THE DAILY URBAN NEWS PAGE!
MARY J BLIGE SUED FOR $2 MILLION OVER HIT SONG "WORK THAT" (8thAug/08)
Dream Family Entertainment, a Hip-Hop production company, filed a $2 million lawsuit against singer Mary J. Blige and producer Theron "Neef-U" Feemster, over the track "Work That" from the star’s Growing Pains album. According to The New York Daily News, Dream Family Inc. alleges that they never granted Feemster (who was allegedly still under contract with Dream Family) or Blige’s label Geffen, permission to release the song which was also featured in a popular commercial for Apple’s iPod and the iTunes store. Growing Pains, which is Blige’s eighth album, debuted at #2 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart and #1 on the R&B Hip-Hop charts.
JOE CLAIMS R.KELLY TRIED TO WRECK HIS CAREER! (8thAug/08)
R'n'B singer Joe has accused R. Kelly of pressuring radio DJs not to play his records in a bid to wreck his growing stardom. Joe released six albums with Jive Records over an 11 year period, but left the label earlier this year after the company pushed back the release of his 2007 LP "Ain't Nothin Like Me" several times. Joe believes his rival labelmate Kelly was to blame, insisting he would call Jive bosses and radio stations and urge them not to promote the singer too strongly. Joe says, "R. Kelly was very instrumental in making a lot of decisions when it came to my records being played on the radio. "He would make a call to the radio station or to the label and say, 'Hey, this Joe record is too hot right now. Y'all need to pull that back.' And they would oblige. It's incredible that now I get the opportunity to, I don't know, maybe pay R.Kelly back in some sort of side bar kind of thing." And Joe, who left Jive to release his forthcoming LP New Man through Kedar Entertainment Group, insists he is still a prevalent musician despite R. Kelly's alleged intervention. He says, "I'm still very relevant in the game. But yeah, he did try to make some decisions when it came down to my records being on fire, and climbing up the charts and on the radio stations. He felt like they should pull back because he felt he was more important. And with their loyalty to him, they obliged." New tracks from Joe and R.Kelly are currently in rotation over at our radio station RudeboyFM at RudeboyFM.com or by using the link in the menu above!
SOLANGE KNOWLES IS THE NEW AMBASSADOR FOR ARMANI JEANS! (8thAug/08)
Giorgio Armani is proud to announce singer and songwriter Solange Knowles as the new Armani Jeans ambassador. Her sophomore album, titled SoL-AngeL and the Hadley Street Dreams, will debut on August 26th, 2008, on Music World/Geffen and will be followed by a worldwide tour beginning in late autumn. Giorgio Armani says, "Armani Jeans expresses my vision of a young, independent, casual lifestyle with a strong and cool, fashion sensibility. Solange epitomises this style perfectly and brings to it that swing so evident in her new single, 'I Decided'." The Armani Group is one of the leading fashion and luxury goods groups in the world today with 4,900 direct employees and 13 factories. It designs, manufactures, distributes and retails fashion and lifestyle products including apparel, accessories, eyewear, watches, jewellery, home furnishings, fragrances and cosmetics under a range of brand names: Giorgio Armani Privé, Giorgio Armani, Armani Collezioni, Emporio Armani, AJ | Armani Jeans, A/X Armani Exchange, Armani Junior, Armani Baby and Armani Casa. The Group’s exclusive retail network currently comprises: 73 Giorgio Armani boutiques, 12 Armani Collezioni stores, 140 Emporio Armani stores, 168 A/X Armani Exchange stores, 18 AJ | Armani Jeans stores, 7 Armani Junior stores, 1 Giorgio Armani Accessori, 1 Emporio Armani Accessori store and 25 Armani Casa stores in 46 countries. The Armani Group has also announced its intention to open a unique collection of luxury hotels and resorts in the world’s most important cities and destinations.
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RICK ROSS PERFORMANCE CUT SHORT DUE TO ANOTHER FOOL WITH A GUN! (7thAug/08)
The Rick Ross Be Out Day annual event took place in Carol City Park yesterday, but ended badly due to gunfire! The event is designed to offer the local community a day of food, and fun on behalf of the big guy himself. Everything was going well until Ross took to the stage and all hell broke lose! Gunfire erupted which resulted in people fleeing the area in fear of their lives. The annual Rick Ross Be Out Scholarship is normally presented at the event, which was also sponsored by The City of Miami Gardens and The Children’s Trust. Police have confirmed the shooting and that nobody was injured or killed. No suspects as of press time.
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50 CENT GETS TO SEE HIS BOY! (6thAug/08)
50 Cent has been reunited with his son Marquise after claiming the boy's mother had "kidnapped" him. Fiddy blasted ex-girlfriend Shaniqua Tompkins for taking off with their 11-year-old child after her New York home was destroyed by a fire in May. The star said recently, "They done kidnapped my first one (son). My son's mother got him, holding him hostage." But the rapper finally caught up with his son over the weekend after he and his bitter ex agreed on a temporary custody deal. According to sources, 50 Cent will get to spend 10 days with his son at his sprawling Connecticut home before he leaves the U.S. to film a movie overseas.
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REMY MA SEEKS TO OVERTURN PRISON SENTENCE! (5thAug/08)
Jailed rapper Remy Ma has retained the legal services of decorated trial attorney William "Billy" Murphy, Jr. Assisting Murphy on the case will be partner Kenneth Ravenell and New York attorney Ricahrd Levitt. With a new legal team, Remy feels her chances of a successful appeal have increased tenfold. The rapper released the following statement: "With the addition of Mr. Murphy, Ravenell, and Levitt, I now believe I have assembled a team that will have the might and expertise to tell my side of the story. I am confident that after hearing everything my side will prevail. Mr. Murphy comes highly recommended and I am pleased that he has agreed to lead my defense team." As previously reported by RnBandHIPHOPworld.com, Remy allegedly shot her best friend in the stomach due to a money dispute and was subsequently sentenced to 8 years in prison on assault, illegal weapons possession, and attempted coercion charges on May 13, 2008. Remy Ma is currently serving her sentence at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women. Her lawyer, Murphy, first gained national exposure by obtaining an acquittal for fight promoter Don King on federal charges of defrauding Lloyd’s of London. He also recently reversed a $1.6 million verdict against rapper DMX and secured a civil judgment of $35 million for former Ravens Defensive End Michael McCrary. Murphy is a senior partner in the Murphy Firm and represents DMX, Redman, Mary J. bilge, and Missy Elliott.
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GUNFIRE AT JD PARTY, USHER, DIDDY & MORE RUN FOR THEIR LIVES! (3rd/Aug/08)
Thousands of people, including some celebrities, stormed out of a DeKalb County nightclub when a gun was fired as patrons at Jermaine Dupri's party shoved to get into the VIP area. None of the celebrities were hurt. Rapper and producer Dupri and artists Sean "Diddy" Combs, Nelly and Usher were performing on stage at the time at Club Dream around 3:30 a.m. Saturday. Also in attendance were Gabrielle Union, Larenz Tate and Regina King. Patrons became angry when they learned they had to pay twice to get into the VIP area. "I'm sad this incident happened because it interrupted a beautiful and loving party. But I'm happy none of my people or friends got hurt. And the party continues," Dupri told People magazine in a statement. Police spokesman Marcus Hodge said a bullet grazed the elbow of a security guard.
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TWO ARRESTED ON SNOOP DOGG'S TOUR BUS! (1st/Aug/08)
Police have confirmed that arrests were made on Snoop Dogg’s tour bus after the vehicle was pulled over on its way to a concert in Dallas. The vehicle was pulled over after police spotted an expired registration tag. The bus was searched by cops because they smelt marijuana. In the voluntary search they found 2 ounces of the weed. Two unidentified men confessed it was theirs and were arraigned before a justice of the peace and released on $1,500 bond. The admission of guilt by the men prevented Snoop from being charged, and allowed the star to proceed on to Dallas for the concert.
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OBAMA IS NOT HAPPY WITH NEW LUDACRIS SONG! (31st/July/08)
Presidential nominee Barack Obama has condemned an endorsement song from Ludacris, in which the Luda criticizes rivals Hillary Clinton and John McCain. The song "Politics: Obama Is Here" praises Obama’s success but turns venomous when Obama’s rivals are addressed. Ludacris mentions the bitter Democratic primary battle by stating "Hillary hated on you/So that b**ch is irrelevant." Regarding Republican nominee John McCain, Luda rhymes: "McCain don’t belong in ANY chair unless he’s paralyzed/ Yeah I said it cause Bush is mentally handicapped/ Ball up all of his speeches and I throw ‘em like candy wrap." Through his campaign team, Senator Obama released a statement condemning the song as offensive and typical of much of Hip-Hop’s current lyrical content. "As Barack Obama has said many, many times in the past, rap lyrics today too often perpetuate misogyny, materialism, and degrading images that he doesn’t want his daughters or any children exposed to," explained spokesman Bill Burton. "This song is not only outrageously offensive to Senator Clinton, Reverend Jackson, Senator McCain, and President Bush, it is offensive to all of us who are trying to raise our children with values we hold dear. While Ludacris is a talented individual he should be ashamed of these lyrics." Previously Obama has said that Ludacris’ music receives heavy rotation in his iPod! A point also acknowledged in the song when the rapper says: "With a slot in the president’s iPod Obama shattered ‘em/ Said I handled his biz and I’m one of his favorite rappers."
SNOOP WANTS A PIECE OF BOLLYWOOD! (31st/July/08)
Snoop Dogg has recorded a song for Akshay Kumar's new (Indian) movie "Singh is King" and Vipul A. Shah, who produced the track, reveals Snoop has longterm Bollywood plans. Shah tells People.com, "Snoop wants to do a Hindi movie with Akshay, as he is really keen on wooing the Indian audiences." Shah insists the 36-year-old's musical creation for "Singh is King" proves Bollywood and hip-hop make perfect partners: "The most interesting aspect of the song is that one gets to see two very different styles, hip-hop with Snoop and Bhangra with Akshay. "Their chemistry was worth seeing as they're superstars from two different worlds. The video is looking brilliant!"
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NELLY IS THE NEW OWNER OF ZIZZAZZ! (30th/July/08)
Rap star Nelly is the new owner of ZizZazz, an energy drink mix company that has quickly become one of the fastest growing in the nation. ZizZazz itself is a new drink that was launched only last year and made an immediate impact due to coming in four different flavors served from portable single serving sticks. The company’s decision to add Nelly is part of a forthcoming national campaign to further expand the brand in new markets. Since Nelly is the first big name attached to the product, ZizZazz hopes its rapid growth will continue to soar from the endorsement. As an owner, Nelly’s responsibilities will be television commercials, radio advertising, and spokesman duties at media appearances. The rapper is also co-owner of the Pimp Juice energy drink brand, which is sold in the United States and in various countries throughout Europe. Nelly’s fifth album Brass Knuckles is due on September 16 and features appearances from Chuck D, Fergie, LL Cool J, Snoop Dogg, Ciara, and Usher. Tracks from this soon to be releaesed set can be heard now over at our radio station RUDEBOY FM at www.RudeboyFM.com or by using the link in the menu above!
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BILL O'REILLY DISSES NAS! (29th/July/08)
Controversial Fox News anchorman Bill O'Reilly has taken aim at Nas over the rapper's protest outside the TV network's headquarters in New York last week. Nas joined human rights activists to deliver a 600,000-name petition calling for network executives to end their "pattern of racist attacks against Black Americans." But O'Reilly insists the protest was nothing more than a publicity stunt to boost sales of the rap star's number one album, "Untitled." Calling Nas a "vile rapper", the conservative host claims Nas' new album is "a bomb, a disaster, a catastrophe," and the "I Can" hitmaker needed to do something to bring attention to his release.
FOXY BROWN'S LAWYER SPEAKS OUT AGAINST BOOK LAWSUIT! (29th/July/08)
The suit, which was filed Thursday (July 24) in New York State Supreme Court, stems from a book deal made with Brown to write her autobiography. Foxy received a $75,000 advance from Simon and Schuster in 2005 to pen the book titled Broken Silence. Despite claims by the publisher that Brown reneged on the deal, the rapper’s attorney, Laura Dilimetin, says Simon and Schuster allowed her client to put the project on hold after Brown’s "health became a priority" when she was diagnosed with sudden severe hearing loss that same year. The hearing loss wasn’t the only thing preventing Brown from promoting her autobiography. The star was sentenced in 2007 for various violations of her probation. "I find it suspect that after all of these years of silence, Simon and Shuster pick now to bring this merit-less action when they were the ones to halt the project," Dilimetin said in a statement recently. Despite this, Dilimetin revealed that the rapper would "love to continue with Simon and Schuster and welcomes talks to continue to solidify a deal." Lil Kim is also in the firing line as she also failed to complete a novel for Simon and Shuster after receiving a $40,000 advance in 2003.
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TRINA IN CAR ACCIDENT! (27th/July/08)
Rapper Trina and her boyfriend NBA star Kenyon Martin was involved in a car accident (July 25) in Belize! The pair were in the country for a Hip-Hop peace rally and charity basketball game. Trina and Martin were traveling with a police motorcade in a Ford Excursion on Northern Highway, when a minivan struck the side of the SUV. Both Trina and Martin were in the backseat of the SUV when the accident occurred and escaped injuries. The driver of the minivan, George Abraham, suffered minor injuries, however, his twelve and nine year- old-sons sustained injuries more severe. In an interview after the accident with Belize's Local 7 News, Abraham accused Trina and Martin's driver of being in the wrong. Other witnesses said the police motorcade was so large, that oncoming traffic was forced to swerve to the sides on a narrow stretch of the road. Police are investigating the accident.
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