HipHopHavoc News

LIL WAYNE HAS HIS OWN CHAMPAGNE: Rapper partners with Milestone Brands and French grower to create signature bubbly

2008-07-03T08:56:00.001-09:00

Having the hottest record in the country right now isn't enough for Lil Wayne. The New Orleans-born rapper just stepped into the bubbly business with his newly-launched Halo Champagne.

Weezy teamed with the company Milestone Brands and French grower Voirin-Jumeh to develop the product, which is scheduled to arrive in stores later this year. Halo made its formal premiere in the video for Wayne's No. 1 single "Lollipop."

“I’m excited about this venture with Milestone Brands,” Lil Wayne told AllHipHop.com in a statement. “Champagne is for celebrating. There are so many different business opportunities…I want to take advantage of it all. I’m ready to put my foot in a new door.”

Halo Champagne is comprised of four sub-brands, each with its own flavor. Halo Brut, contains various flavors and a citrus finish, with hints of lemon cream and roasted hazelnut; Halo Brut Vintage features a classic, creamy consistency and a stronger mix of lemon blossoms and almonds; Halo Rose, a combination of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, offers an aroma of pomegranate, crushed raspberries, and mint; and Halo Pinnacle is a fruity Chardonnay blend, capped off by hints of lime-tree flower and roasted hazelnuts.

In the meantime, Wayne continues to promote his current single "A Milli," from his new album "Tha Carter III."

KANYE TO DESIGN LOUIS VUITTON SHOES: Rapper takes his 'Louis Vuitton Don' tag to another level.

2008-07-03T08:55:00.000-09:00

Kanye West says he's about to create a line of men's footwear for the French fashion house Louis Vuitton, as well as a non-Louis-related line of womens wear headed for stores this fall.

The rapper showed up Friday at Vuitton's spring 2009 show in Paris’ Jardins de Bagatelle and told Women's Wear Daily: ”I’m here for Louis” before revealing that he is working with the fashion giant on a men’s shoe line.

He also used his appearance at the show to plug his own line of women's fashions that will debut this fall.

"I grew up with the Louis look, you know," West told the U.K.'s Guardian newspaper. "I just love the style."

JAY-Z'S 40/40 TARGETED IN CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT: Workers say club managers make them work for tips only.

2008-07-03T08:53:00.000-09:00

Some 20 workers for Jay-Z's 40/40 club in Manhattan are part of a class action lawsuit accusing the venue of forcing them to work for tips only, cheating them out of overtime and making them pay for breaks and spills as well as "walkouts."

According to the New York Daily News, the lawsuit from past and present servers, bartenders and other workers was certified as "class action" Tuesday by Manhattan Federal Judge Loretta Preska.

Hundreds of former 40/40 employees could also be eligible to collect if the current workers' win the trial, their attorney says. Preska said the workers' lawyershave made a "minimal" showing that the owners have violated federal wage and labor laws.

"The record contains corroborating evidence of the allegations," Preska wrote.

DMX ARRESTED UPON ARRIVAL IN PHOENIX: Rapper taken into custody on two outstanding warrants

2008-07-03T02:34:00.001-09:00

Stop us if you've heard this song before, but the arrests just keep coming for DMX. For a fourth time since early May, the rapper was put in handcuffs – this time in Phoenix due to two outstanding warrants.

The artist, born Earl Simmons, was arrested Wednesday morning at a Phoenix airport as he exited a flight from Fort Lauderdale. His lawyer, Murray Richman, told MTV that X knew he would be apprehended as soon as he touched down in his home state for a court hearing on a previous case.

He could now face several months in an Arizona jail while waiting for his next court date to be scheduled, and possibly more time after that.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio — known as "America's Toughest Sheriff" and the man who snatched two honorary badges from Shaquille O'Neal following his freestyle about Kobe Bryant — reportedly told TMZ that X "never learns his lesson" and that he hopes to keep the rapper in jail.

DMX was returning to Arizona to face charges of animal cruelty and drug possession stemming from an arrest in May. He was arrested in Miami on June 27 for allegedly trying to buy cocaine and marijuana, just four days after his arrest in Florida for driving without a valid driver's license.

Lil Wayne Heading To Jamaica

2008-07-02T03:54:00.000-09:00

Top selling rapper Lil Wayne has been tapped to headline the Reggae Sumfest 2008 along with Keyshia Cole. The pair will hit the stage during the Reggae Sumfest's International Night 1, on Friday July 18. The performance at the festival is the first for Lil Wayne. The Reggae Sumfest 2008 takes place from July 13-19 in Jamaica and is one of the biggest Reggae show's on earth, now in its 16th year. Other acts performing include John Holt, Beres Hammond, Queen Ifrica, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer and others. Chris Brown and Akon are also in negotiations to perform according to organizers.

Shady Records Issues Statement On Obie's Departure

2008-07-02T03:53:00.000-09:00

Following the heavy circulation of Obie Trice's new single "The Giant" signaling the Detroit rapper's departure from his situation with Shady Records and it's parent company, Interscope, the brass at Shady issued a statement Monday (Jun 30) reaffirming its support of Trice's decision.

"Shady Records has agreed to allow Obie Trice to pursue his craft in a different forum free from the constraints of the current major label model," Eminem's long time partner and manager Paul Rosenberg told.

Sources on the web have erroneously reported that the new explanatory track released to the web on Sunday (Jun 29) included lyrics meant as a diss to his former label and Eminem, who added Trice to the label's roster in 2000.

At issue was the song's opening verse, on which Trice raps "Guess it was meant / for me to branch off from my Caucasian friend" and "Nope, no more 2nd place to Eminem / question if I was 2nd is the question to many men."

"Eminem will continue to support and work with Obie on many levels of his career," Rosenberg stated frankly. "He remains a close friend and member of the Shady family."

During his time as a Shady/Interscope artist, Obie Trice's two albums which were well received critically, established the artist as Eminem's heir apparent.

The first, 2003's Cheers, sold over 500,000 copies worldwide, while its follow-up Second Round's On Me found slightly less commercial support.

Obie Trice Officially Off Eminem's Shady Records

2008-07-02T03:52:00.000-09:00

Detroit's Obie Trice has left Shady Records after eight years and two albums, has confirmed on June 30th.

He is currently working on his third album, while solidifying a new situation for his own imprint.

“Obie and Shady were moving in different directions,” the 30-year-old rapper’s manager Terry Wilson tells “But he still has a great relationship with Shady Records. He has some big plans for his World Wide Hustle label.”

Currently recording his third album while solidifying his label situation, Trice has released a track explaining his decision to leave the label with which he attained a considerable amount of respect and success.

While a source at Shady confirms the split is amicable, the new song, “The Giant,” indicates that Obie’s complaints may have been with parent company Interscope.

“I murdered e’ything when I wore the Shady logo,” he spits after announcing there’s no more Shady.

“O is a mogul/Low on the totem pole ‘cause Interscope’s loco/Now I’m gettin’ mo’ dough.”

Following a personal introduction to Eminem via D12’s Bizarre, Obie Trice joined the Shady Records family in 2000 and was introduced to listeners outside of Detroit on the supergroup's 2001 debut Devil’s Night.

His own RIAA-certified gold debut Cheers came two years later, with a follow up, Second Round’ s On Me released in 2006.

Continuing with the theme of his two previous releases, Trice’s third album is tentatively titled Bottoms Up.

Max B Signs With Amalgram

2008-07-02T03:04:00.001-09:00

Amalgam Digital, the independent company responsible for launching hip hop’s first genre specific digital retail store, brings on Harlem hip hop heavyweight Max B to its label brand’s artist roster. The intensely confident Max Biggaveli (aka the Silver Surfer aka Wavy Crockett) describes himself as Biggie, Jigga, and Tupac Machiavelli all rolled into one.

With skills honed from over seven years of writing lyrics in prison, he joined Harlem ’s Diplomats, almost immediately upon his release. Hip hop fans took to his distinctive style and unorthodox hooks and Max B quickly evolved from a ghostwriter to the driving creative force behind a parade of hits by Jim Jones, Cam’ron, Juelz Santana, and company. To date, he is best known for “We Fly High (Ballin),” which he ghostwrote for Jones. “We Fly High” peaked at #5 on the Billboard charts, still receives heavy club play, and is the unofficial anthem of the New York Giants.

Max B joins a diverse roster of both commercially successful artists and indie hip hop classics, including Grammy-nominee Joe Budden, Peedi Crakk, Kurious, Tame One, Tash (of Tha Alkaholiks), the Juggaknots, and DJ Benzi. This venture marks Max B’s seemingly inevitable transition from an incredibly successful writer and collaborator to a bona fide superstar in his own right.

The transition was a long time coming for the rapper/MC, whose career so far has been a rollercoaster ride of controversy, success, and unfortunate legal setbacks not too mention a string of high profile feuds. Max’s relationship with the Diplomats has dissolved and he is currently involved in highly publicized feuds with Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, and Lil Wayne.

It’s difficult to hyperbolize Max B’s potential. He is a quadruple threat who can write, rap, sing, and most importantly, has the kind of overwhelming charisma that all but guarantees stardom. Max is a natural trendsetter, known for creating and popularizing several phrases that other artists have imitated such as “wavy” and “oooowwwww!” He is currently out of prison on a record setting bail for a hip hop artist at $1.5 million.

Max B had the following to say when asked about his relationship with Amalgam Digital:

“Amalgam Digital is wavy like water! We sooo wavy…. Ooooowwww!”

- Max B

Max’s street release “Public Domain III: Domain Pain (The Album)”, in stores August 5th, will serve as a prelude to a forthcoming independent debut album entitled “Vigilante Season” on the Amalgam Digital label, which will in turn lead to a third, digital only album (name TBA) which will be available exclusively at www.AmalgamDigital.com. All three albums are being produced entirely by certified hitmaker Dame Grease, famous for his progressive work with live instrumentation rather than sampling as well as for his distinct work with DMX, Nas, and Freeway.

Max B “Public Domain 3: Domain Pain” (The Album) Amalgam Digital

Track Listing:

01. Paperwork

02. Picture Me Rollin

03. Chase You Home ft. Al Pac

04. Let It Go ft. Al Pac

05. Get Low ft. Al Pac

06. Bad Whiskey

07. Chevy

08. Ready To Ride ft. Mac Mustard

09. Lip Sing

10. Blow Me A Dub (Remix)

11. White As Snow (Grand Cru Anthem) ft. Al Pac

12. I’m G’d Up ft. Henny

NAS IS THE NEW FACE OF FILA: Rapper tapped to co-create own line based on fashions of the late '80s

2008-07-01T02:47:00.000-09:00

Fila is trying to make a comeback through the use of hip hop star Nas, who has just signed a one-year partnership with the athletic apparel company that will include his own line, reports Billboard.

The deal calls for Fila to offer reciprocal financial backing for Nas' print and TV ad campaign as well as his upcoming tour in support of his untitled album, due July 15 via Def Jam. In return, the MC will sport Fila gear and co-create an apparel line that draws from fashions of the late '80s.

"My best friend Will and I loved Fila," Nas tells Billboard. "It represented prestige and everything that was cool to us. When Will passed, we buried him in a black Fila sweat suit, so doing a deal with them has a lot of significance for me."

The brand means so much to him that he's gone against his own tradition of steering clear of endorsement deals. Fila president John Epstein recognizes the importance of having Nas on board – despite his upcoming album that will speak directly and unapologetically to America's racial struggles.

"I had some trepidation, and then I started talking to 16- to 20-year-old kids in focus groups," said Fila president John Epstein. "They looked at me like I was crazy for not understanding his message of positive change. Nas is relevant to his followers and I don't have to understand it as long as they do."

MOS DEF'S EX-WIFE PENS TELL-ALL: Former stripper says marriage to rapper was abusive; claims she had fling with Kanye

2008-07-01T02:46:00.001-09:00

A juicy new tell-all book from the ex-wife of rapper Mos Def reveals her sexual encounters with various professional athletes and celebrities, including Kanye West, according to The Toronto Star.

Alana Wyatt-Smith, 29, spills all the dirt in her newly-released memoir "Breaking the Code of Silence," which chronicles her marriage to the rapper. Their 2005 wedding took place three days after they met, she reveals, among other things.

The former stripper and seventh grade dropout says her book is different from recent efforts written by "video vixen" Karrine Steffans and Nas's ex-girlfriend Carmen Bryan. Unlike theirs, Wyatt-Smith says her book uses initials and nicknames instead of her lovers' real names.

"I disagree with putting names of people in there, just out of respect for their wives and children," Wyatt-Smith told The Toronto Star. "If this was about making money, getting rich, I could have wrote a tell-all book, 10 times better than Karrine Steffans.

"People want to know about the biggest names in the NBA, who proposed to who, and did what, and this and that; I could have put some stuff in there that would have made it a number one seller within days. I use nicknames, initials, that myself and the gentleman would know; the ones named I got permission from."

Apparently, one of the men who gave permission was Kanye West, as he is mentioned in the book as one of her ex lovers.

Mos Def

As for Mos Def, who has six kids with four different women, Wyatt-Smith accuses him of being too demanding, overprotective, and even physically abusive during their marriage.

Wyatt-Smith writes: "I don't believe that his intent was to hurt me, I believe that he was trying to prove a point. But I had shared and cried with him many nights about my past (abusive) situation and I asked of him not to do that, because it brings back memories; so I found it to be more disrespectful, because he knew what I had been through."

The author says she didn’t press charges after the first alleged incident because she didn't "want to cause problems," believing the incident was "a first and last."

Her book also claims they tried several times to reconcile since breaking up in Oct. 2006; and that the two are technically still married.

"He won't sign the papers," she told The Toronto Star. "He told my lawyer if he can't have me, nobody else will."

DMX Arrested On Cocaine Charges

2008-07-01T02:41:00.000-09:00

Rapper DMX was arrested in Miami for the second time this week, after attempting to buy $45 in cocaine and marijuana from an undercover police officer on Friday (Jun 26).

He is currently in custody at the Miami-Dade County jail.

According to the police, 37-year-old DMX, born Earl Simmons, approached the officer, requesting to purchase "30 powder and 15 weed."

Upon handing cash to the officer, DMX was taken into custody. His arrest is part of an ongoing undercover sting.

DMX was also arrested on Monday (Jun 22) on a warrant for driving without a valid license, and was later released after posting a $500 bond.

The embattled rapper also has a pending trial in Arizona, where he faces drug and animal cruelty charges, following a raid of his Maricopa County home.

Plies Gives Money For Students, Inmates

2008-07-01T02:40:00.000-09:00

Slip-N-Slide Records’ latest superstar Plies has partnered with his brother/manager Big Gates to create a non-profit organization aiming to promote a “more functional, productive and just community.”

Big Gates and Plies Power of Visions will kick off its crusade against the ills faced by their South Florida community, by awarding two $5,000 college scholarships.

Named after a song on Plies’ latest album Definition of Real, the “Somebody Loves You” Scholarship Fund 2008 will be presented to one male and one female student, who is the child of an incarcerated parent and exhibit a financial need.

“We want to provide those who have been and continue to be affected by the negative impacts of the prison system with a sense of hope, and to let them know that they are not forgotten,” explains Plies. “No matter what adversities one may face in life, one thing remains true – and that is that somebody loves you.”

The scholarship will be applied to the 2008-2009 school year, and is open to entering freshmen, as well as continuing students at an accredited college or university.

The scholarship fund is just one of the ways in which Power Of Visions, Inc hopes to break the cycle of incarceration, which according to a 2000 Senate report, will land as many as 70% of children of incarcerated parents in the criminal justice system.

Big Gates and Plies will attempt to provide the type of “effective intervention strategies” the Senate report suggests can counter those odds by creating educational, and cultural experiences for minority youths in the Tampa and Ft. Myers, Florida areas.

The organization’s primary goal of community improvement will be achieved through a variety of other programs as well, including rehabilitative classes, training and workshops.

Big Gates and Plies will also provide financial support and legal representation for needy individuals, primarily those already in jail.

Plies’ latest philanthropic effort comes as the Ft. Myers-bred artist celebrates yet another career milestone.

Definition of Real debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 two weeks ago, with 215,000 units sold, the highest first week sales numbers in Slip-N-Slide’s history.

Powered by the popularity of its first single “Bust It Baby, Pt. II” featuring Ne-Yo, the album remains at number five on the charts.

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

2008-06-30T11:23:00.000-09:00

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

2008-06-30T11:20:00.000-09:00

*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

2008-06-30T06:57:00.000-09:00

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

2008-06-29T12:39:00.000-09:00

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

2008-06-28T07:19:00.001-09:00

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

2008-06-28T03:06:00.000-09:00

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

2008-06-27T06:22:00.000-09:00

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

2008-06-27T06:18:00.000-09:00

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

2008-06-26T03:30:00.000-09:00

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

2008-06-25T21:40:00.000-09:00

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

2008-06-24T03:29:00.000-09:00

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

2008-06-24T03:27:00.000-09:00

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

2008-06-24T03:25:00.001-09:00

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."