THE CLIPSE PRESENT THE RE-UP GANG': CD is set for Aug 5 release

NEW YORK, NY - Platinum-selling rappers the Clipse have partnered with KOCH Records for a special release: "The Clipse Present the Re-Up Gang," which will be released on August 5th, 2008.

The Re-Up Gang, formed in 2004, is a larger ensemble encompassing the Clipse and collaborative Philly MCs Ab-Liva and Sandman.

This fearsome foursome has been recording together since the Clipse's platinum debut "Lord Willin'," and is responsible for the celebrated "We Got it 4 Cheap" mixtape series.

But "The Clipse Present the Re-Up Gang" is a standalone album featuring 9 new songs, including a single produced by Scott Storch, plus 3 unreleased remixes of tracks from "We Got it 4 Cheap vol. 3."

Says Pusha T, one half of the Clipse: "Everything happens for a reason. We put out the 'We Got it 4 Cheap' series on our own for the streets and that helped keep us visible and build the Re-Up name as an entity. This time, [our manager] Tony Draper got with [KOCH General Manager] Alan Grunblatt to put together an official album with new music and let KOCH Records do what they do best. This release gives us something fresh in the marketplace to reward Re-Up fans while we continue to work on the Clipse album." The Clipse recently signed a groundbreaking 5-year 50/50 deal at Sony/ Columbia Records, entitling the Clipse to ownership of their masters.

Grunblatt says, "Tony Draper and I have worked together since the days of Suave House and Relativity Records. KOCH loves the Clipse and are thrilled to be working with the Re-Up Gang."

In the meantime, keep an ear open for Scott Storch's single, "Fast Life," which impacts next week. With its infectious hand claps and retro synth effects, "Fast Life" is an inevitable summer sizzler. Not lost amidst the dancefloor-destined drums are the quartet's lyrical acumen and gleaming metaphor game. "Fast Life" has the irrepressible collective energy of a prior Clipse-flavored hit, "What Happened to that Boy." Expect an accompanying video for the track come early July.

Additionally, three prime cuts from Volume 3 of "We Got it 4 Cheap" have been remixed and re-issued specifically for this project. "The Clipse Present the Re-Up Gang" arrives August 5. And keep the pot boiling for the Clipse's full-length album on Sony, due in November.

RUSSELL SIMMONS EXPLAINS CUSTODY AGREEMENT: Also, Kimora Lee puts L.A. house on market for $7.75 million

*Russell Simmons says he's happy to pay $20,000 per month for each of his two children in a divorce agreement with his former wife, Kimora Lee Simmons.

The amount was made public last week with the reporting of his child custody arrangement regarding 8-year-old Ming and 5-year-old Aoki Lee. Kimora won sole custody of the girls, while Russell gets his daughters one week out of every eight, plus extra time for summer vacations and holidays, according to court documents.

As previously reported, the monthly $20,000 per child ends when each reaches the age of 19 1/2, or until the daughter is emancipated, married, becomes self-supporting, joins the armed forces or stops living with their mother.

Russell is also required to buy or lease a car valued at $60,000 or more for the girls once every 24 months.

In a letter addressed to critics, Simmons defends his child support ruling and explains the reasons he thinks it's appropriate. He stated the following:

Friends of mine have forwarded me gossip online about my custody agreement details with Kimora. The fact is, we’ve had a pretty good partnership at sharing the girls in the past.

There have been a few bumps in the road, and those bumps have led us to negotiate a minimum amount of time I’m guaranteed to see my kids. That deal is as follows: I have the girls one full week out of every eight, half of the summer, half of all the holidays, a full week at Christmas, and half of Spring Break.

Like in all good partnerships, contracts are meant to protect the partners but are usually not the only way the partners work together. If I show up in L.A., where she now lives, unannounced, I can call up Kimora and she will most likely send them right over. The same goes for when she comes to New York.

We have always had a school in New York and a school with the same curriculum in L.A., so when the girls are with me in New York, we can spend quality time together. I can get up with them, take them to school and just be together. Kimora consults with me about doctors or schools for the girls, but she’s always had final say in those areas. If we had an argument about a school, guess who’s going to win?

But there are other stipulations in our agreement where we have to make final decisions together. Anything having to do with business decisions pertaining to my kids cannot be done without my consent. I’ve also seen a lot about people reading into the supervised visits stipulation. Kimora travels with a security guard and a nanny.

In the past, she’s gotten really nervous that I never travel with security, so if it makes her more comfortable to have her security and a nanny with us when I’m with my kids, that’s OK with me. Finally, I want to say Kimora is an excellent mother and is doing a great job with them. My kids are studying a couple of foreign languages, they travel around the world, they practice yoga, ballet, swimming, karate and piano, among other things...sometimes I think they do too much, but I trust in Kimora on this because she IS a good mother.

Regarding the money, my kids live a tremendous life. They do have lots of security, nannies, educators, special programs, travel, chefs, on and on. Their mother manages all of those luxuries and I’m happy to provide for that.

With great love all things are possible.
Russell Simmons


In other Simmons news, Kimora has just put her Beverly Hills home on the market for $7.75 million, reports the Los Angeles Times.

The 6,000-square-foot, guard-gated, country-style home has five-bedrooms, eight-bathrooms, and a private courtyard entry with a sitting area and a fireplace. It also has a two-story entranceway, a formal living room with a fireplace, a formal dining room, a bar and a new gourmet kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances.

There are dark hardwood floors, a spacious master bedroom suite and leaded-glass windows. Outside, there is a swimming pool and room for a tennis court.

Jay-Z answers his critics at Glastonbury

WHAT COMMON 'WANTS': Rapper's pursuit brings him to more action in 'Wanted.'

Modestly, Common said that though his part had few words, he was quite honored to be in the cast. He explained that he understands that a career grounded on small significant roles is a good basis for longevity in Hollywood

“I am a new actor and I know I have to take things in steps,” he said. “I knew my role didn’t have a lot of lines to say, but I feel you’ve got to be the best with the role that you’re given and be present regardless and bring what you can to that role. You’ve got to be humble enough to take on certain roles at certain times and know that you’ll have opportunities to have leads in movies as you keep taking these steps.”

Furthermore, at times it’s even more difficult to have a silent role than one with a lot of dialog, and Common felt that that challenge helped him work on his craft.

“You have to be able to say things without speaking. When somebody looks at that screen they need to see, whether the character is speaking or not, that this character is alive, that there’s something going on,” he said. “Whatever dialog they do give you, or if they add or take away, you’ve got to be the core of that character and let that character be alive. That’s what I strive to do. It is a challenge at times, but I love the challenge.”

Common clearly was up for the challenge and passed with flying colors. Even after he’d finished his parts in the film and was hanging in Chicago to promote his album, he was called back for more face time in front of the camera.

“They called me back to do more. They wanted to put me in more scenes. I felt honored. I was grateful,” he said. “I knew this was something good, so any camera time – I was excited.”

In the film, Freeman stars as the group’s leader, Sloan. Sloan is a wise and enigmatic teacher, as was Freeman to Common on the set. Impressed by Freeman’s iconic status, Common admitted that he was a little awestruck by the Oscar-winning actor.

“I looked over at Morgan Freeman and said, ‘Man, that’s Morgan Freeman.’ This is an incredible actor and I’m in a scene with him,” Common recalled. “It’s a blessing to be in his presence. He did come over and give me some acting wisdom. When he did that, I got chills.”

Though Common’s acting career is building right along with his love of the art, the lyricist said that he’s still quite in love with hip hop. It just happens that around 2000 he found himself disenchanted with the industry, which led to his affair with acting.

“I was looking for a new way to express myself. I love music, but I felt I had creative energy that I wanted to express in new ways,” he said. “At that time, hip hop was feeling a little limited to me, so decided to take an acting class. From the first day I went, I just loved it.”

Common would take classes whenever he had the opportunity between studio time and touring. He got his first chance to perform in front of cameras on an episode of the TV show ‘Girlfriends’ and got even more excited about acting.

“My first film was ‘Smokin’ Aces,’ and when I got that chance, it was over. I was building a career in this.”

Construction continues. Up next for Common is a role in the fourth of the “Terminator” film series called “Terminator Salvation,” expected in theaters next summer.

“I’m doing more work and I’m looking to do a lot more roles. I want to have a career as an actor,” he said, suggesting that one day, reporters will sit with a young actor and ask about him.

“I want us to be able to sit here and say, ‘You know he’s one of the great actors of our time. How does that feel working with him?’”

“Wanted” opens nationwide this weekend. For more on the film, check out the official website at www.wantedmovie.com.

Event: NYC: Red, White & Green - proceeds to Obama

07.03.08
NYC: Red, White & Green - proceeds to Obama
@ Knitting Factory (NYC)

On Thursday July 3rd, Move Forward Music presents the Red, White & Green Party, a historic hip-hop kick-off to Independence Day weekend at the Knitting Factory with live performances and part of the proceeds going toward the Barack Obama campaign. Headlining the show is veteran Def Squad rapper, Keith Murray, joined by New Jersey upstart, James Watts and Ivy League graduate and June 2008 Source Unsigned Hype MC Homeboy Sandman. HOT 97's funnyman DJ Peter Rosenberg will be hosting and holding down turntable duties.
With many hit albums, Keith Murray continues to deliver pure rhyme ingenuity. Armed with an extensive and eccentric vocabulary, sandpapery vocal chords and an edgy attitude, Murray exploded on the hip-hop scene with his Gold-certified debut disc The Most Beautifullest Thing in This World. Catapulted by the LP's dual smashes--the lead single title cut and its follow-up "Get Lifted"--Keith rapidly established himself as one of hip-hop's most distinctive voices under the sure-handed tutelage and guidance of fellow Def Squad lyrical sharpshooter, Redman, and producer extraordinaire, Erick Sermon. Still grinding out a successful career, Keith Murray appears for a rare live performance to let fans know he's still not only relevant, but as radical as he ever was.
In an era where hip-hop is often bogged down by negativity, the Red, White & Green Party offers a positive and patriotic, yet still fun, start to Independence Day weekend, while at the same time raising money and building excitement for the first black Presidential candidate in U.S. history! On July 3rd, don't miss the chance to help move hip-hop in a positive direction and help put an African-American in the White House!!!


Event Information:
Thursday, July 03, 2008
8:00 PM - 1:00 AM
All Ages
cover: $12.00 | $10 in Advance/Part of Proceeds Donated to Barack Obama
music: Hip Hop

Contact Email:
moveforwardmusic@gmail.com


Venue Information:
Knitting Factory (NYC)
74 Leonard St
New York, NY
212-219-3132
http://www.knittingfactory.com/

KANYE ORDERED TO SETTLE MOM'S MORTAGE: Illinois company demands more than $600Gz plus interest on Donda's condo

A court has ordered Kanye West to pay off the $600,000 mortgage on his late mother's condo in Illinois.

When Dr. Donda West died in November from complications following plastic surgery, she left behind a mortgage that has since ballooned due to unpaid fees and interest.

The mortgage company filed a claim against her estate, which Kanye and his business manager Shawn Gee took control of earlier this month.

The rapper inherited less than $250,000 of assets from his mother, who did not have a will at the time of her death.

Jay-Z Eyes NY Yankees, Looks To Invest In Baseball Franchise

Jay-Z may be expanding his already vast investment portfolio with a stake in baseball. The mogul is looking into buying shares into the New York Yankees.

The former Def Jam president has already made sports his business as a shareholder in the New Jersey Nets basketball team as well as his 40/40 sports club franchise - with locations in Manhattan, Atlantic City, Vegas, Tokyo and Macau. His other assets include his recent $150 million deal with Live Nation and his new advertising company with Steve Stoute, among other business ventures.

Jay had previously been in talks to invest in the London-based soccer team Arsenal Football Club but that fell through in '05.

"I had invested in the Nets, and they (Arsenal bosses) asked me if I was interested in investing. But I get that from time to time," Jay told London's Time Out magazine. "Someone told me yesterday that someone else had a piece of the New York Yankees, 'We wanna talk to you, yadda yadda yadda.' I mean, I love the Yankees so I'm in the middle of following that through, but sometimes it comes to be nothing. That (Arsenal) was one of the times it came to nothing."

As previously reported, Jay represented the Nets at this year's NBA Draft Lottery.

In related news Jay-Z is set to perform during this weekend's Glastonbury Festival in the UK. The event is expected to draw crowds of up to 175,000 people.

D-Block ''Prepares For Glory,'' Group Disc Coming This Summer

Jadakiss, Styles P and Sheek Louch have gathered together their D-Block brethren for an official album set to drop in August.

Along with The LOX, the disc entitled Prepare for Glory, will showcase the talents of D-Block artists Trav, Straws, A.P., T.Y., Bucky, Bully, Don D. and Large Amount.

Former D-Block standout J-Hood will not be featured on the CD.

As previously reported, D-Block has severed ties with the Yonkers emcee after a public falling out.

"It's over," Sheek said in an exclusive interview with earlier this year. "He can't come back to me, he can't come back to D-Block, The Lox, nothing. Nobody wants to deal with him. They just don't respect his moves."

50 Cent -- who's had a very public rivalry with D-Block, exchanging insults with the group on wax, even when J-Hood was a part of the click -- brought the former D-Block member on stage with him for a surprise appearance at a Bronx concert last year while the diss track "f*ck D-Block" played.

Prepare for Glory hits shelves on August 19th via indie label Babygrande Records.

Kanye West rails against Bonnaroo criticism

By JAKE COYLE, AP Entertainment Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Kanye West defended himself from criticism over his delayed performance at Bonnaroo, saying on his blog that the flak he's taken has left him "the most offended I've ever been."

West's performance at the Tennessee festival was scheduled for 2:45 a.m. in the early morning of June 15. West didn't take the stage until 4:25 a.m., angering much of the crowd who had stayed up late to see the rapper perform.

The delay was caused by problems setting up West's elaborate stage set, which included an interplanetary landscape of a wavy black platform and a video screen above. Pearl Jam, who had performed on the main stage earlier that evening, also went an hour over its scheduled time. While waiting for West's concert to begin, many in the crowd pelted the stage with glow sticks and beer.

At the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, which traditionally has favored jam bands, West's delayed show became a kind of rallying point, leading to "Kanye sucks" chants and criticism from pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph, who played later the same day.

Writing Tuesday on his blog at http://www.kanyeuniversity.com in almost all caps, West said he was offended that anyone would think he doesn't care about his fans and blamed the delay on festival organizers.

"This Bonnaroo thing is the worst insult I've ever had in my life," West wrote. "This is the most offended I've ever been ... this is the maddest I ever will be."

West was critical of the festival for not releasing a statement in his defense. The morning after the show, The Associated Press asked festival spokesman Ken Weinstein about the delay. Weinstein said it was simply a matter of unloading the Pearl Jam stage after its set (which went until about 1:15 a.m.) and loading the West stage.

Following his performance, West's publicist didn't reply to a request from The AP for West's take on the criticism.

In his blog posting, West said he and the festival organizers (Bonnaroo is put on by Superfly Productions and AC Entertainment) went back and forth for a month on how his stage could fit at the festival. He said it was clear he was "dealing with ... idiots who didn't really have the capacity to really put on this show properly."

Weinstein on Wednesday relayed a statement on behalf of the festival that did not specifically address West's complaints but read: "Our world-class event production team strives to accommodate the needs of every performer."

West also blamed thrown bottles for malfunctions with his "Jane screen." (In the concept concert, Jane is the HAL-like disembodied female robotic voice of his spaceship.) But the stage crew appeared to be having difficulty with the screen well before anything was thrown from the crowd.

West's set was originally scheduled for 8:15 p.m. the night of June 14, but the rapper requested it be moved later in the evening so it was sufficiently dark for his "glow-in-the-dark" performance. But because of the late start, midway through his performance the morning light began to show — revealing a substantially thinned-out audience.

"It broke my heart that I couldn't give these fans `Stronger' in its greatest form," said West, referring to his hit song. "I'm sorry to everyone that I didn't have the ability 2 give the performance I wanted to. I'm sorry."

West concluded by saying his elaborate stage cuts his payday in half and leaves him icing his knees.

"Call me what you want," he said, "but never say I didn't give my all!"

DMX ARRESTED IN MIAMI FOR SUSPENDED LICENSE: Rapper in custody for the third time since May

Rapper DMX has been arrested yet again – this time in Miami for driving without a valid driver's license.

Police nabbed the 37-year-old on an arrest warrant at about 1:30 p.m. Monday and brought him to Turner Guilford Correctional Center where bail was set at $500.

This latest arrest is his third since early May, when he was taken into custody for driving 114 miles per hour on an Arizona freeway back in January. Three days later, he was charged with suspicion of drug possession and animal cruelty after his home in Arizona was raided by police.

Remy Ma's Shooting Victim Sues Rapper For $10 Mil

Imprisoned rapper Remy Ma continues to face an uphill battle against shooting victim Makeda Barnes-Joseph, as the woman has re-filed a lawsuit against her, her label and the pizza shop for $10 million.

The suit claims Remy's former label, Universal Music and Sure Shot Recordings received "financial profit and economic benefit from the unlawful, violent, and anti-social conduct" of the rapper.

Barnes-Joesph also seeks compensation from downtown Manhattan restaurant, Pizza Bar, for continuing to serve the Bronx-bred rapper alcohol after she was already intoxicated. Remy and the victim were partying at the restaurant before the shooting occurred.

In addition the suit claims that Barnes-Joesph "suffered and still suffers great physical and mental pain and has been emotionally damaged," due to her altercation with Remy and has yet to return to work stating that the "injuries inflicted upon her by [Remy] are permanent in nature."

Filed in the Bronx, New York, over the weekend, the suit's focus on suing Universal and Sure Shot is based on the belief that they profited from the publicity of her trial. Barnes-Joesph expects to also reap the benefits of any additional gains.

"Any and all financial profit and economic benefit which the [defendants] gained and continues to gain from their promotion and publicizing of the shooting of [Makeda] is gained at [her] detriment and therby entitles [her] to damages from the [defendants] in an amount no less that the total amount of any and all monetary profit earned," the statement reads.

No word yet from either Remy's lawyers or representatives from Universal, Sure Shot or the Pizza Bar.

As previously reported by, Barnes-Joesph originally hit Remy with an $80 million lawsuit last January, but decided to drop it in until the verdict in the case was announced.

The Game & Young Buck Join Forces On New Mixtape

Former G-Unit members The Game and Young Buck have decided to squash any prior beefs and team up, as the two are set to release a joint mixtape.

According to Billboard, the untitled collaboration is set to drop in July and will be hosted by DJ Skee, Nu Jerzey Devil and Haze.

As previously reported, The Game recently sided with Buck in his war with 50 Cent, recording his own version of Buck's diss record to the G-Unit General. On the song, the Compton rapper continues to throw shots at G-Unit and alleges that 50 was responsible for the fire that destroyed the Long Island mansion where his baby mama lived.

In addition to their mixtape together, Buck will also appear on a remix for the West Coast rapper's Keyshia Cole assisted single, "Games Pain." With L.A.X. nearly a month away from dropping, Game is applying a similar technique he used for his "One Blood" remix, by recruiting various artists to contribute to regional remixes of the song. Buck and Bun B will show-up on the Southern remix, Jadakiss and Fat Joe on the New York recording, and E-40 and Ice Cube will be on the West Coast version.

In other Buck news, Buck has teamed up with Cash Money Records rapper All $tar to create the group Starbucks. They have an upcoming mixtape entitled "Starbuck's: B.O.A.T. (Based On A True Story)," set for a June 24th release via grindhardonline.com.

Both Game and Buck were dropped from G-Unit by 50 via the radio. Game was kicked out in March 2005 once 50 went on-air and explained how he wrote the hit singles from the Compton rapper's debut album and Buck was dropped last April due to internal conflicts.

Ice-T Continues War W/ Soulja Boy, Kanye West Chooses Sides

Veteran gangsta rapperIce-T has released another video aimed at Soulja Boy in response to the Southern rapper's YouTube clip, making no apologies for starting the beef with the 17 year-old hip-hopper.

In his latest video, Ice-T explains that his original comments were made only after being asked his feelings on the state of hip-hop and on Soulja Boy.

Ice-T admits that as a rap legend he shouldn't have talked down to the teen but says he still believes Soulja Boy's music is garbage.

"Hip-Hop has to last forever and it ain't gonna last with you doing that superman bullsh*t man," Ice-T said. "That sh*t is whack, trust me." [Watch Below]

He goes on to say Soulja Boy never should've responded.

"When I dissed you, there's no ramifications you know," he said. "You can't hurt my career cause I'm caked out, there's nothing you can do to hurt me."

The beef began after Ice-T blamed Soulja Boy for being responsible for the death of hip-hop.

Soulja Boy then made his own video response questioning Ice-T's career choices.

"This n*gga Ice-T old as f*ck!" Soulja Boy said as he laughed into his web cam. "This n*gga old enough to be my great grandfather. I Wikipedia'ed this n*gga, he was born in 1958. [He] claims he's from the West Coast, n*gga you were born in New Jersey, dawg. Who is Ice-T, dawg? How you gonna make a song called ["Cop Killer"] and 35 years later your ass playing the police on TV, 'Law and Order'. This ain't no beef."

Despite the criticism from Ice-T, hip-hop megastar Kanye West spoke out on his blog in support of Soulja Boy.

"Soulja boy is fresh ass hell and is actually the true meaning of what hip hop is supposed to be," he wrote. "He came from the hood, made his own beats, made up a new saying, new sound and a new dance with one song. He had all of America rapping this summer. If that ain't hip-hop then what is? N*ggas always talk about the golden age but for a 13 year-old kid, this is the golden age!!! Keep this sh*t fresh and original.... ain't no f*ckin' rules to this sh*t and that's what real hip hop is to me."

50 Cent's Baby Momma Seeks Restraining Order, Contact W/ Son At Stake

Things are continuing to heat up between 50 Cent and his ex, Shaniqua Tompkins, as she is reportedly heading to court this morning in hopes of receiving a temporary restraining order against the rapper.

According to TMZ, Tompkins' motivation for seeking the order is based on alleged threats made against her from associates of the G-Unit head. If the request is approved, 50 will not only be restricted from direct contact with Tompkins, but also from his 11 year-old son who he has yet to speak with since a fire destroyed their Long Island home.

The decision marks the latest action from either side as previously reported 50 is suing Tompkins for defamation. In the suit, the rapper claims she has been fueling fire to allegations that he deliberately had the Long Island home burned down, purposely endangering the lives of both his son and former girlfriend.

"There comes a point where you can no longer sit on your hands and listen to her spread these falsehoods," 50's lawyer Brett Kimmel told. "Besides hurting his reputation, they have a damaging impact on their son."

The battle between the two began prior to the home's destruction, as 50 petitioned the court for an eviction of Tompkins and his son Marquise from the million-dollar house last April.

KANYE TO PERFORM FOR 'NIKE + HUMAN RACE': It's the world's largest one day running event.

BEAVERTON, Ore. -- Music takes center stage on the heels of the official registration opening for the Nike+ Human Race, the world's biggest one-day running event taking place on August 31, 2008.

The race brings together the power of sport and music to inspire and connect runners from every corner of the planet. Participants in this unprecedented event will experience an exclusive music performance by some of today's top artists in each of the 25 designated race cities.

In Los Angeles, nine-time Grammy Award winning artist Kanye West will headline the run's post race concert for the grand finale of the 25-city Nike+ Human Race. Runners will take to the streets passing the city's most famous landmarks before ending at the LA Coliseum to see West take the stage.

"I'm hitting the stage in Los Angeles for the Nike+ Human Race, Nike's dopest 10k run ever. This race is bringing together hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world to run and listen to some great music while serving a higher cause, and I'm excited to perform in L.A. as part of the grand finale," said West.

West's performance will bring to a close, an unprecedented day of races and activities around the globe starting in Taipei, ending in LA and including cities across Europe, Asia and North and South America.

In London, runners will be treated to an exclusive performance by world-renowned American DJ, songwriter, musician and singer Moby in the city's famed Wembley Stadium. Other all-star artists confirmed to play at the Nike+ Human Race include chart-topping rock band All-American Rejects in NY; hometown favorite Fall Out Boy in Chicago; R&B songstress Kelly Rowland in Paris; dance-electro-pop duo The Pinker Tones in Madrid, Turkish pop sensation Kenan Dogulu in Istanbul; the Fantastic Four in Munich; Beijing-based singing duo Yu Quan in Shanghai and American rock band Boy Likes Girl in Singapore.

Beyond running and music, the Nike+ Human Race is also an opportunity to give back. Participants will be able to run for a worthy cause and support the three official Nike+ Human Race charitable partners: the Lance Armstrong Foundation -- uniting people in the fight against cancer; WWF -- the global conservation organization addressing the causes and impacts of climate change; and the UN refugee agency's ninemillion.org campaign -- bringing sport and education to refugee youth. Together, Nike and runners will raise funds to donate at least USD $3 million to the Nike+ Human Race charities. Money will be raised via givebacks from registration fees, a percentage of Nike+ Human Race t-shirt sales and a donation of USD $1 million from Nike.

The Nike+ Human Race will also feature an online pledge tool so individual runners can donate additional funds to the cause of their choice and invite friends and family to contribute on their behalf.

"As a committed runner and a cancer survivor, I'm proud to be participating in the Nike+ Human Race," Lance Armstrong said. "The race offers the best of both worlds by bringing together a global community to run together and support worthy causes like the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the UN refugee agency's ninemillion.org and WWF in our combined efforts to have a positive impact on the world."

Other Nike athletes will also be joining the movement to run with the world and for a cause. Like Lance Armstrong, they will serve as honorary athlete ambassadors for the charities and join in Human Race activities. Six-time marathon winner and current NY Marathon Champion, Paula Radcliffe and middle distance runner Kara Goucher will be running to support WWF, while marathoner Meb Keflezighi will be representing ninemillion.org.

Nikeplus.com will be the official destination for the Nike+ Human Race and for all pre-race training needs. Here, runners can create a personal profile page or stay motivated by sampling and downloading the latest in Nike+ Sport Music offerings. Sport Music offers runners the best in original Training Run and Coaching Mixes designed specifically for treadmill and road runs. Beginning June 15, runners will also be able to visit Race City pages covering local race info and news, Training pages for information and links to in-city training runs, events with official race partners including 24Hour Fitness and Starbucks and Nike+ Coach training. Gear pages covering the latest in Nike performance training gear and Nike+ product will also be offered.

For more information on the Nike+ Human Race and a complete listing of race cities, visit nikeplus.com.

About Nike+ Human Race
On 08.31.08, Nike hosts a run like no other before with the Nike+ Human Race -- the World's Largest One Day Running Event. Nike's first global race will take place over the course of one day, with a goal of one million runners, across 25 cities and featuring 25 top musical acts. The 10k event celebrates runners and their sport, offering participants across the globe the chance to run and compete together in an unprecedented race experience. Spanning multiple continents, Nike+ Human Race cities will include LA, New York, London, Madrid, Paris, Istanbul, Melbourne, Shanghai, Sao Paulo and Vancouver among others. Following races in each city, participants will be treated to an exclusive music concert featuring one of today's top artists. Participants will be able to run for a cause as a portion of funds raised will be donated to three Nike+ Human Race beneficiaries: WWF, the global conservation organization, Lance Armstrong Foundation and UN refugee agency's ninemillion.org campaign. The race will be open to anyone, anywhere. Runners outside of the 25 race day cities can join by logging into nikeplus.com. With the help of Nike+ and the Nike+ SportBand, every city and every road can become a race-day course. For more information, visit nikeplus.com.

About Nike
NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly owned Nike subsidiaries include Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Cole Haan Holdings Incorporated, which designs, markets and distributes luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Umbro Ltd., a leading United Kingdom-based global football (soccer) brand; and Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories. For more information, visit http://www.nikebiz.com/.

Suspects In T.I. Associate's Murder Jailed

Two Cincinnati brothers have been arrested and indicted for the 2006 murder of T.I.'s close friend and personal assistant, Philant Johnson.

According to Cincinnati's The Enquirer, new details have emerged explaining how after Hosea and Padron Thomas had issues with the Atlanta rapper and his entourage at a late night party and performance on May 2, 2006, their anger eventually turned into an altercation and violence.

Charged with murder and felonious assault of Tip's assistant Philant Johnson, the brothers were also accused of wounding three others that night. Described as a shoot-out by Cincinnati Homicide Detective Tim Gormly, he claims the incident began with the brothers not being allowed to meet T.I.

"T.I. and his group were in the VIP area," he said. "The suspects wanted to get in the VIP area and weren't allowed to."

After being turned down from entering, Gormly says one of the brothers was struck in the head with a bottle and the two were later taunted as the rapper's entourage threw money from the stage.

"It was just a total accumulation of everything that happened that night," he said.

After leaving the club, the entourage left in two vans that were followed by the Thomas brothers in SUVs. Shortly afterwards, gunfire from both vehicles was exchanged that killed Johnson and injured T.I. due to shattered glass.

Both brothers have criminal backgrounds including rape, robbery, drug possession and trafficking convictions. Charged with murder and seven counts of felonious assault for each member inside T.I.'s vehicles, the two men are also being hit with weapons charges and tampering with evidence.

Explaining why the case took over two years to complete, Gormly claims he "had trouble identifying the suspected due to [the shooting] happening in a moving car and there weren't a whole lot of witnesses that saw the actual shooting."

More than just an assistant, T.I. paid homage to his friend shortly after the incident when he dedicated his '06 video "Living in the Sky" to Johnson.

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LIL WAYNE, T-PAIN CONSIDER JOINT CD: Artists think about full album follow-up to current single 'Got Money

Lil Wayne and T-Pain may join forces to record a duet album on the heels of their single "Got Money," which is No. 45 this week on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

"They've been speaking on it," Cash Money head Ron "Slim" Williams tells Billboard of the album. "I wanted to get past 'Tha Carter III.' Now we can sit down and get to the business of different collaborations. I just want to make sure that we have a good record."

"Tha Carter III," Wayne's new album from Cash Money/Universal, sold 1 million copies in its first week of release. It's the first album to break the million-copy mark in its first week since 50 Cent's "The Massacre" (1.14 million) in 2005.

The set also has as the 14th biggest sales week of all time, and it's already the No. 3 bestseller of the year just one week out, trailing Mariah Carey's nine-week-old "E=MC2" by just 17,000 copies. (Jack Johnson's "Sleep Through the Static" is No. 1 with 1.2 million in sales to date.)

The Game Goes R&B Heavy On ''L.A.X.,'' Links W/ Ne-Yo For 2 Tracks

After several delays in the release of his album, West Coast rapper The Game has released more details on what to expect from his new CD, L.A.X.

The Compton California native will drop his third studio album at the end of July. As previously reported L.A.X. was originally slated for a June 24th release which would've pit the Game against his rival G-Unit's T.O.S. (Terminate On Site). Each album has since been scheduled for separate release dates in July.

The first single off L.A.X. "Game's Pain" features Keyshia Cole and climbed up the charts, peaking at #1 on BET's "106 & Park." The track was produced by Knobody and Dahoud.

Game also paired with Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker for the street single, "Dope Boys." On the hip- hop side, he partnered with Lil' Wayne on the track "My Life" which was produced by Cool & Dre and with Chicago natives Kanye West and Common for "Angel."

On the R&B tip, Ne-Yo appears on both "Camera Phone," another Cool & Dre production, as well as J.R. Rotem's "A Thug and a Gentleman." "Let Us Live" with R&B songbird Chrissette Michelle and "Put Ya Hands Up" with Busta Rhymes were both produced by Scott Storch.

Aside from these collabos, fans can also expect appearances from Raekwon, Bilal, Raheem DeVaughn, Nottz, Irv Gotti, DJ Toomp and Hi-Tek.

L.A.X. hits stores on July 22nd.