,000 ruling, meaning the firm can only pursue the $256,000 award for now.

Judge James C. Chalfant said Wednesday Jackson had agreed to turn over the records requested by Ayscough & Marar in October but had yet to comply.

"While the court has no reason to doubt the sincerity of the representations of his attorneys, the fact of the matter is that under law, Jackson must provide further responses to the [law firm's] request, particularly since he agreed to do so through the meet-and-confer process," Chalfant stated in his order.

Jackson's legal team has said the funds he plans to use to settle his debt with the law firm have been tied up, in part because he has not yet completed a planned refinancing of his Neverland Ranch.

The singer's spokesperson, Raymone K. Bain, denied reports last month that Jackson had defaulted on a $23 million loan and was in danger of losing the property.

"Contrary to published reports, Mr. Jackson was never in default of the loan," Bain said, adding that the 49-year-old Moonwalker was "in the final stages of [a] refinance."

On Wednesday, Jackson's attorney, Marshall L. Brubacher, told the judge his client, who is reportedly mulling a Jackson 5 reunion tour, could come up with the funds within nine days.

Sorting through Jackson's financial records for the information requested by Ayscough & Marar, on the other hand, could take longer than the 25 days allotted by the court, Brubacher said.

"I went to Neverland last week, and it's a mammoth amount of work, because there are 30,000 boxes of financial documents," Brubacher said. "It's going to take a tremendous amount of time."

However, if Jackson wants to avoid making good on the payment to Ayscough & Marar, turning over the records is his only option.

Michael McCarthy, a lawyer for Ayscough & Marar, dismissed Brubacher's description of Jackson's so-calling filing system.

"Thirty-thousand boxes, that's not even credible," McCarthy said.

Apparently, he has yet to learn that when it comes to Jackson, pretty much anything is possible.

Jigga in Vegas; Madonna and Hillary; Scott Storch denied; Big Boi's 'Left Foot.'

Jay-Z has announced he will perform a Dec. 29th set at The Palms Casino in Las Vegas. The concert in support of his latest album, "American Gangster," will take place inside of The Pearl, one of Sin City's best known concert theaters. "The evening is going to be a throw back to 1960’s style Las Vegas," Jay-Z told AllHipHop.com. "This is definitely going to be the place to be for New Year’s weekend." Tickets are $128 - $228 and will go on sale Saturday (Dec. 15) via Ticketmaster and The Pearl box office. Doors will open at 7 p.m.


*Madonna has said she will take on the Oprah-boosted campaign of Barack Obama with an offer to publicly support his Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton, reports the New York Daily News. The pop icon, whose charity work in Malawi has been supported by Bill Clinton's foundation, tells the newspaper's Rush & Malloy column she "stands ready to serve."


*The New York Post's Page Six is reporting that producer Scott Storch had his credit cards declined recently at a Miami nightclub. "He's had to pay cash for everything," a source told the column. In 2006, Rolling Stone reported that Storch was worth $70 million. But by August 2007, Forbes had that number down to $17 million. A rep for the mogul had "no comment" for Page Six.


*Big Boi's upcoming album, "Sir Luscious Left Foot," will unload a first single at midnight on New Year's Eve, he tells Vibe.com. "I want all the stuff to be '08, everything to be brand new," he said. "I'm going to put 12 songs on [Sir Luscious Left Foot], I'm finished with like nine right now. Production is by Organized Noize." The album will be released separately from Andre 3000's new solo project and be followed by a proper Outkast release.

DIDDY DENIES SECRET RELATIONSHIP WITH CASSIE: Rumors have the two running around together in Miami.

Sean "Diddy" Combs is denying a New York Daily News report that claims he and his Bad Boy artist Cassie are secretly dating.


Monday's item reported that Diddy decided to "cut off the various girls he has around the world" and focus solely on "on-and-off flame" Cassie. A source was quoted as saying: "She recently broke up with her boyfriend, and they're in Miami together now." Another source added: "They're holed up together in Miami, very low-key. He's really in love with her."


But according to Diddy, the report is a complete fabrication. He tells PerezHilton.com: “I am still single and am not in love with anyone.

His rep says it's true that Diddy is in Miami, but that he’s working on albums for all his groups including Cassie, Danity Kane, Making the Band and Donnie.

“They have all been working together around the clock constantly,” says his publicist.

POLICE SAY FABOLOUS' CREW LINKED TO ROBBERIES: Investigators claim Street Family is behind crimes against Judah, Telfair and others

New York City police believe that a crew under rap star Fabolous is responsible for the recent robberies of several high-profile celebrities, including former New York Giants cornerback Frank Walker, NBA guard Sebastian Telfair and boxer Zab Judah.


The New York Post is reporting that members of Fabolous’ Street Family Entertainment are believed to have orchestrated the various chain-snatching incidents, according to authorities.


Police allegedly have surveillance footage showing Street Family members involved in the October 2006 mugging of Telfair outside of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ now-defunct Justin’s Restaurant in Manhattan. In that incident, the basketball player was robbed of a $50,000 chain and Fabolous was shot in the leg.

Two months prior to the shooting, Fabolous' brother Paul Cain, 25, was also wounded in violence suspected to be connected to several other instances of chain snatching.

Officials say Street Family has about 20 members who are former drug dealers that hail from the Brevoort Houses in Brooklyn, where Fabolous was raised. The gang allegedly does its business in the Chelsea and Flatiron district area in Manhattan, where Fabolous’ childhood friend Shamel McKinney was recently stabbed to death.

Police say McKinney, 25, may have tried to snatch a $10,000 dollar chain from another Brooklyn man named Anthony Taylor. Taylor, 26, was arrested in Atlanta last week and is expected to be charged with McKinney’s murder.

PROTEST PLANNED FOR R.KELLY'S L.A. TOUR STOP: Local activists wonder why church-owned forum would sponsor accused child pornographer

When R. Kelly's Double Up train rolls into The Forum in Los Angeles on Friday, protesters plan to be out with lighted candles and burning questions about the church-owned venue's support of an artist who faces trial on child pornography charges.


The Forum -- located in Inglewood, CA -- former home of the Los Angeles Lakers, is owned by Faithful Central Church, pastured by Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer.


"R. Kelly is currently facing 14 federal counts of child molestation. Why is the church not giving aid and comfort to the victims of sexual assaults?" asks activist Najee Ali of Project Islamic HOPE in a statement.


"How can the church allow R. Kelly to perform on Friday night, have service on Sunday morning and believe all is well?" Ali continues. "The message the church is sending to young children is that money is more important than taking a stand in support of victims who have been victimized by R. Kelly and other child molesters."

The candlelight vigil, under the name "Protest Against Pedophiles," will begin at 5 p.m. Friday (Dec. 14) outside of The Forum, located at 3900 W. Manchester Blvd. in Inglewood.

Rihanna Ordered to Shut Up and Rest

Los Angeles (E! Online) - Perhaps Rihanna was caught out in that London rain without her umbrella.

The 19-year-old Barbados native has been forced to cancel three U.K. gigs on the advice of her doctor, who wants the "Shut Up and Drive" singer to slow down for a few days.

Saturday's show in Nottingham, England, was the first casualty, with concerts Monday in Birmingham and Tuesday in Bournemouth the next to be crossed off her schedule.

Rihanna said that she "appreciates the love and support of all her fans and wants nothing more than to see and connect with them," according to a statement released by Birmingham's NEC Arena, where she was scheduled to perform.

Disappointed fans have been asked to hold onto their tickets until further news is available. As of now, Rihanna is still planning to "Pon de Replay" Thursday in Newcastle.

While her camp hasn't disclosed what's ailing Rihanna, we know she isn't suffering from a lack of kudos.

The platinum-selling artist, whose European tour kicked off last month in Paris and wraps up Dec. 21 in Moscow, arose Thursday to learn that she had been nominated for six Grammy Awards, including Song and Record of the Year for "Umbrella," that catchy little collaboration with Jay-Z from her third studio album, Good Girl Gone Bad.

Rihanna was also named Favorite Female Artist at the American Music Awards last month and picked up two MTV Video Music Awards for "Umbrella" back in September.

The Grammys will be handed out Feb. 10 in Los Angeles

Lil' Kim breaks down her first-ever mixtape

Lil' Kim is coming back, and she's realigned herself with a bunch of fellas that were around for the beginning of her career. Lance "Un" Rivera is managing her, Trackmasters are producing her new album, and Mister Cee is helping put out her new mixtape.

"No need for the gym because he be working me out/ For me, he's got a huge appetite," she sings on one track, "Chillin' Tonight." "Lick my ice cream like a tasty delight. ... We ain't watching pornos, we watching our own sex tapes."

Kim, Cee, Un, and the Trackmasters' Tone and Poke had smiles on their faces as they recently played tracks from Ms. G.O.A.T at a studio in New York. "Chillin' Tonight," which is already on the radio — "It's the street record that's been kind of buzzing throughout New York City and throughout the country," Cee said — and will be featured on her upcoming LP, played loud, with the Queen Bee eating Mr. Chows and rapping along.

"I never did a mixtape before, so this is like ... a new album," Kim said of the effort, which comes two years after her last studio LP, The Naked Truth. "I got my boy Mister Cee. He's been holding it down since the Big days. He's part of the family."

"It's a collaboration of freestyles, brand-new songs," Cee elaborated about the mixtape. "Shout out to the Trackmasters — they helped put it together. Whoo Kid is ... helping me put the tape together. It's incredible. I don't even think it deserves to be a mixtape. It's like an album."

Ms. G.O.A.T hit the streets this week, while Kim's yet-untitled proper album will come in early '08. She says her time on Atlantic Records is over, and that she wants to go independent.

Besides "Chillin' Tonight," Ms. G.O.A.T features her new duet with 50 Cent, "Wanna Lick (Magic Stick 2)," as well as Gucci Mane's "Freaky Gurl" remix; a remix to Britney Spears' "Gimme More" called "Kimme More"; and "Kim and Shamel," which introduces her new artist.

"He's gonna put an album out next," Kim said of Shamel. "We gonna go full-throttle with him. He's like a cross between Fabolous and Mase. I believe in him. He's nice with the pen."

Joints To Check For:

"Ms. G.O.A.T." "When you hear the track, you gonna know what it is. Shout out to MC Lyte," Mister Cee said of the track, which features Kim redoing Lyte's "Cha Cha Cha." "In 2007, Kim is claiming she's the greatest female rapper of all time, but she's also paying homage to rappers like MC Lyte and other female rappers that's been putting it down. That's what we tried to come across [with] on this tape. ... Claiming that '07, '08, '09, '10 is all about Ms. G.O.A.T."

"A lot of the ideas on the mixtape came from Mister Cee himself and my producers Trackmasters," Queen Bee said. "Everybody here is like a big family, and we been banging out song after song. [I heard some songs and was like,] 'Cee, you sure it's gonna work?' He was like, 'Trust me.' And you know what? He owns the radio."

"Rock on Wit Ya Bad Self." "I redid Lady of Rage's 'Afro Puffs,' " Kim told Mixtape. "A lot of people always ask me who's my female MC inspiration? I always say Salt-N-Pepa, MC Lyte, Roxanne Shanté. But Rage is my all-time favorite. It's crazy. She's the one that inspired me to wanna rhyme and say, 'I could do this.' Her version [of 'Afro Puffs'] is still hot to this day. Now you gonna hear Lil' Kim's version. Rock on with my bad ass."

"The Miseducation of Queen Bee" "She redid the 'Lost Ones' track," Cee began breaking it down. "Lyrically ... I told Kim earlier that this is the best I've ever heard [her] in her whole career, and that's even including ... the first album, Hard Core."

Cee also pointed out another track, called "It's Kim, B---hes (Get That Money)." "It's our favorite because it's Kim doing lyrical exercise," he said of the tune. "Throughout the years, so many fans and music aficionados focus on Kim's sex appeal. What we really wanted to do was focus on her lyrical ability and how she delivers on tracks."

PIMP C FUNERAL INFORMATION (PER MANAGEMENT)

Services for Chad Butler aka Pimp C will be held this Thursday, December 13th, 2007 in Port Arthur at the Robert A. Bowers Civic Center at 3401 Cultural Center Drive , Port Arthur, TX (409) 985-8801

Ariel map link - http://www.portarthur.net/images/pa_civ_cen_arial.pdf

Services begin at 11AM and will be open to the public. No cameras of any kind, including cell phones will be allowed into the civic center without exception. This is so that those grieving can do so in private and with dignity. Please respect that this is the wish of the family.

Media will be allowed to film the procession and arrivals in a controlled, respectful manner from the outside of the venue only.

The interment is NOT open to the public or to media. It is only for family and close friends. Again, please respect that this is the wish of the family and will be enforced by local police.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ANYONE SEEN ATTEMPTING TO TAKE PICTURES DURING THE SERVICE WILL BE ESCORTED OUT OF THE CIVIC CENTER.

Above all, PLEASE respect that whilst many are coming to pay their respects to Pimp C, his family is burying Chad Butler. We ask that you behave accordingly.

JAY-Z AND DEF JAM HEADED FOR SPLITSVILLE?: Reports have contract-renewal negotiations going nowhere

The New York Daily News is reporting that Jay-Z may be leaving his big cozy chair at Def Jam if contract renewal negotiations continue to stall.


"He wanted big, big money that was way out of sync with the realities of today's record business," a source tells the newspaper.

Island/Def Jam CEO L.A. Reid and his boss, Doug Morris, are said to have found the mogul's demands a bit too "excessive" in light of the time he's been spending on tour.

"Everybody knows he's not around the office much," the source continued. "Everybody at Universal loves him, but they can't justify paying him the money he wants when so many people have been laid off."

Jay-Z's contract with Def Jam will reportedly expire at the end of the month. But friends of the rapper claim that reports of a stalemate are inaccurate.

"They are still actively negotiating," one friend insisted. According to another: "The talks will continue when he returns to New York. They still have a ways to go before a decision."

Pimp C nominated for Grammy two days after death

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Two days after he died suddenly in a Los Angeles hotel room, Texas rapper Chad "Pimp C" Butler received a Grammy nomination on Thursday.

Butler and partner Bernard "Bun B" Freeman, who performed together as UGK (Underground Kingz), were nominated for their collaboration with hip-hop duo OutKast on the tune "Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)."

The recording will compete in the rap performance by a duo or group category with tracks from Common featuring Kanye West, Fat Joe featuring Lil Wayne, Shop Boyz, and a partnership among West, Nas and KRS-One.

"While this nomination is bittersweet to say the least, I am thankful for the acknowledgment," Freeman said in a statement. "And as this was a lifelong dream for Chad, it warms my heart to know that he has finally gotten the recognition from the powers that be that his talent, passion and relentless drive for music so rightfully deserved."

Butler, 33, was found dead on his bed at the Mondrian Hotel in Los Angeles on Tuesday. An official with the coroner's office said on Thursday an autopsy had been performed, but further tests are pending to determine cause of death.

UGK topped the U.S. pop album charts in August with "Underground Kingz," its first entry on the survey in five years. Butler spent much of that time in prison, serving nearly four years for aggravated assault. He was paroled in 2005.

He was not the only posthumous Grammy nominee. R&B singer Gerald Levert, who died of an accidental overdose of prescription medications last year, was cited for best traditional R&B vocal performance.

Guitarist Robert Lockwood, who died last year at 91, was nominated for best traditional blues album.

(Reporting by Dean Goodman; editing by Steve Gorman)

Kanye West, Amy Winehouse lead Grammys race

OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM PIMP C'S MANAGER REGARDING HIS UNTIMELY DEATH

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Los Angeles, CA - Manager Rick Martin, who was on hand this morning to identify the body of client and dear friend Chad Butler aka Pimp C, offers this statement regarding today's tragic loss:

This morning saw the loss of a man that was not only a client, but a very dear friend at a time when he had the most to live for. He was my best friend and I will always love him.

Chad's tragic passing leaves behind mourners the world over, including his mother, wife and children whom Chad loved more than anything. An official cause of death has yet to be determined.

I was so very proud of Chad and the growth he has shown since his release from prison; as an artist and business man and as a person. As one half of the legendary Texas group UGK, Chad was finally seeing the results of the years of love and labor that he and Bun B have put in over the years, culminating in the tremendous success of their album, Underground Kingz. Chad was set to soar with not only a new solo deal on Jive Records, but a lucrative publishing deal, a new satellite radio show, several group projects and a national cologne endorsement. Chad had everything to live for, making his unexpected passing a travesty.

Right now, my number one concern is the well being and livelihood of his family who are the ones most deeply affected by this loss. All efforts will be made to ensure that they are properly cared for in this tragic time and beyond.

As Chad's friend and manager, and on behalf of his family and those closest to him, we ask that you, the press keep reports of his passing to tributes to his amazing contributions as an artist and wait for the facts surrounding his death to come to light. Please let us all remember Pimp C as the kind and warmhearted man and rap music pioneer that he was.

Thank you,

Rick Martin / FM2 Inc.

R.I.P. PIMP C....

PIMP C-Knockin Doors Down

AKON PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO FAN TOSSING: Singer appears in Fishkill, N.Y. courtroom Monday.

Akon entered a plea of not guilty Monday to charges that he hurled a teenage fan from a concert stage and into the crowd below, causing another fan to suffer a concussion.


The 34-year-old singer/producer entered his plea in a courtroom in Fishkill, N.Y., where the concert took place this summer. He faces misdemeanor charges of endangering the welfare of a minor and second-degree harassment.


The June 3 incident was captured on video from various crowd members and widely circulated on the Internet. The singer issued a statement on Monday saying he regrets his actions.

"It was never Akon's intent to violate the law," reads the message, issued by his attorneys, Benjamin Brafman and Andrea Zellan. "This unfortunate incident was a spontaneous reaction during a live concert that Akon deeply regrets. We are confident that this matter will ultimately be resolved in a manner that does not in any way interfere with Akon's successful career."

MICHAEL BIVINS TEAMS WITH TNT FOR NBA COVERAGE: Former singer hired by broadband channel OverTime

Best known for being a member of New Edition and its spinoff Bell Biv Devoe, singer Michael Bivins hits us with a crossover into NBA basketball as a contributor on TNT's broadband channel, TNT OverTime on NBA.com.

The Boston native will largely cover the resurgence of his hometown Celtics in his "Bivins in Boston" segment, but he will also venture to other NBA cities and focus on other teams as he did in this first piece – an interview with Knicks great and current Orlando Magic assistant coach Patrick Ewing.

Bivins is the latest music artist to partner with TNT for its NBA coverage, joining a list that includes Jay-Z, Pharrell and Fort Minor.

Lil' Kim Honors Female MCs (Except Remy Ma)

The Bee is back in the booth. "I rock rough and stuff, still they put me in cuffs," she rhymes with her feminine ferocity to the approval of the Track Masters, Tone and Poke, who are in the control room in New York's Battery Studios helping Lil' Kim finish the last bit of her new mixtape, Ms. G.O.A.T.

Kim is rapping over Dr. Dre's instrumental to the Lady of Rage's "Afro Puffs." "She's from VA," Kim said of Rage. "A lot of people don't know my moms and pops was born in VA. ... I respect her gangsta, [it's] crazy! So I did it over."

You can also look for remakes of Lauryn Hill's "Lost Ones" and MC Lyte's "Cha Cha Cha" on the mixtape, which is a joint effort between Kim and DJs Whoo Kid and Mister Cee.

"This mixtape is special to me because I do a lot of female-rapper songs over, and it's almost a tribute to them and a thank-you and a shout-out," Kim said. "If no one else is gonna recognize them, I'm gonna recognize the women I looked up to and respect and love. I also got a lot of new songs on there, like the one with me and 50 Cent. It's hot. I'm glad we could do this. He's really a great person. Love you, Fif."

Kim's stance on 50 is a lot different from what she spat on The Naked Truth. The LP was laced with 50 disses. But lo and behold, a few weeks ago the two appeared out of nowhere on a new song called "Wanna Lick (Magic Stick 2)."

"Me and Fif always been really tight. We used to talk on the phone every day," she said about their relationship before their most recent falling-out and reconciliation. "He placed a call to me and I thought it was very big of him, and it was all very respectful. When we were on the phone with each other, we were being very careful to not step on each other's words. It's like the best reunion I think I ever had with a friend. He's really a good person. He had this idea [for the song] and he said, 'Don't nobody do it like you, Bee. I wanna make this "Magic Stick" part two.' Me and Fif got some surprises for y'all."

Just because Kim and 50 have made up, don't go looking for any Kim and Remy Ma collabos anytime soon. Kim just dissed Remy on a freestyle over 50 Cent's "I Get Money." The Queen Bee said it was retaliation.

"At the end of the day, I'm not gonna sit there and not say nothing," Kim said. "I spoke how I felt. She can take it how she wanna take it. She goes in on me, I go in back. It ain't even nothing to think about. At the end of the day, it's on wax, but whatever ... because if you go in on me, I got the right to go in on you — bottom line! Next! I don't even look at it as competition."

Kim and Remy were at least cordial at one point. "A lot of people was coming to me like, 'Why you say something about Remy?' ... These chicks kill me," she said. "One minute they wanna be my friend, then the next minute they on the radio going in on me. The next minute they on songs going in on me. I can't let nobody take that away from me. It's only but so much you can take."

Kim's tone gets playful when she talks about the title of female G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time). "I'm the hottest bitch out," she says in a playful whisper. "I'm real cocky these days, huh? I'm loving it.

"Shout out to all the females in the game," she added. "All females should have the right to be cocky and boast about what they do. One person might be the best at what they do. Trina is the best at what she does. She's the baddest bitch in the South. Missy is the baddest bitch, I'm the baddest bitch. It's gotta be love for the next person — love and work. It's art. At the end of the day, it is what it is."

Kim is almost out of her recording contract with Atlantic Records and says she might have a new album out as early as February. ...

http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/mixtape_monday/120307/

AKON FACES CRIMINAL CHARGES OVER FAN TOSS: Woman says she got a concussion when singer hurled 15-year-old boy.

Akon is due in New York's Fishkill Town Court this morning in connection with a June 3rd concert in which he allegedly threw a 15-year-old boy off the stage.

The 34-year-old singer will be arraigned on a misdemeanor charge of endangering the welfare of a minor and second-degree harassment, according to a news release Thursday from Police Chief Donald Williams.

As previously reported, Akon stopped his concert at Fishkill, New York-based WSPK's annual KFEST concert and demanded to know who had thrown an object onto the stage. The audience pointed out the 15-year-old spectator, who was ushered onto the stage by security. Akon then lifted him into the air and flung him back into the crowd. Click here to see footage.


The boy landed on Abby Rosa, who told the Poughkeepsie Journal that she suffered a concussion from the impact. She said she has hired a lawyer and spoken to Fishkill police.

Nas Exclusive: MC Reveals Details, Song Titles From Controversial Upcoming LP

Rapper unleashes even more strong words, but emphasizes that album is 'not an attack on any race.'

By Shaheem Reid (MTV News)


If you thought Nas was being controversial with an album titled Nigger, wait until you hear some of the song titles he has for the project. The MC reached out to MTV News earlier this week to reveal a bit more about the work-in-progress.

"I have a song called 'The Fear,' " he said. "The full title of the record is 'The Fear of the Black Man's D---.' That's some sh-- you can get comedy [from], or you can get some seriousness from it when you talk about the barbaric castrations that happened in our past — which is very serious, nothing to laugh at."

Nas also said that despite the serious name of his project — which has already set off a firestorm of controversy — the LP will be balanced, and he emphasized that he is not singling out any one race.

"It's not an attack on white people at all," he promised, regarding the record's content. "It's knowledge; it's understanding for all people. It's not an attack on any race."

Nas clarified that he will be combating a myriad of racial slurs, not just the one after which he named his album.

"It's about the attacks that have happened to blacks, whites, all ethnicities," he continued. " 'Mick' niggers, 'guinea' niggers, 'kike' niggers. I have a song called 'You a Nigger Too.' "

"It's all over the place," he added. "Balance is so important because there's a fun level to the [album] too. There's an attractive, sexy, aspect to it; a stylish aspect, a flashy aspect. It takes negatives and makes them good."

While Nas had originally hoped to release the album next month, rather than rush the project, he decided to take his time and rescheduled the album's drop date for February: Black History Month.

"Just to get the sh-- all the way right," Nas said of what caused the delay. "I was still working and it was a few weeks away from a release date. It was impossible, the timing was off. I was running into the holidays. I'm always coming out in December so I guess I was used to it, but I had to force myself out of that. I couldn't force the album out if it wasn't done."

The album's production is almost over, however, and Nas said Jermaine Dupri and Diddy will be helping him to close out.

"It's in the developmental stages," he said of the tracks Diddy is bringing to the table. "The potential could go anywhere. I'm writing a lot of sh-- down, and it just sounds crazy. The direction is totally right. Sometimes when you sit down and write, you don't know how it will go. But this is totally right."

Thus far, Salaam Remi, Stargate and DJ Toomp are the most notable names who have delivered beats to Nas.

"DJ Toomp is a humble cat," he said of the Atlanta producer who has earned his biggest credits working with T.I. and more recently Jay-Z. "He has talent way beyond his years. He's got every style you need: rock joints, R&B joints. I don't wanna give it all away, but he's the type of dude that can go anywhere. Toomp is my man, he's got knowledge and that's important when you're working on your umpteenth album. It means something.

"Working with this music, if you don't have no knowledge of self, I can't work with you," he continued. "You have to have some knowledge of who we are. You can't just go in there and throw on a beat like, 'Here's a hot beat.' That don't mean anything. I need a producer. All the tracks were made for this record — you can feel the passion in the beat-making. It's time to build, '08, this the movement we on."

Nas said that no one he reached out to was reluctant to work with him on this project, and said he has not been surprised by the support he's gotten from his peers, despite the controversy surrounding his choice of album names.

"They get it," he said of supporters such as Alicia Keys, Method Man, Russell Simmons, as well as Island Def Jam Music Group Chairman Antonio "L.A." Reid. "We know what time it is. This [album] is a small thing. [Making music] is what I do, so this is part of the way I fight. But people all know what we been going up against this year and the year before and the year before. I ain't saying nothing that's foreign to them."

Kanye West, Akon, Will.I.Am for 'Thriller' reissue

Kanye West, Akon, and will.i.am have contributed remixes to the 25th anniversary commemorative issue of Michael Jackson's classic Thriller album.

Previously unreleased tracks from Jackson himself have also been included on the disc entitled Thriller - 25th Anniversary Edition, which will be released on February 12.


West has remixed "Billie Jean," while will.i.am reworked two tracks--"The Girl Is Mine" and "P.Y.T." Meanwhile, Akon and will.i.am are both featured on "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'."

A track entitled "For All Time" which was recorded during the Thriller sessions but didn't make the album, has been mastered and mixed by Michael Jackson for the album, says Billboard.

The original "Billie Jean" demo will feature, and included in the package is a DVD featuring videos for the singles "Beat It," "Billie Jean," and the groundbreaking epic video for "Thriller."

The track listing is:

"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin"
"Baby Be Mine"
"The Girl Is Mine"
"Thriller"
"Beat It"
"Billie Jean"
"Human Nature"
"P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"
"The Lady In My Life"
"Carousel"
"Someone In The Dark"
"Billie Jean" (demo)
"The Girl Is Mine 2008" with will.i.am
"P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) 2008" with Michael Jackson & will.i.am
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin" 2008" with Michael Jackson, Akon & will.i.am
"Billie Jean 2008" with Kanye West
"For All Time"