Richgirl - 24 ft. Bun B Nas + Marsha Ambrosius- If I Rule The World '09 (Smirnoff Signature Mix) Big Boi "Sumthing's Gotta Give" feat. Mary J. Blige Busta Rhymes ft T-Pain - "Hustla's Anthem 09" Ciara “Go Girl” ft T-Pain -Click the Headphones to listen ----CHECK OUT MORE TUNES HERE-------- -KEEP IT LOCKED!

                       

FIRST GLIMPSE: EMINEM IN "FUNNY PEOPLE"

Foxx - clad in a classic Michael Jackson outfit of a red leather jacket and one glove - opened the show and set the perfect tone with a stage-long moonwalk and a hilarious, poignant monologue emphasizing Jackson's contributions to the music industry and pop culture.

Keri Hilson also channeled her inner Michael by donning his "Bad" outfit to perform her hit songs "Turnin' Me On" and "Knock You Down." Ne-Yo slowed it down with a powerful rendition of Jackson's "Lady in My Life," while Jamie Foxx and T-Pain got everyone dancing for "Blame It," bringing onstage surprise guest performers Snoop Dogg and Travis Barker.

In a breathtaking performance of her ballad "Ave Maria" and Sarah McLachlan's "Angel," Beyonce had the crowd mesmerized. Ciara also captivated the crowd singing Jackson's "Heal the World," and Mary Mary and Queen Latifah teamed up for a stirring performance of "God in Me." Keyshia
Cole and Monica collaborated on the beautiful song "Trust," and Soulja Boy performed his hit "Turn My Swag On."

Ne-Yo returned to the stage for one of the most electrifyingperformances of the night, putting on a medley with some of his favorite stars, including: Keith Sweat singing "I Want Her"; Guy (Teddy Riley, Aaron Hall and Damion Hall) the originators of New Jack Swing; and Bel Biv Devoe,
who had the crowd on their feet fist-pumping to "Poison." Cultural icon Jay-Z also rocked the house and had everyone standing to celebrate his new single "Death of Autotune."

Maxwell treated the audience to an incredible performance of "Pretty Wings," and in a surprise performance, up-and-coming artist Drake was joined onstage with Lil Wayne and Birdman for a medley of "Every Girl," "Best I Ever Had" and "Always Strapped."

In a surprise appearance, Don Cornelius, host and creator of Soul Train, spoke about the contributions of The O'Jays, the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award recipients. Tevin Campbell, Johnny Gill, Tyrese and Trey Songz all performed to honor The O'Jays' musical career. Alicia Keys and Wyclef Jean both received the 2009 BET Humanitarian Award for their philanthropic efforts.

In an emotional end to the BET AWARDS '09, Janet Jackson made an appearance on behalf of the Jackson family to thank fans for their support. And for the finale, Foxx and Ne-Yo brought the evening to a close with a touching duet, singing the Jackson 5's "I'll Be There."

A star-studded line-up of the hottest A-list celebrities made appearances at the show, including Tyra Banks, Taraji P. Henderson, Idris Elba, Sherri Shepherd, Anthony Anderson, Paula Patton, The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Estelle, LeToya Luckett, Chaka Khan, Day 26, Nichelle Nichols,
Keke Palmer, Ray J, Snoop Dogg, Ving Rhames, Zoe Saldana, Mike Epps, Jeremy Piven and Marlon Wayans.

Throughout the show, BET Networks honored local heroes with the Community Humanitarian Award. These inaugural honorees - The Three Doctors, members of Food From The 'Hood (FFTH) and Mayor-elect James Young - were recognized for their activism within their communities.

Other memorable moments included: Zoe Saldana and Nichelle Nichols, the lovely ladies who play the current and original Uhura in Star Trek; a movie trailer spoof bringing together Matthew Lawrence's Shenene character and Foxx's Wanda; Nickelodeon's star of True Jackson Keke Palmer performing Jackson's "Who's Loving You" a cappella; and Ginuwine and other stars
giving testimonials on what Jackson meant to them.

Mj has made me realize i'm waisting valuable time & energy. My family needs 2 B more impt than the work! MJ rest in peace. - Chris Lighty

My girl just woke me up and told me and I am absolutely devastated..Rest In Peace MJ--you deserve to finally have peace...condolences to all. - Peter Rosenberg HOT 97

For as long as I can remember MJ has been a part of my life, culture and my familys as well! Never met him but I feel like I've lost family. Dj Suss One POWER 105 - NYC

We love u Michael. - DJ DRAMA

R.I.P. Michael Jackson. King of Pop. Greatest of all time. - Dj Smetex

R.I.P Michael Jackson!!!! You will alway be in our hearts!!! - Cool & Dre

MICHAEL JACKSON'S INFLUENCE ON HIP HOP - SEE THE CHART HERE

Jackson was rushed to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center this afternoon by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics. Fire Capt. Steve Ruda said paramedics responded to a call at Jackson's home at 12:26 p.m. He was not breathing when they arrived. The paramedics performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation and took him to the hospital, Ruda told The Times. Singer Michael Jackson suffered a heart attack at his home in Los Angeles this afternoon. Reports say that Jackson, 50, went into cardiac arrest and has been rushed to hospital. TMZ is now claiming that the singer has died, but this is as yet unconfirmed. Jackson was seen being taken into an ambulance by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics and moved to the UCLA Medical Centre, says TMZ. The Los Angeles Times reported that Jackson was not breathing when paramedics arrived at his home. Captain Steve Ruda told the LA Times that paramedics responded to a call at Jackson's home around 8:26p.m. The parademics performed cardiopulmonary resucitation on Jackson and took him to UCLA Medical Center. Jackson's mother was said to be at the hospital to meet her son. It is believed a call to 911 was made from Jackson's home in Holmby Hills, LA, at 12.21pm (8.21pm). A member of the Jackson family told TMZ that 'Michael is in really bad shape'. An update from TMZ says, 'We just got off the phone with Joe Jackson, Michael's dad, who says "he is not doing well".' The singer is due to play 50 sell-out shows at London's O2 Arena starting in July. But the King of Pop has already had to postpone the first few nights' shows. Organisers AEG Live said this was in order to make sure everything for the 'massive and technically complex show' was running smoothly. But critics say ongoing concerns about Jackson's health are the real reason behind the gigs having to be postponed. Earlier this year, Jackson was seen emerging from a doctors three times in one week amid rumours that he is battling skin cancer. The claims were denied by his representatives. Jackson has not been on tour for over a decade, but the concerts at the O2 were seen as his final comeback before finally retiring from music.

MIKE JONES ANNOUNCES TEXAS TAKEOVER TOUR.
Who Mike Jones? Who Mike Jones? Mike Jones Announces his plans for the first headlining tour since the release of his first double platnum album Who Is Mike Jones? This Tour will be one of the most satisfying and energy delivered tour for all ages from some of the hottest new artist's Texas has to offer. Tour supporting acts are to include Durrough, GS Boyz, B-Hamp, Lil Wil and other special guests. The Texas Take Ova Tour dates will run through Thursday, August 20th - Sunday, September 13th.

DJ MONTAY WINS 2009 BMI AWARD.
One of the South's hottest producers, Oomp Camp Records affiliate, Southern Style DJ & Grammy Nominated DJ Montay, won a 2009 BMI Pop Award for his production contribution on Flo-Rida's mega hit "Low." Low was a constant on Billboard's Top 10 for at least 10 weeks during the height of it's reign and was featured on the Step Up 2 movie soundtrack, ultimately catipulting Flo-Rida's music career. DJ Montay has once again collaborated with Flo-Rida on "Suga," second single on his sophomore album on Atlantic Records. Suga has been on Billboard's Top 10 for the past 6 weeks and counting! DJ Montay's discography lists a who's who of southern rap stars including DJ Unk's "Walk It out" and "2 Step," along with a bulk of the Beatin' Down Yo Block album, Shawty Lo "Foolish," Three 6 Mafia "I'd Rather," Chamillionaire "Creepin" featuring Ludacris, from the forthcoming Venom album, Ludacris & Shawnna "Everybody with Me" from the forthcoming Battle of the Sexes album, and hit single "Who the F*ck Is That?" for the now deceased rapper Dolla, may he rest in peace.

DIDDY INVITING TROOPS TO HIS WHITE PARTY?
CIROC Ultra Premium Vodka and Sean "Diddy" Combs today have invited Tanya Vinson of the United States Air Force to serve as Diddy's personal guest as he celebrates our nation's independence during his world-famous White Party on July 4, 2009 in Los Angeles, California, which this year isco-hosted by 'Malaria No More,' a non-profit, non-governmental organization determined to end the malaria crisis in Africa. As a sponsor of the event, CIROC Vodka launched a program in April to honor several American service men and women with entry to this exclusive event. The grand prize winner, Tanya Vinson, has received the ultimate CIROC White Party experience for two, including round trip airfare, hotel accommodations, and transportation, in recognition of her outstanding commitment to the armed forces. "As we celebrate Independence Day at this year's White Party, it's only fitting that we show our gratitude for the heroic men and women who protect our freedom every day," said Combs, who entered into a strategic marketing
alliance with the ultra-premium spirit more than one year ago. "I am proud to honor our military by personally hosting Tanya at my Fourth of July White Party." Diddy's White Party is revered as one of the most sophisticated and stylish events of the year. Although traditionally held at the end of summer, this year's fete - themed 'We Are Family' - will occur on Independence Day in honor of our nation's independence and the historic presidential election. Ms. Vinson, a recruiter in the United States Air Force, holds what has become one of the toughest jobs in the military. As one of the faces for this branch of service, she is tasked with replenishing the ranks of our
military during one of the most challenging times in our nation's history.

JAIME FOXX CELEBRATES PLATINUM.
Jamie Foxx celebrated the platinum selling success of his J Records album Intuition during a private party held at New York ’s Armani Ristorante. Foxx’s hit single “Blame It” holds the all-time record for 12 consecutive weeks at #1 on the Urban Mainstream Chart. The single also claimed the #1 spot on Hot 100 charts for 4 weeks and sold over a million singles and ringtones each.

SNOOP LINKS WITH SPACEMAN.
Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, 79,drops a rap video that features Snoop Dogg, Soulja Boy and Quincy Jones. What can the real Buzz Lightyear be thinking? "I'm not too good at carrying a tune, but I do have rhythm," says Aldrin, who got the idea from a family member who felt the genre would have a broad reach. Aldrin's ShareSpace Foundation, which promotes science and exploration, is one of three beneficiaries of the song's iTunes sales. "I want kids interested in space. It's their future." SEE THE VIDEO HERE. "Buzz has got the biggest buzz on the streets right now," Snoop Dogg says. "He's got Talib Kweli and (me) in the studio with him, and I only work with the best." On a more serious note, the rapper says he signed on "because (Aldrin) pushes kids to achieve their dreams." Kweli says he and Snoop "both have kids, and to tell them we hung with Buzz gets your inner geek fired up." Rounding up talent to make the video was easy given Aldrin's fame, says the video producer Mike Farah. But persuading the astronaut — whose flag-in-hand image inspired MTV's "moon man" video music award — to play it funny was another matter. "He wasn't into doing a comedy video at first," Farah says. "But when we heard he was rapping, that was it." As for Aldrin, he says rapping with Snoop Dogg proved almost as daunting as space. "Snoop had this great hand language going as he sang, which was hard for me," Aldrin says. "But when it comes to getting people's attention, comedy goes a long way." Source: Usa Today

STORCH HOPS ON THE REALITY TRAIN.
Scott Storch has signed a deal with reality show giants Bunin/Murray for his own reality show. The show will give an introspective look into the life of this dynamic and incredible talent. The show will also document him making hit records with all of the hottest acts in the industry while opening the door to the hot and trendy Miami music scene. Also, it will capture Mr. Storch's ups and downs in the volatile music business. David Weintraub, one of the show's Executive Producers, said, "This is a monumental moment to see a producer of his caliber let the cameras into his world and see how hit records are made." Weintraub also stated, "A lot of people have tried to get Scott to open up the curtain to this process but have never been successful." GenX's President Derek Jackson said, "The opportunity to collaborate with such a reputable production company marks the beginning for GenX to establish itself in the reality television industry. This venture will provide a platform for Scott to show the audience the process of developing great talent." Storch hit the headlines earlier this year after missing payments on his Miami mansions, his luxury cars and child support obligations. He has also pleaded not guilty to grand theft auto after allegedly failing to return a leased Bentley on time. Bunim/Murray Productions is credited with single handedly creating the reality show genre of television. They are responsible for hit shows like "The Real World," the longest running reality series in TV history, and "Road Rules." They are also at the helm of E! Television's "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" and have taken over production on "Project Runway."

STATEMENT ON BEYONCE LAUNCH PARTY CANCELLATION:
The cancellation of the launch party for Beyonce's "I AM..." tour, first scheduled for this Saturday at M2, was a result of a breach of contract by the promoter. Beyonce never had a contract with the club itself and no one in her camp dealt directly with the venue. The superstar was never scheduled to perform but was to serve as a co-host and introduce singer/songwriter Solange's performance. Patrons were falsely promised a performance by Beyonce. THE STORY: A Manhattan clubowner threatened a million-dollar lawsuit against the R&B Diva, who was slated to perform tomorrow at M2 — the West 27th Street nightclub that used to be Crobar and Mansion — as part of the launch of her “I Am . . . Sasha Fierce” North American tour. M2 owner Joey Morrissey agreed to pay the singer $200,000 for the gig, he says. But on Wednesday, Beyoncé’s people suddenly pulled the plug on the performance, despite having signed a contract that had prompted Morrissey to spend $100,000 preparing for the show, according to the clubowner. “They said they were too busy with the launching of the tour and that they wouldn’t have time to do the kickoff party,” Morrissey said. To make up for the cancellation, Morrissey says Beyoncé offered to stop by the club “to hang out for an hour” on Sunday. He adds, “I mean, we sold tables for thousands of dollars for the show, and spent $100,000 renting a soundboard and other equipment, as per their stipulations. What good does her showing up for an hour do me? They’ve been totally unwilling to agree to another show.” As a result, Morrissey says he’s now preparing to file suit against Beyoncé, claiming his place has suffered a “loss of reputation” in addition to the sunk cash. “We had an overwhelming response from our clubgoers, who were lining up to buy tickets and tables. This will come as a great disappointment to all of them,” he claims, adding, “If Beyoncé cancels and doesn’t give us a new date, this hurts our credibility in night life.”

STREAMING REPORT: MOVIES/TV/AND MUSIC INDUSTRY TO GENERATE 78 BILLION.
Streaming video and music distributed across the Internet, an IP TV network, or a mobile handset will generate more than $78 billion in network-derived and content-derived revenue into the US markets over the next six years, according to a new market research study from The Insight Research Corporation. Streaming media refers to the transmission of digital audio and video files over an IP network or wireless network in real time or on-demand, while prohibiting users from storing the files locally. Insight's market analysis study, Streaming Media, IPTV, and Broadband Transport: Telecommunications Carriers and Entertainment Services 2009-2014, describes the technology and market forces underpinning the network-derived revenues generated from distributing streamed content across the public Internet, content distribution networks, cellular networks, or telco IP networks. The study also estimates the revenue from the various types of content-derived revenues, along with associated advertising revenue. The streaming market is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 27 percent over the next five years, driven by on-demand audio, on-demand video, and the accompanying advertising revenue."Over the past seven years as we've tracked the developments in streaming it has evolved from an esoteric niche to a mainstream market," says Robert Rosenberg, Insight Research president. "What we predicted way back when is coming to fruition. The advertising revenue that long supported traditional TV is gravitating to this new medium, putting downward pressure on traditional TV distribution schemes," Rosenberg concluded.

TRACY MORGAN TO HEADLINE SIXTH ANNUAL NEW YORK COMEDY FESTIVAL.
The New York Comedy Festival (NYCF) announced today that Ricky Gervais, Bill Maher, and Tracy Morgan will be among those to headline the sixth annual NYCF. This year’s festival will feature over 150 comedians performing at more than 10 venues throughout New York City over the course of five days, November 4 – 8, 2009. Tickets will go on sale August 5. “We are thrilled to once again be a part of the New York Comedy Festival,” said Mitch Fried, senior vice president, Live Entertainment COMEDY CENTRAL. “This festival is a natural fit for us. COMEDY CENTRAL has a rich history with the stand-up community and we are home to the largest stand-up library on-air and online. We look forward to a long term relationship with the festival.”

THE GAME HOPS ON NBA 2K10.
The Game will be featured on the upcoming NBA 2K10. He will be featured as the main artist for the upcoming game title which features Kobe Bryant on the cover. LISTEN HERE

BLACK EYED PEAS ARE #1
Black Eyed Peas' "The E.N.D." bows at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, selling 304,000 -- the hip-pop act's best sales week ever. It's also the first No. 1 album for the group, which had previously gone as high as No. 2. Its last set, 2005's "Monkey Business," bowed in the runner-up slot with a then-best 291,000. It had the unfortunate luck to come out the same week as Coldplay's "X&Y," which kept the Peas' at bay when it started at No. 1 with 737,000.

THE GAME GOES HOUSE ARREST.
The Game is set to star in the new movie “House Arrest” with actress Stacey Dash. Dash will star as a “high maintenance girl who meets a quick money scheming man.” The new “dramedy” will be directed by Billy Washington and produced by Cassius Verson Weathersby who’s worked on such films as “You Got Served,” “The Great White Hope” and “D.C. Cab.”

EMINEM GOES PLATINUM
Eminem hits platinum status this week after four weeks on the charts. He sold 87,500 more copies of the disc this week, making the album’s overall sales number stand at 1,049,100.

EMINEM CONFIRMS D-12 REUNION ALBUM.
Eminem has confirmed that he is planning to reunite his Detroit crew, D12, and release the first new album from the group in five years. Eminem told BET's "Rap City: The Relapse" special on Friday that D12 are planning to hit the studio soon to begin work on the disc. The yet-unnamed album from the crew will be their first since the death of member Proof three years ago, a death that Eminem has said caused him to go into a depressive spiral of drugs. "Me and the guys, we got a bond, it's special," Em said of the group, which also includes Bizarre, Kon Artis, Kuniva and Swifty. "It's like, as far as the future of D12, we're gonna be back in the studio soon." Part of the reason Eminem said he decided to reform the group for a third album was because of his respect and love for Proof, who was his best friend and one of his biggest supporters when the then-unknown D-Town MC was trying to make a name for himself. "Right now, my music would probably be the same if Proof was still alive," Em said in the "Rap City" interview. "I think this is what Proof always wanted, was for me to go crazy again. My life would be different because I would still have him."

LIL WAYNE AND FRIENDS TO PERFORM SUMMER FESTIVAL.
Lil Wayne headlines this summer's Young Money Presents: America's Most Wanted Music Festival. Lil Wayne will be joined by artists Young Jeezy, Soulja Boy and Drake for the twenty one city tour through the United States and Canada. Tickets for the tour will go on sale June 20th
and are available via Ticketmaster, Live Nation and venue ticketing systems depending on venue. The Music Festival will be the follow up to Lil Wayne's very successful "I Am Music Tour" playing a total of 47 arena dates across the US. After an opening act, Drake will perform, followed by Soulja Boy and Young Jeezy's sets with Lil Wayne closing out the show. The tour will kick off on July 27, 2009 at the Toyota Pavilion in Scranton, Pennsylvania and end on August 23, 2009 at the Superpages.com Center in Dallas, Texas.

TOM MACKAY PROMOTED TO EXECUTIVE VP.
Universal Republic Records has promoted Tom Mackay to Executive Vice President of A&R, it was announced today by Monte Lipman, President and CEO of Universal Republic Records and
Avery Lipman, Co-President & COO, Universal Republic Records. Formerly, he served as Senior Vice President of A&R for the label. In this expanded role, Mr. Mackay will be responsible for securing and cultivating new talent in all genres of music for the label. Mr. Mackay will continue to be based in New York City and will report directly to Monte and Avery Lipman. "Tom is an extremely gifted A&R executive who has demonstrated in every way his commitment to our artists and their music," said Monte Lipman. "He has an amazing ear for talent and possesses invaluable creative insight, nurturing our diverse roster and helping to forge Universal Republic into a vital and powerful musical force." "I've been fortunate to have worked with Monte Lipman for a great part of my career," stated Mr. Mackay. "He and Avery have built the rarest of labels where the artists' vision still comes first. I'm honored by their continuing support, and grateful for the opportunity to come to work each day and align my efforts with this great Universal Republic team."

E!’s GIRL’S NEXT DOOR REALITY STAR KENDRA TAPS PLAY-N-SKILLZ AND TOO $HORT TO CREATE THE THEME SONG FOR HER NEW SHOW. Producers and recording artists, Play-N-Skillz recently went in the studio with Too $hort and Kendra Wilkinson from E!’s The Girl’s Next Door to record the theme song for her new E! reality show, “Kendra”. The duo teamed up with rap legend Too $hort to deliver the vocals which boasts the line “No butlers and no maids, you gotta do your own thing your way”. “Kendra” debuted at number one with 2.6 million viewers tuning in to watch. “We had extreme synergy going into the studio with Too $hort and Kendra to record the theme song,” says Play from Play-N-Skillz. “We had a great time recording it and we’re very happy that Kendra loved the theme song.” In addition, Play-N-Skillz are back at the top of the Billboard charts with Hurricane Chris’ hit single “Halle Berry” (She’s Fine). The duo produced the track, which features G4 Recordz recording artist Supastar and currently sits at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts and is the number two video on BET’s 106 & Park.

BENTLEY LINKS WITH KANYE FOR DEBUT ALBUM.
The first gentleman of Hip-Hop, Bentley, is pleased to announce a new label partnership with E1 Music (formerly KOCH Records). Bentley’s long awaited debut album CoolOutrageousLoversOfUniquelyRawStyle set to be executive produced by Kanye West will be released in the forthcoming months. The album’s exciting first single “Greener” features soul man Anthony Hamilton and was produced by Chris Scholar. “Greener” is part of the soundtrack to a new movement, ushering in a new “COOL”: having Faith in God, the importance of education, self respect and treating others as you want to be treated. Fans have already gravitated toward these tenants through his hit MTV show, From G’s to Gents. “The song ‘Greener’ is about leaving the past and looking to the future…whether it is a relationship, a career change or any type of upgrade in your life. ‘Greener’ ultimately speaks to broadening our horizons and celebrating new possibilities,” states Bentley. “Being Greener is a lifestyle....a better diet, taking care of our environment, and maintaining healthy relationships. I believe that living a greener lifestyle is important, yet challenging. It is my hope that after listening and seeing the visual for ‘Greener,’ people will be inspired to join the movement.” Check out his single : “Greener” featuring Anthony Hamilton: LISTEN

UNIVERSAL AND VIRGIN PARTNER UP TO OFFER MUSIC SUBSCRIPTION MODEL.
Universal Music and Virgin Media have agreed to partner on an unlimited music download subscription service. Financial terms were not disclosed, but the agreement — revealed Monday (june 15) — has been hailed as taking the music business into a new era. The pact will allow Virgin Media's broadband customers to stream and download as many songs and albums as they like, and transfer those digital files to any device that they want, such as iPods, MP3 players, mobile phones or personal computers. In contrast to other subscription services, consumers would be able to keep the music for as long as they like. The cost of a monthly subscription has not been announced as yet, but when it launches later this year, the service will be tiered, with an entry level price on offer to customers who download music regularly, but who might not want an unlimited service, right up to the full-access, unlimited download level. Other record labels and music publishers are expected to follow Universal's lead, meaning Virgin Media customers could soon have access to millions of individual tracks. It is expected that rival ISPs are working on similar deals with the music industry. As part of the deal, Virgin Media is committing to stepping up its efforts to clamp down on the unauthorized distribution of digital files across its network. Although the Virgin Media deal with Universal is not the first of its kind — a similar deal was launched in Scandinavia last year — it is certainly the most significant in terms of the size of the market involved and its announcement has won plaudits from politicians and industry organizations alike. "It is very encouraging to see an ISP and a record label working together as creative partners," Geoff Taylor, CEO of record label trade body BPI, said. "The fact that Virgin Media will apply a graduated response system to tackle persistent illegal downloaders demonstrates that graduated response is a proportionate and workable way forward." Taylor added that the deal could not be more timely as the U.K. government is set to publish its paper on the future for intellectual property in the digital age later, titled Digital Britain, on Tuesday. "We hope the government will support this positive move by announcing prompt and robust measures to deal with online piracy in its Digital Britain report this week," Taylor said. Source: Variety

STICKY FINGAZ SHOOTS FRIEND IN THE LEG.
According to TMZ, Onyx rapper Sticky Fingaz accidentally shot his friend Luce Canon in the leg with his baby Desert Eagle firearm last week. They reported that the bullet is still lodged in Luce’s skin and has shattered a bone in his shin. Despite having to have surgery he did not press charges against his friend. Sticky is legally licensed to own a gun.

ADDITIONS TO BET LINEUP.
Fabolous, Young Jeezy and Mary Mary have been added to the BET AWARDS '09 star-studded lineup that already includes platinum-selling artists like Kanye West, The Dream, Soulja Boy, Ne-Yo and Maxwell. Queen Latifah, Taraji Henson, Sherri Shepherd, Idris Elba, Paula Patton and Solange Knowles will also make appearances as presenters. The show will be hosted by Jamie Foxx, and take place at Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium LIVE on Sunday, June 28 at 8:00 p.m.*
with the most anticipated performance of the evening coming from Jay-Z.

DMX SAYS HE'S READY.
DMX says he's ready to get back into the game. In a new interview with Vibe-- DMX says, “I’m working on the album right now-- Getting this sh*t done. I got a few more songs to go. I got a crazy joint with Sean Kingston. F*cking sick, yo. Fire. And I got some sh*t with Swizz that’s ridiculous… I just hit Kanye West the other day for some beats. Also, the same people that I been f*cking with, like Dame Grease. I’ve been working on this project for so long, I forgot who else gave me f*cking beats… I wanna shut n*ggas the f*ck up! I’m still on probation, so it is what it is. I’m just working man. That’s where my focus is, work… Hopefully the album comes out this year. I’m just getting it done. The release will be in the hands of the powers that be.”

LLOYD SAYS HE'S DONE WITH THE INC.
After three albums with Irv Gotti’s The Inc., R&B singer Lloyd is ready for a change of scenery. “I’m ready for a change,” says Lloyd. “There’s no bad blood. I just feel I need to take more control over my career and get a fresh start. Hopefully Irv can understand my position.” The 23-year-old singer/songwriter says there’s “no bad blood” between him and The Inc. but stressed that he feels his relationship with the label has “run its course.” Lloyd is currently working on a new mixtape and finalizing plans for his yet untitled fourth album. “We have plans to get in the studio with Jim Jonsin, The Runners, Cool & Dre, Rodney Jerkins and others,” he says. “In the future, I still hope to work with Irv as a producer as well.” Lloyd noted he is eager to explore opportunities that will allow him to take his career to the next level and offer a vehicle for him to supply his fans with more great music. Commenting on Lloyd’s relationship with The Inc., Lloyd’s manager, Henry “Noonie” Lee, said, “We find ourselves in limbo for the second time in three years. It’s frustrating to know that opportunities to advance Lloyd’s career are out there but we can’t exploit them due to our current situation. Even though Lloyd is appreciative of the opportunity that has been afforded him by The Inc., he feels it’s time for him to move on and seek opportunities that will allow him to build and enhance his brand.” Founded by music executive Irv Gotti and formerly known as Murder Inc., The Inc. last month announced the release of singer Ashanti from her contract. The label has also ended its three-year joint venture with Universal Records and has yet to partner with another major label.

JAY Z GIVES HIS TOP 5 MCS ALL TIME.
Jay-Z speaks with WGCI radio in Chicago. He talks about leavng Def Jam, D.O.A., DJ Webstar, his motivation, Barack Obama, NBA, Rihanna, Nets coming to Brooklyn, Jay-Z’s Top 5 mc's all time, lack of female MC’s and more .... LISTEN HERE

Jay-Z’s Top 5 MCsof all time are:
BIGGIE
Tupac Shakur
Scarface
Eminem
Andre 3000

LYFE JENNINGS’ NEW SINGLE, “HATERS,” #1
Jesus Swings and Asylum/Warner Bros. is pleased to announce that platinum recording artist, songwriter and entrepreneur, LYFE JENNINGS', new single, "HATERS," is the number one (#1) most added single at radio on three (3) Nielsen BDS & Mediabase charts: Urban Overall, Urban AC and Urban Mainstream. Lyfe is set to release his fourth (4th) album SOONER OR LATER on his new label, Jesus Swings with Asylum/Warner Bros. on September 22, 2009. LYFE tells us that his new CD, SOONER OR LATER, "is about relationships. How we try to hold on sometimes for the sake of holding on. But, in reality no matter how many breakups turn into make-ups, sooner or later we realize that this person is who they are and we need to let go. No grudges, no regrets. Just realization. Just acceptance. Just life." This is the first release to come out on Lyfe's new label Jesus Swings. He notes: "I am happy to be working with Asylum/Warner Bros. to introduce Jesus Swings. It's a new found independence for me and it's rewarding to get to call the shots. It takes a real man to accept living and dying by his thoughts, and rising and falling by his dreams."

EMINEM CLOSE TO PLATINUM.
Eminem takes the #2 slot, after holding onto the top spot for the last two weeks. Em moved 141,200 copies of Relapse this week, bringing his three week total to 961,600. Redman and Method Man’s Blackout! 2 took #30-- pushing 14,400 units-- totalling 92,400 after three weeks. Rick Ross took #40 with Deeper Than Rap, selling 12,000 copies. (315,900 total). J Dilla's Jay Stay Paid took #96. The album sold 5,400 copies in its first week. AZ's latest LP Legendary sold 1,600 units, while Duck Down's Marco Polo and Torae’s collab album, Double Barrel sold 1,300 units for 1st week sales.

RICK ROSS PARTNERS WITH 1800 TEQUILLA.
Proximo Spirits, Inc. and 1800® Tequila announced today a partnership with American rapper and record label founder Rick Ross and his crew Triple C’s. Kicking off this month with a video and photo shoot, Ross & Triple C’s will endorse 1800 Tequila’s Select Silver – the first and only 100 proof clear tequila on the market. “Rick Ross & Triple C’s were an obvious choice for us,” said Elwyn Gladstone, Head of Marketing for Proximo. “1800 Select Silver is a serious tequila for the serious tequila drinker. It’s making a huge splash in the tequila market right now, just as Rick Ross is shaking up the music industry.” 1800 Select Silver is a smooth and sexy alternative to the predictable players behind the bar and is the perfect choice for partygoers. The 100% Agave Silver tequila delivers a refreshing but potent taste, for the true tequila connoisseur. It’s double-distilled for crystal clarity and blended with a touch of aged tequila. “Of all the tequilas out there, the 100 proof 1800 Select Silver is the ‘big boss’ and the only tequila I would put the Rick Ross name behind,” said Ross. “1800 Tequila is a brand I’m really excited to grind and build with, and as I keep pumping out the hits, topping the charts, and discovering new talent like my crew Triple C’s – 1800 Tequila will be rising to the top with me.”

MAX B FOUND GUITY.
Former Byrd Gang affiliate--Max B (Charly Wingate) has just been found guilty on 9 out of 11 counts in his ongoing murder trial. Max is scheduled to be sentenced in Bergen County on July 11, 2009, where he is facing up to 20 years in prison. Today after the jury deliberation Max was taken directly into custody. Wingate, was the alleged mastermind behind a $30,000 heist targeting two men in 2006. Wingate is accused of conspiring with his step brother Kelvin Leerdam, and his girlfriend Gina Conway. Conway served as the prosecution’s secret weapon in the case, testifying against the rapper in exchange for a shorter sentence. Conway testified that she told Wingate of David Taylor and Allan "Jay" Plowden's flashy life style--making them the perfect targets. Plowden and Taylor were robbed of over $30,000 worth of cash and personal effects in a Fort Lee hotel on September 22, 2006. During the botched robbery Plowden was bound with duct tape, and Taylor was killed by a gunshot to the head.

FRED KNUXX INKS 7 FIGURE DEAL.
Delaware’s most recognized MC, Fred Knuxx, has signed a deal with California based record label WongGee Inc. “I decided to sign with WongGee Inc because they understood my vision as an artist and seemed genuine about executing it and taking me to the next level,” said Fred Knuxx, regarding the deal. “This is a big move for me, my family and Delaware. I worked so hard to get to this point and will work even harder to get to the next step. It’s just the beginning for me. I am living proof that hard work really pays off.” Throughout the past few years his buzz had both the streets and Internet going nuts. In 2007, Vibe Magazine featured Knuxx in the top 51 unsigned rappers in the country. His versatile and honest rhyme style made him a well-respected underground heavyweight. Fred Knuxx is currently in the lab finishing up his debut album The Big Deal, which is slated for release early next year. Until his official album hits, he will be offering fans two appetizers. The rapper is planning to release two street albums over the summer, King Of Grind, which is hosted by DJ Bedtyme357, and the long awaited project Delafornia. The latter, a junction of his home area Delaware and California, will feature guest appearances by G. Malone, Spider Loc and many more. The first promo single will hit the streets soon. CEO of WongGee Inc, Antoine Keane, stated “We are very excited making Fred Knuxx the flagship artist for our label. Knuxx is a special artist and we look forward to taking his career to the next level.”

FORMER DEATHROW ARTIST THE REALEST DROPPING NEW ALBUM IN JULY.
Being signed to one of the most storied record labels in music history has its valleys and peaks. And while only a few know the feeling, no one may know it better than Tha Realest who is preparing to release his debut album “Witness Tha Realest” on July 14th from Team Dime Ent. & RBC Records. Proving his depth in the game, “Witness Tha Realest” isn’t your typical debut. The album features assistance from Ray J, Fat Joe, WC, J. Valentine, Crooked I, Yukmouth, EDI of Tha Outlawz, Devin The Dude, Sean P, C-Bo, and more. “Witness Tha Realest” will finally see the light of day after being over 10 years in the making. “Get It N” is the album’s street single, produced by Detail of Konvict Music and is already making rounds in clubs across the nation. LISTEN HERE

LL COOL J TO HOST FASHION FORWARD EVENT.
Fashion Delivers will host the second annual Pay It Fashion Forward event at New York City's hotspot M2 beginning June 18, at 7:30 p.m. where five fashion industry vanguards will be honored for their positive influences on their communities and the environment. The brands selected this year include I/DENTI/TEE, LINDA LOUDERMILK, PHILANTHROPIST and CHLOE JO BERMAN. Additionally, the JONES APPAREL GROUP was selected for distinction as a company for its socially conscious business practices. The evening will be hosted by Grammy award-winning artist and designer LL Cool J.

SOUNDSCAN REPORT FOR WEEK OF 6-03-09
Want the exact numbers and stats on Eminem, Busta Rhymes, Redman & Method Man, Snoop, Lil Wayne, Kanye, and more..? GRAB THE REPORT HERE

KEVIN BLACK APPOINTED COO OF GLOBAL MUSIC GROUP.
Kevin Black has been appointed Chief Operating Officer of, Global Music Group, it was announced today by Roland Turner, CEO, Global Music Group. In his new position, Mr. Black will assume overall responsibility for overseeing the creative vision and brand recognition of the label. “Kevin is one-third owner of Global Music Group along with Mike Wilson and Myself, and is the Chief Operations Officer. He is number one in urban music and we are going to the top,” said Mr. Turner. His track record in music has resulted in breaking some of the biggest names in Urban and Hip-Hop over the past decade. Former Warner Bros. Senior Executive, Mr. Black, exited his post as chairman of urban music at Warner Bros. in November 2008. Two years after joining the label, prior to leaving his post as Vice President of rap at Interscope Records. There he assisted in the multi-platinum success of Eminem, 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, Eve, Black Eyed Peas, and The Game. Winning the Urban Hit-Maker Award at the 9th Annual Multicultural Prism Awards Gala in 2004, for re-structuring the department and guiding the company to unprecedented success. Black, began his career as National Director of Promotions at Death Row Records, before moving onto EMI, Virgin, A&M, Interscope and Warner Bros. The new appointment follows a recent expansion at Global Music Group, a Delaware corporation headquartered in Alabama, with offices now in Los Angeles, New York, and divisions in Canada and Europe, headed by Cliff Wise, CEO, Global Music Group Canada and Scott Shephard, President/CEO, Global Music Group Europe. The label which operates several lines of business as divisions became known in June 2008, when its New York arm, submitted the winning bid, an offer of $24 million dollars, to acquire the Assets of Death Row Records. However, in December 2008, the label announced that it was seeking a buyer for Death Row, with the assets being auctioned again, for $18 million to a Canadian firm. Ron Bush, representative of Global Music Group New York, said today, “We are taking care of other details right now. We aren't involved in Death Row Records now.” Global Music Group releases include musical gems ranging from British rapper Mark Morrison, an all-women country band from Nashville Mustang Sally (street date: August 2009), to R&B songstress Lil’ Mo (street date: September 2009). Global Music Group is distributed by Fontana/Universal.

ALICIA KEYS TO RECEIVE ASCAP AWARD.
Alicia Keys will be the recipient of the Golden Note kudo during ASCAP's 22nd annual Rhythm & Soul Awards. The event, which takes place June 26 at the Beverly Hilton, also recognizes ASCAP songwriters and publishers of the most-performed R&B, hip-hop and gospel songs from 2008. According to the performing rights org, the Golden Note laurel "is presented to songwriters, composers and artists who have achieved extraordinary career milestones." Keys sold 11 million copies of her debut LP, "Songs in A Minor," released by Clive Davis' J Records. In 2005 she became the first female R&B artist to have three No. 1 debuts on the Billboard Top 200 chart in as many releases. Her latest disc, her fourth, also bowed at No. 1 and earned her three Grammys. Keys, along with Wyclef Jean, will also receive BET's 2009 Humanitarian Award at the Shrine Auditorium on June 28. Source: Variety

BET NETWORKS PICKS UP THE WENDY WILLIAMS SHOW.
BET Networks has acquired Debmar-Mercury's The Wendy Williams Show to air beginning Monday, July 13. After a four-market, six-week preview last summer on the Fox TV Stations in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and Detroit, the one-hour entertainment talk show hosted by Williams was cleared on more than 95% of the U.S. ahead of its July 13 launch, and now, on BET.

JAY-Z SETS DATE FOR BLUEPRINT 3?
Multiple sources are reporting that Jay-Z will release his much-hyped new album, The Blueprint 3, on September 11. The original Blueprint record was released on September 11, 2001. Billboard is reporting that Jay's Roc Nation has inked a distribution deal with Atlantic Records and that an official announcement about The Blueprint 3 will happen this Sunday via WQHT (Hot 97)/New York on the air and at the station's Summer Jam concert at Giants Stadium.

IRV GOTTI SAYS EM ISN'T BETTER THAN JAY.
Irv Gotti recently told Mtv that he didn't agree with their top rappers' list. He took exception to Eminem ranking in the top spot. “I got a thing with Eminem,” Gotti said. “This has nothing to do with the beef. I don’t really feel like I have beef with Eminem. This has no hatred or nothing. This is just my opinion on it. Vibe did a thing, and they had him as the #1 rapper. Shit, like that kinda pisses me off. You know why? Because let’s take Eminem’s records. Watch my analogy. Eminem is a great artist, no doubt. He puts words together, he’s witty, a smart lyricist, a great lyricist. But how can we say the guy is the best rapper alive? Look at Hov. He makes real records. Every one of Eminem’s first singles is some clown shit. He’s clowning. Is that the #1? That’s not my #1 rapper, man.” Gotti said he also factored in the battle element in deciding that Jay-Z is better than Em. He said that back in the day, Slim Shady wouldn’t have a chance against a young Jay or DMX and Ja Rule, for that matter. “No disrespect, you’re a great lyricist, but I come from a school. I know they ‘battled’ in ‘8 Mile’ but I come from where they battled on the streets with guns out,” the head of Murder Inc. said. “They would have put you under pressure. All that ‘off the top,’ they would have put you under pressure. I been to battles with X, Jay and Ja, that was some real shit. Homie, you wouldn’t been able to survive. These niggas was going with written shit. In your grill. X would say, 'I don't walk, I stalk, living foul.' Saying some shit you wouldn't been able to withstand." You would have been like, 'My name is Em and I eat M&Ms. I eat you.' What?" Irv laughed. He said the Detroit legend would have been greeted with three harsh words: " 'Shut the fuck up!' It would have been a 'shut the fuck up' moment off the top. Dame Dash would have been like, 'Look at him. He's crunchy! He's wack!' Then I look at the singles he put out. They're all good, but they only work for him. I say take Eminem, and let him say 'Hard Knock Life.' Still hot. Now let's have Jay-Z say the 'We Made You' song. They would laugh him out the fucking building. ... It would be over." Irv finished by saying the best rapper alive has to be Jay-Z or Lil Wayne. Well.. {{ By saying that Lil Wayne is the best alive.. you just fucked up your whole pitch homie..}}

MISHON'S NEW SINGLE IS #1 AT URBAN RADIO.
Teen sensation Mishon is enjoying his buzz at urban radio. His single "Just A Kiss," co-produced by the Interns and Harvey Mason, was the #1 most added song at Urban radio this week. The multi-talented 16 year old is already a TV star thanks to his role as spunky kid brother Tay on the ABC Family Channel drama "Lincoln Heights," which began shooting its fourth season this spring. Though Mishon has developed his own fan base thanks to his acting career, he is set to engage the music world with the release of his debut album, The Yearbook. The album will be released on Vincent Herbert's new Streamline Records, a joint venture with Interscope Records. While Mishon is ready to kick-start his run on the charts and is already shining on the small screen, he remains focused and humble. "I'm extremely thankful for the opportunities that I have had and I look forward to sharing my music with my fans." Mishon recently wrapped filming the video for "Just A Kiss" which was shot in Los Angeles and directed by Paul Hunter.

VH1'S HIP HOP HONORS 09 IS SET.
VH1 Pays Homage to 25 Years of Def Jam Records in Its Sixth Year Celebration of 'VH1 Hip Hop Honors 2009' on Tuesday, October 13 at 9:00 PM* Hosting for the third time is "'30 Rock's" Tracy Morgan. This year, the music, the influence and the artists from Def Jam's history past and present will be recognized through performances in collaboration with some of today's hottest talent. Generations of hip hop will bridge the gap for one exceptional night to set it off with the original style and flavor that sparked and inspired the evolution of this now global music phenomenon. Previous celebrations have honored hip hop luminaries who broke new ground
and propelled the genre into the true cultural phenomenon that it has become. Last year's honorees included Cypress Hill, De La Soul, Naughty by Nature, Slick Rick and Too $hort. Additional talent will be announced as it is confirmed. This is the first time that the show has honored a record label. For 25 years, Def Jam created the stars that pushed hip hop culture forward, including LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Jay Z, Kanye West, Slick Rick, Rick Ross and Rihanna. The men behind the scenes are as legendary as its artists, including Rick Rubin, Russell Simmons, Lyor Cohen, Kevin Liles and LA Reid. The Def Jam brand didn't just innovate in
music, it also launched a breakthrough comedy show (Def Comedy Jam), a dynamic spoken-word showcase (Def Poetry Jam), and set trends in fashion, film and advertising. Def Jam led a cultural movement that changed the world. "It is impossible to pay tribute to the best in hip hop without recognizing Def Jam Records. Throughout the years VH1 has honored numerous
artists from the Def Jam label, but due to the magnificent impact that Def Jam as a company has made on not only hip hop culture but pop culture as a whole, we thought they definitely deserved the opportunity to be honored," says Lee Rolontz, EVP of Music Production.

GRAND PUBA MAKES ANNOUNCEMENT.
Grand Puba revealed to XXL that he will drop a follow-up to his comeback disc Retroactive, due later this month as well as reunite with Brand Nubian for another album. Retroactive, slated for release on June 23, is Puba’s first album in eight years and is set to feature guest spots from Busta Rhymes and dead prez, as well as production by Q-Tip, Large Professor. “We’re doing stuff now—the crazy shit about it is I’m still working,” Puba told XXL. “A few dudes missed the release date so what I’m doing is I’m coming with a second joint right after that—like a part two.” As for a release date for the planned sequel, Puba detailed, “Maybe at the top of the year probably—but in between that time, you might see a Brand Nubian joint.”

UJA TO HONOR RCA/JIVE'S BARRY WEISS
Social agency UJA Federation of New York will honor RCA/Jive Label Group chairman and CEO Barry Weiss with the organization's Music Visionary of the Year Award. Variety reports that Justin Timberlake will host the fundraising event, with Jamie Foxx scheduled to perform. Past honorees include Clive Davis, Russell Simmons and Edgar Bronfman Jr.The luncheon will be held June 18 at the Pierre in New York.

MUHAMMAD ALI CENTER WELCOMES HIP HOP ARTISTS D. MAWL AND THE NAPPY ROOTS TO EDUCATE YOUTH D. Mawl and the members of the Nappy Roots were recently challenged with the task of educating local high school students on the six principles that represents the life of the great Muhammad Ali. The hip hop artists each chose a core value and demonstrated what the attributes meant to them and how the youth could apply it to their own lives. The students were grateful to have this unique experience with chart toppers, the Nappy Roots and Louisville's next to blow artist, D.Mawl. In addition, the guests were surprised and honored to have Mrs. Lonnie Ali welcome them to the center that honors and preserves the life of her husband. The Muhammad Ali Center is located in downtown Louisville, KY and shares the story and values of international boxing champ, Muhammad Ali. D. Mawl chose to represent "respect" and expressed his views on what that word meant to him. He ensured that the young adults understood that one must give respect to get respect from another. He heavily emphasized the tremendous amount of respect he has for his wife and children. He also took the time to express how family is the core of everything that one seeks to do in life. D. Mawl was accompanied by his own 7 yrs. old daughter, Ki Ki, and told the students how important it was for her to witness this day. "It's very important for my own children to see their father at work doing something positive for good causes. It lets them know that they have a father who cares; and it gives them a sense of pride about themselves. In addition, Ki Ki got a chance to meet one of the strongest women in the world, Mrs. Ali. She will always cherish this experience."

DNA RESULTS IN BAY BAY RAPE CASE ARE IN.
It’s been over a year since rape charges were brought against respected entertainment industry veteran DJ Hollyhood Bay Bay. Throughout the entire proceedings Bay Bay, born Terrance Stewart, has proclaimed his innocence in this heinous crime, and the DNA results from the crime lab clearly back Stewart’s claim. DNA test done against semen collected from both the victim and the couch where the incident allegedly took place does not match that of Hollyhood Bay Bay, however the Caddo Parish District Attorney, Brady O’Callaghan, has yet to drop the charges against the entertainer in the high profile case. DJ Hollyhood Bay Bay was initially brought to national attention after Hurricane Chris’ ode to the popular personality, Ay Bay Bay, was a multi platinum success in 2007. The long time radio personality, in house Kokopelli’s club MC, and industry fixture has endured the negative attention and effects of this unfortunate situation, taking it all in stride. As a result of these accusations he was terminated from his position at 103.5 The Beat, in his hometown of Shreveport, LA, and can be now heard from 3pm to 7pm on KKDA 104.5 in Dallas, TX. “I believe everything happens for a greater reason and purpose. I was terminated from one station, only to be recruited by the fourth largest black radio station in the country, so there are no hard feelings. I’m just ready to conclude this chapter in my life and get back to what I do, finding the next multiplatinum success story,” he explains. His short stay in Dallas has been very productive and beneficial to the area thus far. He was very instrumental in helping E1 Music (formally Koch Records) recoding artist Dorrough secure his deal, and is featured in both of the artist’s video projects, Walk that Walk and Ice Cream Paint Job. Through his non-profit organization, Bay Bay’s Kids, he is working to decrease the drop out rate amongst high school students and is a regular speaker at local schools and camps on the importance of education. Always the optimist Bay Bay is looking forward to the day when this is all a distant memory, but in the meantime is content with his life and support of his family, friends, and fans, he explains “This entire situation is unfortunate, but all I can do is continue to live my life until it is over and I am fully cleared of all charges.”

DMX HEADING BACK TO JAIL?
8 days after DMX was released from jail, he pled guilty to another crime and he’s now about to find out if he’ll be returning to Arizona’s Tent City Jail. DMX, who originally pled not guilty copped a plea and pled guilty to attempted aggravated assault (a felony) back on May 22 after an incident in which he verbally threatened guards at Tent City back in February. He is due back in Maricopa County court for sentencing on Monday.

KANYE BACK IN THE LAB
Kanye West is back in the lab, and there's only word to describe his new rhymes: "awes-mazing", He told MTV. "I kill that rap shit, that's what I do," he said of his upcoming opus. "Lyrics right now, they're awes-mazing. They're basically untouchable. I'm about to take it to a whole 'nother level. I'd be scared if I was not me." Kanye said he's always making an album, because he comes up with lyrics just by having conversations with people. He still doesn't write his rhymes down and hasn't in six years. The composing process is obviously working out for him.
"As far as rapping goes, how can I say this? Jordan, Michael Jackson — it's what I do," West told us recently comparing his greatness on the mic to what the Mikes do in their respective arenas. "It's time for me to bust another rap album."

EMINEM STILL #1 AFTER 2 WEEKS.
Eminem's Relapse album is at the top of the sales chart for the second week in a row as it sold another 211,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. With 819,000 sold in total, Relapse already has become the fifth best-selling album of the year.

ELEKTRA RECORDS BACK FROM THE DEAD
Atlantic has announced that effective immediately, Elektra is once again a functioning label under its corporate umbrella. The label is being relaunched under the leadership of Co-Presidents Mike Caren and John Janick. Caren is currently EVP of A&R for Atlantic Records, while Janick is the founder and President of indie label Fueled By Ramen. Signees to the reincarnated Elektra, which is being run by Fueled By Ramen founder John Janick and Atlantic A&R exec Mike Caren, include Gnarls Barkley's Cee-Lo, French electro mavens Justice, and U.K. dance-pop sensation Little Boots. Elektra has also just released the soundtrack to the HBO series True Blood. "Elektra Records will mark its 60th Anniversary in 2010, and it feels like the perfect time to recapture and reignite the spirit which made the label a beacon of great music and eclectic artistry," commented Janick. "Elektra has always been first and foremost about its artists, supporting their vision and giving them the freedom to do their best work. This is a sacred trust that Mike and I take very seriously, and that we will strive to uphold in the years ahead. We’d like to especially thank Jac Holzman for his wonderful support as we begin to build on the legacy of the amazing label he started six decades ago." Caren added, "Our first signings already signal the diversity that has been and will continue to be Elektra’s trademark. The Elektra logo has always stood for quality and integrity, defining genres while crossing and transcending them. John and I are devoted to seeking out original and compelling artists from all walks of music, and giving them a place they can call home. We are thrilled to be partnering with our friends at Warner Music Group and Atlantic Records to reinvent a groundbreaking music culture for a new era." "When Elektra merged with Atlantic five years ago, we always knew the right moment would come to bring it back to life," said Atlantic Chairman/CEO Craig Kallman and Chairman/COO Julie Greenwald. "The great news is that we have found the perfect people to do it. John and Mike are two of the most passionate, creative, forward-thinking young executives in our business. They both started their careers as teenagers and have gone on to champion some of the most exciting new music of the last decade. The independent, entrepreneurial spirit that long defined Elektra is in great hands, and we are truly thrilled to see the label take flight once again." Elektra founder Jac Holzman commented, "Iconic isn't my word but it is how Elektra came to be recognized over the years. I wanted people to be able to trust Elektra, to feel each release had an artistic core of some merit, and that there was someone who stood behind it. Each new label head reverentially built on the accomplishments of his predecessor, zealously guarding Elektra's magical reputation. In 2004, Elektra was allowed to go dormant until bright new talents could be found to re-energize and rebirth it as the ‘artists label’ for a new century. I'm fortunate to have yet another chance to watch Elektra bloom."

EMINEM HIGHEST SELLING ARTIST IN THE LAST DECADE.
Eminem has officially become the highest selling rapper in the past ten years, outselling such names as Jay-Z and Nelly. Eminem's combined totals even outnumber The Beatles. In the last decade, Eminem has sold 31,127,000 albums starting in 1999 with "The Slim Shady Lp." The Beatles came in 2nd place with just over 22.5 million albums sold. (Note: These sales figures reflect United States sales, not world wide.) Eminem's second album, "The Marshall Mathers LP," has sold more than ten million copies by itself giving it the RIAA diamond certification (gold = 500,000; platinum = 1,000,000; diamond = 10,000,000). Other notable artists on the top selling list of the last 10 years include Nelly at number 7 (21,206,000) and Jay-Z at number 10 with close to 20 million albums scanned (19,379,000).

BATTLE BUSTA RHYMES ON XBOX.
Busta Rhymes, fresh off the release of his eighth full-length album Back On My B.S., will play The Lost and Damned(TM) game add-on for Grand Theft Auto IV(TM) with Xbox LIVE Gold Members June 2. If you're an Xbox LIVE Gold Member, and you want a chance to play with Busta, send a friend request to the following Gamertag and be online half an hour before (6:30 P.M. ET) the Game with Fame session starts on Tuesday, June 2, 7:00 P.M. ET. GAMERTAG: BustaRhymes GWF

WARREN G GEARING FOR NEW RELEASE
Warren G is close to finishing his much-anticipated sixth studio outing, The G Files. The album is still a work in progress however, two new street singles are now in circulation. The classic G-Funk anthem, 'Mr. DJ,' is already receiving good reviews online, and the brand new, infectious 'Gigolo's Get Lonely 2,' both expected to be given airplay in the near future. The G Files, Warren's first album in four years, will feature appearances from Nate Dogg, Bishop Lamont, Ice Cube, Paul Wall, and Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker. The first official single is due to be released soon, called 'Swagga Rich' featuring Snoop Dogg. The Long Beach bred, Grammy Award-nominated, music producer/rapper grew up listening to jazz, soul and funk records, and hanging out at the local V.I.P. record store in Long Beach. He soon pioneered a sound that would take rap to a new plateau. The G Files is due in stores this fall.

TARGET ANNOUNCES NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BLACK EYED PEAS.
Target is partnering with three time GRAMMY® award winning group The Black Eyed Peas on their new collection The E.N.D, which stands for “The Energy Never Dies.” A deluxe version of the album, available only at Target, includes four exclusive songs, six exclusive remixed hits and exclusive video content. “Working with Target to provide this deluxe version of our new album has allowed us to do something special for our fans after years of support,” said will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas. “We were really excited to get back into the studio to record the new songs, plus remix some of our favorite tunes for Target, and hope everyone enjoys this exclusive version. Remember The Energy Never Dies and this is only the beginning.” The Black Eyed Peas have become international superstars with worldwide sales of over 26 million units. The group earned GRAMMY® awards for hits singles “Let’s Get it Started,” “Don’t Phunk with My Heart” and “My Humps.” This will be the group’s first studio album since 2005 and they plan to tour this summer. “We are excited to add The Black Eyed Peas to a tremendous line up of music’s biggest and brightest stars who have partnered exclusively with Target,” said Mark Schindele, senior vice president, merchandising, Target. “Offering the deluxe version of The E.N.D. provides our guests with special content that can only be found at Target. The special collection will be available nationwide beginning June 9.

TERRA FIRMA INJECTS $45 MILLION INTO EMI.
The Wallstreet journal is reporting that Investment firm Terra Firma Capital Partners Ltd. has put up an additional $45 million to bail out EMI Group Ltd., people familiar with the matter said, in a sign that the entertainment group is still struggling despite efforts to turn it around. Industry sources told the New York Post that EMI is buckling under the $4.7 billion in debt that Terra Firma borrowed from Citigroup two years ago to finance the buyout of the label. However, other sources argued that EMI has plenty of cash reserves to keep itself afloat and that it pays a manageable 7 percent interest rate on its Citi debt. The recently appointed chief executive of EMI Music, Elio Leoni-Sceti, has said that a deep cost-cutting campaign launched when Terra Firma acquired EMI has begun to bear fruit, generating cash and improving the company's prospects. Analysts believe a combined Warner Music and EMI would pose a greater threat to the industry's dominant players, Vivendi SA's Universal Music Group and Sony Corp.'s Sony Music Entertainment Inc. It isn't clear, though, who would buy whom if a merger occurred. Mr. Hands held talks last year with Warner Music CEO Edgar Bronfman about EMI buying Warner's recorded-music business, according to a person familiar with the situation—an audacious deal that would have significantly increased Terra Firma's exposure to the troubled music business. The deal floundered over which side would get most of the estimated £1.6 billion in merger savings, the person said. Warner Music executives, meanwhile, are interested in buying EMI's music division and believe they could get the company more cheaply if it went into bankruptcy, according to a person familiar with their thinking. Warner Music has been in the process of raising $1.1 billion through a bond sale, which it plans to use along with cash reserves to pay off all its bank debt, a spokesman said. A clause in the sale documents allows Warner Music to redeem the bond early if a major transaction occurs, a possible sign it is keeping its options open for a deal with EMI. But there are currently no discussions going on between the two companies, people familiar with the situation said.

EMINEM AND JAY-Z HOP ON DJ HERO.
The upcoming DJ Hero video game just landed two heavy hitters as MCs: Jay-Z and Eminem.
Both rappers are bringing their music to the newest offshoot of Activision's successful $2 billion Guitar Hero franchise. The game, played with a turntable-shaped controller, is due out this fall for PlayStation 3, PS2, Xbox 360 and Wii. A limited edition comes with the rappers' exclusive new greatest-hits CDs, possibly including previously unreleased tracks, plus an advanced version of the controller, a DJ stand and metal traveling case. Jay-Z and Eminem will serve as consultants to Activision and the game's developer, FreeStyleGames. The complete list of tracks the rappers are providing is still being worked out. Jay-Z plans on including Izzo (H.O.V.A.) and Dirt Off Your Shoulder for sure. Also possible: tracks from his in-the-works Blueprint 3 album. "I have a ton of content, I just need the pipeline," he says. "I love the freedom of (DJ Hero). I could wake up tomorrow morning with the idea for a song and call the guys at Activision and start working on getting it out." Eminem is more cryptic about his contributions. "I don't want to give away any surprises yet," he says. "DJ Hero will include my music, and I'll be providing additional material as downloadable content by the end of the year." Hov says, "I'm usually heavy into sports. I play basketball, boxing and Madden. Not as much anymore, but I used to be a gamer. I still mess around once in a while. I mess with Guitar Hero as well." He describes DJ Hero as "an extension of what we do. I put out acappella versions of my albums because I encourage mashups and this sort of thing. When I put out an a cappella version of The Black Album (in 2003), The Grey Album (a mashup of Jay-Z's lyrics with The Beatles' White Album) was created by (DJ) Danger Mouse and there was this whole phenomenon on the Internet. That is pretty much how I feel. It's a natural integration and blending of cultures and sounds and genres. I always encourage that. … It's not I want to be in the video game business. I want to be in the business that does that." Players use the features on the game's controller — a rotating record platter, sampling buttons, an effects dial and a cross fader — to match streams of song tracks, create effects and add personal touches to score points. "You actually get lost doing it," says Jay-Z, who has played the game. It creates "a DJ's universe," he says. Eminem said "After seeing what Activision did with Guitar Hero and how innovative and successful that was in combining music and great game play, I felt comfortable with working with them. They are as passionate about video games as I am about music, and we both also really enjoy the other's field of work. I'm an old school classic video game fanatic, I have an entire arcade at my studio. ... I am actually pretty obsessed with the classics like Ms. Pac Man and Donkey Kong. But I have a Playstation, Xbox and a Wii also. Remember, I've got kids at home - so I'm always up for a challenge on whatever games they think they can whup me at." In addition to single-DJ action, two players can compete or play cooperatively. Special mixes will let players use the Guitar Hero controller. The game spans hip-hop, electronica, R&B, soul and pop/rock with songs by 50 Cent, Beastie Boys, KRS-One, Blondie, N.E.R.D., Gorillaz and David Bowie. Superstar DJs such as DJ Shadow, DJ Z-Trip and DJ AM will contribute, too. "You are going to get over 100 songs from 80 artists and 80 brand-new mixes that have never been heard before, including one with Eminem and Jay-Z (together)," says Guitar Hero president and CEO Dan Rosensweig. "This is a game I can see myself actually playing," Eminem says. "DJ'ing is fundamental to rap music, so it's a great fit."

EMINEM TALKS HIS ALBUM SALES
Eminem appeared on BET’s “106 & Park” with 50 Cent. Eminem said his main focus was getting the respect of the fans.”I mean, record sales to me, honestly, since the beginning of my career I’ve always said they’re not as important to me as the respect and things like that,” Em explained. “I would just rather rap and get respect from the fans and my peers and things like that. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to sell any records, but at the same time it’s not my main priority.” 50 Cent added. “I think we absolutely in a great space considering his project is where it’s at, number one,” 50 said in the interview. “And it’s working. Until they find a collaboration of artists that work as well as we do together, I don’t think we got issues…I feel like [Em] is the best rapper because he possesses the way to say things that aren’t supposed to be cool.” Eminem's Relapse came in at #1 on the sales chart this week. Relapse moved 608,244 copies in its first week.

DEF JAM TO BRING RAP KARAOKE?
4mm Games and Def Jam Interactive have announced a collaborative project, Def Jam Rapstar, which is set for release sometime this winter. Lauren Wirtzer, Def Jam Interactive’s vice president of marketing and 4mm CEO Nicolas Perrett gave some incite into the video game to IGN (video game authority). “There are not very many products out there that speak directly to the hip-hop consumer base,” said Wirtzer. “More than just a music game, this is a game that really incorporates all of the crucial elements of this lifestyle. It’s not just about music, it’s about swagger.” “I think, at the highest level, we’re trying to make a game that appeals to a very broad audience of anyone who has really enjoyed hip-hop music at any point in the last 30 years,” Perrett added. “That’s a really important thing for all of those fans out there who don’t have a hip-hop game that can encompass that breadth of music across that whole period, all the way through to right this second what’s coming out. Even stuff that’ll be coming out at the very same time the game is coming out.”

SUPERGROUP SLAUGHTERHOUSE SET FOR JULY RELEASE.
Slaughterhouse (Joell Ortiz, Joe Budden, Crooked I and Royce Da 5'9") are set to Release their Self-Titled Debut Album on E1 Music. The group came together only 10 short months ago when Joe Budden was working on a song for his "Halfway House" album and enlisted the services of Crooked I, Joell Ortiz and Royce Da 5'9" for a song called "Slaughterhouse." Inspired by the vibe of track and the immediate chemistry of the four rappers, a plan was immediately made to form the super-group. Several songs and a handful of viral videos later only created increased demand and curiosity from fans. Hip-hop heads demanded to hear more! And now they'll be able to. The fearsome foursome is now in the studio recording songs for its official upcoming debut album. The album will feature production by The Alchemist, Streetrunner, DJ Khalil and Denaun Porter.
Slaughterhouse member Royce Da 5'9" weighs in, "This group is really something special and this summer I'm excited to show the world what we have to offer! If you thought that we were just gonna release a few tracks to the net and then disappear you are in for a very rude awakening."
Joell Ortiz adds, "We did an entire album in 6 days! When you genuinely love what you're doing everything is effortless. It was like a long party. I can't wait for the fans to experience this album." Alan Grunblatt, Executive VP/GM of E1 Music, offers, "Slaughterhouse is the most exciting new group to hit the hip hop scene in many years. I'm thrilled to be working with old friends Royce, Joell, Crooked and new friend Joe Budden." The album drop July 7th.

RIHANNA TO TESTIFY IN BROWN CASE.
Rihanna is among the witnesses whom prosecutors plan to call during a hearing in Chris Brown's assault case, an attorney said Thursday. Donald Etra, Rihanna's lawyer, told reporters that prosecutors have told him the Barbados-born singer will receive a subpoena to testify at a preliminary hearing June 22. The hearing will focus on whether there is enough evidence to continue the case against Brown. Etra said Rihanna will comply with the order. It would mark her first appearance in court since felony assault and criminal threats charges were filed against Brown in March. If she is called to testify, the 21-year-old singer would be subject to cross-examination by Brown's attorney, Mark Geragos. Other potential witnesses have not been named, but will likely include police investigators. Brown wasn't in court Thursday, but he's required to attend the preliminary hearing. The 20-year-old R&B singer faces possible sentences that range from probation to nearly five years in prison if convicted.

UNIVERSAL MAINTAINS LEADING MARKET SHARE.
According to new research by Informa, Universal Music Group maintained its position as the world's largest recorded music company and music publisher for the third consecutive year in 2008. The report, called Music & Copyright, said that Universal increased its share in terms of revenue generated from the sale of both physical and digital music. Universal had a market share of 28.7 percent in 2008, up from 28.1 percent in 2007. Sony BMG held down 21.1 percent of the music market, while Warner Music Group had 14.9 percent and EMI had 9.6 percent. In music publishing, Universal had a market share of 23.2 percent, ahead of EMI's 18.3 percent. "This marks the third straight year that the same company has been number one in both the recorded music and publishing sector," report editor Simon Dyson said, according to Reuters. "Although all the majors reported reduced recorded music revenues in 2008, UMG's decline was the lowest. This suggests that UMG is simply more successful than the others in marketing and selling music or is cashing in on the influence that being dominant brings."

NEW REPORT SHOWS MOBILE MUSIC TO HIT 5.5 BILLION.
According to a new report from Juniper Research, revenues from streamed mobile music services and full-track downloads are expected to exhibit strong growth over the next 5 years. Combined revenues from these services are expected to more than double from $2.5 billion in 2009 to nearly $5.5 billion in 2013. The report also found that those music services launched using an ad-funded model face a potential shortfall of as much as 50% to reductions in ad budgets. Other findings from the report include: Ringback tone revenues will exceed ringtones by 2010 as service adoption increases outside Asia. The Far East & China will account for the largest share of mobile music revenues throughout the 2009-2013 forecast period, followed by Western Europe. Aggregators must expand the depth and breadth of their portfolios beyond ringtones if they are to remain competitive. According to mobile music report author Dr Windsor Holden, “While some of the more traditional music services – most notably polyphonic ringtones and realtones – are in decline across many markets, we’re now seeing a surge in the adoption of more sophisticated offerings. Recent positive developments, such as Apple announcing that iPhone customers can use the 3G network to download full-tracks, will offer a further stimulus to growth.”

JAY-Z UPDATE: HEADED TO WMG?
Reports are now surfacing that Jay - who recently left Def Jam as a recording artist (he served as its president from 2004-2007) - has been taking top-secret meetings with his old pals and former managers Lyor Cohen and Kevin Liles, says a well-placed industry source. Topics of the hush-hush conversations have included giving Jay his own record label at WMG, tentatively to be called the Carter Music Group. "Jay knows Lyor and Kevin from back when they all worked together at Def Jam, and he obviously wants to work something out with his friends," the insider told the Ny daily. "He wants to get the dream team back together. There have been a few whiffs of a reunion in the past, but only now - and very privately - is something finally starting to happen." The inside source adds, "This is big in hip hop. These are three of the most powerful men in music, who might be working together, and there's no question the success they'll have as a team will be huge." WMG Vice President Cohen and Executive Vice President Liles also attempted to convince Jay to bring his Roc Nation label - which is part of the reported $150 million deal he cut with Live Nation - to WMG. Jay, however, has chosen to release his much-anticipated 15th album, "The Blueprint 3," with Live Nation in the fall. "Jay's deal with Live Nation is massive," says another music-biz insider. "But if he were to cut a deal with WMG/Atlantic, he'd make even more headlines. Jay-Z, Lyor Cohen and Kevin Liles are all brand names. They're the industry's heavy hitters, and the combination would bring them a lot of attention. They would be unstoppable. Jay himself is the most successful rapper-turned-businessman out there."

MAINO ALREADY GOLD.
“All The Above (Feat. T-Pain),” the breakthrough single from Hustle Hard Entertainment/Atlantic recording artist Maino, has been certified gold by the RIAA for digital sales in excess of 500,000. The track – which remains a Top 10 favorite on iTunes “Top Hip-Hop/Rap Songs” chart – is featured on the Brooklyn-based M.C.’s upcoming debut album, “IF TOMORROW COMES. The single is at Top 40 smash at Urban outlets nationwide, having impacted as the #1 most added single at the format earlier this year. In addition, the track is bulleting into the Top 20 at Rhythmic radio outlets coast-to-coast. The single, which had the highest first week single sales for a new rap artist since Flo Rida’s “Low” – will be followed by Maino’s new smash, “Million Bucks (Feat. Swizz Beatz).” The track has already begun to receive major radio support in such markets as New York, Raleigh, Richmond, and Boston, with incredible feedback coming in from influential DJs across the country. Already notorious in the hip-hop underground for a number of buzzworthy mixtape joints, Maino has been hailed for his blend of gritty lyricism and riveting street flair.

EMINEM SELLS OVER 600,000 1ST WEEK SALES.
Eminem's Relapse came in at #1 on the sales chart this week. Relapse moved 608,244 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan, giving the album Gold sales status. This marks Eminem's fifth straight #1 debut, and it is also the biggest sales week of the year for any album. Method Man & Redman opened at #4 with Blackout 2, selling 63,000. Busta Rhymes opened at #6 with Back On My B.S., moving 59,000 units. Lady Gaga's Fame grabbed #8 with 45,000, also very close to going Platinum. Rick Ross' Deeper Than Rap took #22 selling 19,800 copies (290,290 total). Cam’ron's Crime Pays took #35 selling 15, 300 units (58,400 total).

JAY-Z HEADED TO SONY?
Reports are surfacing that Jay-Z is in talks to bring his Roc Nation imprint to Sony. Epic president Amanda Ghost is managed by Roc Nation and Hov’s business partner Jay Brown, and recently Brown has been seen around town on several occasions with Columbia/Epic Label Group Chairman Rob Stringer. Inside sources reportedly involved in the deal say that the partnership should be finalized soon, with Roc Nation releasing material on both Columbia and Epic. Keep it locked as the story unfolds...

PRODUCER FOCUS LEAVES AFTERMATH.
Super producer Focus... leaves Aftermath after many years of service to Dr. Dre to pursue his dream of owning his own production label a.Fam Entertainment. Focus' work has since appeared on The Game's multi-platinum The Documentary ("Where I'm From"), 112's Pleasure & Pain (single "U Already Know"), Beyonce's multi-platinum Dangerously In Love ("Yes") and J.Lo's platinum-plus This Is Me...Then ("Dear Ben"), among others. Focus says he has learned a lot from his mentor Dr Dre. When asked what was it that Dre saw in him that made him take him under his wing Focus... says: "Dre said he liked my style, the way I attacked the music." Focus... recalls, "He heard East and West Coast in my sound and he liked the way that I bridged the two. He said I was talented, so he never made me become a mini him, (Dr. Dre). He always took me for who I was and let me be me." From then on Focus... never looked back, cranking out tracks for 50 Cent, and other artist affiliated with Aftermath. Focus... has recently produced the single "Respect My Conglomerate" for Busta Rhymes featuring Lil' Wayne and Jadakiss. Yes it was fully produced by Focus... himself and now as one of music's hottest producers, Focus... has already worked with Girlicious (Mirror), Marsha Ambrosius (Yours Truly-mixtape), Chino XL (The Secret, RICANstruction), Christina Aguilera, and Bishop Lamont just to name a few. He also co-executive produced the album from 2Pac's Outlawz, Outlaw 4 Life 2005 A.P., produced several tracks on Sway & King Tech Presents Back 2 Basics (including work with Chino XL and Kam) and is shopping his artists while branding his label, a.Fam Entertainment. Focus... plans to make his impression felt in the years to come. "This year I'm really showing people what I'm capable of," Focus...says. "Ultimately, I don't want to be anything but a great producer."

SCOTT STORCH SINKING QUICK?
More financial woes hit Scott Storch. Storch was sued by actor/film producer Matt Sinnreich, 23, over a business dispute, and a Miami-Dade jury awarded Sinnreich $750,000. According to the Miami Herald, they both agreed to form a company in June '07 to sign and produce singer Sindy Espitia and rapper Darrell ''D Shep'' Sheppard, both of Miami. Sinnreich paid Storch $25,000 for 25 percent of the corporation. But Storch, 35, ''failed to form the corporation . . . and failed to return the $25,000,'' according to court documents. Sinnreich's complaint alleged breach of contract and civil theft. Storch failed to respond to the complaint, and Circuit Judge Ronald Friedman granted Sinnreich's motion for default last December. Jurors recently decided the question of damages, rendering the $750,000 verdict, says Sinnreich's attorney Marc Brumer. Sinnreich is trying to collect on the judgment. But Storch, once reported to be worth $70 million, has had money woes. He fell behind in child support and owes $722,906.19 in taxes on his $10.5 million mansion on Miami Beach's Palm Island. In March, SunTrust obtained a judgment of foreclosure for $8,484,835.67. The property sale is set for June 26.

METHOD MAN & REDMAN FREE CONCERT IN CALI.
MySpace Music will host a special "The Release" live performance featuring Method Man & Redman to celebrate the official release of their new album "Blackout! 2." The event is powered by Adidas. MySpace users will be given the opportunity to obtain free tickets to the event. WHEN: Thursday, May 28, 2009 - Doors open: 7:00 pm WHERE: The Highlands of Hollywood, CA . "The Release" is MySpace Music's urban/hip hop series in which artists perform a live concert for fans during the month of their album's release. Past shows have included Busta Rhymes, Asher Roth, Jadakiss, T.I., Q-Tip, Murs, Akon, Lupe Fiasco, and Chamillionaire. "The Release" is powered by Adidas.

ALCHEMIST LINKS WITH EMINEM.
Alchemist gave Shady one of his signature, bass heavy, dark, gritty beats for the title track on his album. On the song, which clocks in at a little under two minutes, Eminem name checks a laundry list of pop culture figures like Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg, the Octomom and the Jonas Brothers. Chemical Warfare finds the rapper straight rapping, no hooks, delivering some of his most shocking lines. Along with “playing dick swords with the Jonas Brothers,” Em also says he’ll, “Eat the fuckin Octomom’s pussy lips with some ocra/while I watch Whoopi Goldberg scissoring Oprah.” Eminem is not the only guest on the compilation disc, Alc recruited Maxwell, Twista, Snoop Dogg, Jadakiss, Fabolous, Pusha T, Prodigy, Juvenile, the Lady of Rage and Three 6 Mafia, among others. The Alchemist is currently on a promo tour with Em, serving as his DJ, where he has already performed at several stops in the UK and the U.S. including Em’s Relapse release party in Detroit earlier this week and “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” Alc also served as the Detroit rapper’s DJ in 2005 for the Anger Management 3 tour. The album hits stores on July 7 on E1 music. Source XXl

WILL EMINEM SELL 1 MILLION COPIES 1ST WEEK?
Will Eminem’s new “Relapse” album sell 1 million copies in it's 1st week? While an official count will not be ready for another week.. Some reports are estimating between 500 and 550 thousand copies in it’s debut week. Some reports show that Best Buy alone has an estimate of 300, 000 units moved. Relapse is his first album for Shady/Aftermath/Interscope in almost five years. After listening to the album, RAPINDUSTRY.COM predicts 700,000 copies sold for 1st week sales.

JAY-Z CONFIRMS DEF JAM SPLIT.
Jay-Z confirmed the rumors about his split with Def Jam Records in a new interview. “I can honestly say, working with Doug Morris and LA Reid has been a unique and fulfilling experience and I respect them immensely. I’ve been in the family for almost my entire career,” Jigga said. Hov continued, “Doug and I spoke directly and had one of the most unique “negotiations” ever. Doug won the toss but, we both won in the end..I thank him for allowing me to be a completely independent artist. Not every artist can say they own or are given the opportunity to own all of their music.” Hov reportedly bought out the remainder of his business contract with Def Jam Records, including his upcoming “Blueprint 3" album obligation. Although it hasn’t been confirmed, Jay-Z reportedly paid around $5 million dollars to move away from the legendary rap label into his own “Roc Nation” label under Live Nation.

LIL WAYNE ALBUM PUSHED BACK AGAIN.
Looks like the new Lil Wayne project has been delayed again. Reports are confirming that the album was pushed back, and a label rep has confirmed that the experimental album will now come out sometime in July. It is unclear if the several tracks that have leaked on the net will be included on the CD, like “Politics” with Gudda Gudda or “Spit In Your Face” with Cash Money artist Kevin Rudolf.

THE GAME TO BATTLE JD ON THE STICKS?
The Game says he wants to get Dupri on the battlefield in a sports game of his choice reports Mtv. "They be running from me, man," Game complained about some his celebrity friends who haven't stepped up to play him in sports videogames. "Dwayne D. Wade, Twista, Jadakiss, Bow Wow. Them n---as be running from me. All the video game heads. JD, I don't know, he don't want it. They just be running. But they know what's up with me!" MTV reached out to Jermaine this afternoon to see if he would accept Game's challenge, and the ATL hitmaker was all too willing to compete. "You can't be serious?" JD said in a statement meant for Game. "You can meet me online. I'm there every other night: NBA2K baby! If you are serious, hit me up and I will give you my gamer tag." Game says, " 'G-A-M-E' is my tag and the other one is 'S-O-O-W-O-O'" he said. "Let them n---as know — that's me online."

STRANGE MUSIC SIGNS BROTHA LYNCH HUNG
When Dave Weiner, Vice President of Strange Music West, first heard BROTHA LYNCH HUNG’s certified Gold classic Season of da Siccness (1995), he was blown away. The man responsible for signing Master P to Priority Records in the mid-’90s, as well as orchestrating the joint venture that Tech N9ne and Strange Music entered into with JCOR, now has the honor of bringing BROTHA LYNCH to the Strange Music family. Strange Music is already one of the most successful independent music labels in the world - in 2008, its flagship artist, Tech N9ne, SoundScanned over one million units, making him one of the most successful independent Hip-Hop artists in history. LYNCH and Tech N9ne are far from strangers. LYNCH is familiar to Tech fans due to his standout verse on “My World” from Tech’s Everready album (2006); Tech appeared on “187 on a Hook” from LYNCH’s Blocc Movement (2001). “There’s an incredible synergy,” states Weiner. “Every Tech fan knows that verse [“My World”] and is wondering what’s going on with LYNCH.” Fans need wonder no more, as Brotha Lynch Hung emerges as the newest Strange Music artist. LYNCH has maintained a loyal fan base over the years. He entertains with twisted humor, grim tales and a delivery that rides the beat with both a rapid-fire intensity and smooth soulful flow. He’s seen hard times – the death of his mother, label deals gone wrong, drugs, despair – yet his lyrics are infused with a will to survive and a passion for life that override the dark corners of his mind. Since releasing Lynch by Inch in 2003, LYNCH has maintained his visibility through mixtapes, yet fans have been waiting for a full-length album. You’ve been warned: LYNCH is currently working on Dinner and a Movie, his latest CD, slated to be released later this year. “BROTHA LYNCH fits in with Strange, ideally, it couldn’t be better,” states Weiner. “It makes all the sense in the world. His talent and abilities are incredible.”

KANYE WEST FOUNDATION PARTNERS FOR BENEFIT CONCERT.
The Kanye West Foundation (KWF), founded in 2007 by the late Dr. Donda West, was established to help combat the severe dropout problem plaguing America's communities. It is through the collaboration of community and corporate partnerships that the 2nd "Stay in School" Benefit Concert, taking place at the historic Chicago Theatre on Thursday, June 11th, was born. This is the first major event for the Kanye West Foundation since the 2007 passing of its founder Dr. Donda West, the mother of Kanye West. It is also the first concert Kanye has performed in the city of Chicago in over a year. The concert will be taped by Fuse, the national music network, and will air later this summer. Benefit concert tickets go on sale Thursday, May 21st. Tickets start at $49.50 to $500 for the VIP Reception. Highland Park High School sophomore, David Abrams, conceived the event concept as he listened to a story on NPR about a Chicago Public School (CPS) student who was failing out of school. As an incentive to stay in school, the student's mother offered two tickets to a Lil Wayne concert. David then turned to his mom and said "We should do that - let's get kids to SHOW up to school, get their grades up and put on a free concert for them." David formed S.H.O.W (Students Helping Our World), which is run by a
group of Highland Park teens and supported by parents like Wendy Abrams, an environmental activist and founder of Cool Globes. S.H.O.W formed partnerships with CPS, the City of Chicago, former quarterback of the Chicago Bears Kyle Orton, and ultimately the Kanye West Foundation. "I have always had the desire to help people and make the world a better place. I believe that youth are the music for creating a world filled with harmony. To create such a world, however, we must all do our part," says Mr. West who waived his fees for the events on June 11th. Joseph Collins, CEO of the Kanye West Foundation states, "This cause is directly in line with the mission of the KWF. We see this event as a launching pad and long-term effort to help students in school." He continues, "Immediately upon learning about David Abrams and S.H.O.W, we
knew this was a good match. The fact that a young person chose to lead this effort and challenge his peers to do better in school is amazing and exactly what Dr. West envisioned when she and Kanye created this foundation. I believe these efforts directly support the vision Dr. West
had for the organization and for America's children. I see this concert as the seed that will allow us to 'fulfill a mother's dream.'" "I want to thank the Kanye West Foundation for supporting the Chicago Public Schools and encouraging our students to stay in school and graduate," said Mayor Richard M. Daley. "Education is the key to our children's future and by working together we can continue the progress we've made by producing graduates who are prepared for jobs and the global economy." S.H.O.W will offer free tickets to students who demonstrate marked
improvements in attendance and/or grades in the last quarter of the current school year. Approximately 3,000 inner city and Chicago area students will have the opportunity to meet Kanye West and experience an intimate behind-the-scenes snapshot of how he prepares for a concert.

DOLLA'S KILLER IN CUSTODY.
The man police arrested at LAX yesterday after the shooting death of rapper Dolla has been booked for murder. 23-year-old Aubrey Berry was booked early this morning and his bail was set at $1,000,000. Sources say after the shooting, the LAPD put out an alert that the suspect may have fled to the Los Angeles International Airport in an attempt to fly out of the city. LAX police spotted a man who matched the description, sitting in the lobby area of Terminal 1. Cops approached Berry and almost immediately he said he knew why cops were there and then raised his hands and told them he had a 9 millimeter handgun in his waistband. He was taken into custody.

RAPPER DOLLA MURDERED.
Atlanta-based rapper, Dolla was brutally shot and killed at the Beverly Center in Los Angeles earlier this afternoon. Dolla, who was hanging out at the mall with another rapper was shot in the head at around 3:10 PM PST, according to the LA Times. Two suspects allegedly fled the scene after the incident --one was arrested a short time later while trying to catch a flight at LAX.

QUEEN PEN & NON-PROFIT ORG. UNITE CHILDREN FOR FATHERS DAY.
With support from the famed rapper Queen Pen, the Brooklyn-based non-profit organization,
Children of Promise, NYC (CPNYC), is set to unite children from the Brooklyn area and their incarcerated fathers this coming Father's Day by sponsoring free trips to surrounding prisons. Of the estimated 85,000 children in New York who have an incarcerated parent, children from
Bedford-Stuyvesant and surrounding neighborhoods are disproportionately impacted by this trend. The challenges facing these children are significant, wide-ranging and potentially devastating. In fact, the trauma of losing a parent is often made worse by the social and economic problems
connected to their circumstances. As a vocal advocate for children, Queen Pen is working closely with CPNYC to raise awareness of these issues along with funds for programs like
CPNYC's Father's Day Visits. Giving children from Brooklyn the opportunity to join their incarcerated parent on important holidays like Father's Day is a vital part of the process of nurturing the parent/child bond, instilling greater self-esteem and reducing anti-social behavior. To ensure that the experience is both productive and positive, activities are infused with counseling and take place within a safe and trusted environment with other children who share similar experiences. In addition to transportation, children are given food, games for the bus ride and gifts
for their fathers. According to CPNYC Founder and President, Sharon Content, "The support
and advocacy of individuals like Queen Pen has the potential to tangibly impact our local communities. Children who have not seen their fathers since their incarceration will be able to celebrate with them on this special day." Content also believes the rewards associated with these trips will "help to encourage these children as they learn to discover better pathways, recognize new possibilities and realize their full potential."

EMINEM SET FOR FREE MYSPACE CONCERT IN DETROIT.
Eminem will be playing a free concert in his Detroit hometown sponsored by MySpace on May 19. Tickets for the show will be given out at a first come first serve basis today at 5 p.m. only at Record Time in Roseville, Michigan. Fans can pick up one ticket each. Information about where the performance will take place and what venue will be given during ticket distribution. DJ Jazzy Jeff is also scheduled to perform with Em.

UMPG SIGNS EMINEM TO A WORLDWIDE PUB DEAL.
Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has announced the signing of Eminem, to an exclusive, worldwide publishing agreement. The deal includes Relapse, Eminem's sixth studio album set to be released on May 19, 2009. The debut single, "Crack a Bottle," rocketed from No. 78 to No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 setting a new record. It also topped 13 charts worldwide, including the Billboard Pop 100 and the UK R&B Chart. "Eminem continues to be an indelible and iconic musical presence around the world," said David Renzer, Chairman & CEO, UMPG. "I am so pleased that we will be working with his manager, Paul Rosenberg and the Interscope team on continuing to bring his amazing music to a worldwide audience." "We are excited about the future of our continued relationship with UMPG, and we look forward to many more years of chart-topping success together," said manager, Paul Rosenberg. As an artist, Eminem has received nine GRAMMY awards, including three for Best Rap Album (The Slim Shady LP, The Marshall Mathers LP, The Eminem Show); three for Best Rap Solo Performance ("My Name Is," "The Real Slim Shady," and "Lose Yourself"); one for Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group ("Forgot About Dre"); one for Best Rap Song ("Lose Yourself"); and one for Best Short Form Music Video ("Without Me"). Eminem also received an Oscar for Best Original Performance for "Lose Yourself" at the 2003 Academy Awards. Eminem has released seven multi-platinum albums - six of which have reigned as the Billboard No. 1 Album, including 1999's The Slim Shady LP, 2000's Marshall Mathers LP, 2002's The Eminem Show, 2004's Encore, and 2005's Curtain Call – The Hits. Eminem has had a total of nineteen different songs in the Top 10 of various Billboard charts, bringing him more than sixty Top 10 chart positions. Eminem is one of the best selling music artists of the decade, having sold over 70 million albums. He plans to release a sequel to Relapse, Relapse 2, later this year.

COMMON EXCITED ABOUT HIS POSSIBLE ROLE IN THE UPCOMING A-TEAM FLICK.
Common would replace Mr. T's "B.A. Baracus" character in Joe Carnahan’s upcoming big-screen adaptation of “The A-Team.” Common has confirmed with MTV the buzz is indeed building, and that he may someday slip behind the driver’s wheel of that famous black-and-red van. “Yeah, I’ve been hearing that, man,” said the actor/rapper. “I’ve been hearing that.” Mr. T played the role of B.A. Baracus on TV for all of the series’ five seasons, and he has said that he will not appear in the movie unless he returns as the Baracus character. “If I’m considered for that role, I’m excited about it,” Common said of replacing Mr. T. “I mean, I would love to do that. That’s iconic.” Common says, “You’ve got try and bring something new to it,” he said of taking on the roll. For now Common is waiting to get a solid offer on the project. He says he's not practicing “I pity the fool!” lines in front of the mirror yet. “No, not yet, bro,” he said, laughing, “and I don’t know how I’m going to do the mohawk.”

DMX GETS RELEASED FROM PRISON.
DMX was released from the Maricopa County Jail in Arizona this morning. TMZ reports that X was released at around 4 AM after serving 90 days in jail — the minimum sentence for pleading guilty to the following: cruelty to animals, possession of narcotic drugs, theft and possession of marijuana.

50 CENT TAPPED FOR JEKYLL AND HYDE REMAKE.
According to Variety, Abel Ferrara is taking another walk on the wild side with a re-imagining of Robert Louis Stevenson's "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," which will be contemporized and titled "Jekyll and Hyde." Forest Whitaker and Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson are attached to play the lead roles in the classic tale about a doctor who invents a potion that unleashes his violent alter ego. Glasshouse Pictures' Brett Walsh and Cheetah Vision Films' Randall Emmett are producing; Luc Roeg, Michael Robinson and Andrew Orr are exec producing for U.K. production banner Independent. Sean Walsh, Bonnie Timmermann and Chris Lighty also receive exec producer credits. Independent is handling international sales on the project, which will begin lensing in late summer. "The combination of such formidable talent in front of and behind the camera will turn this wonderful gothic story into a modern classic for a whole new generation," said Roeg.

RIK CODERO UP FOR VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR.
"In what has come as a complete and utter surprise, I've been nominated for Video Director Of The Year for the 2009 BET Awards alongside legendary heavy hitters such as Hype Williams, Chris Robinson, Gil Green and Benny Boom. Wow, it is an honor to simply be nominated amongst every single one of those pioneering directors who have been a huge inspiration countless aspiring filmmakers," Rik told RAPINDUSTRY.COM in a prepared statement. "And more importantly, the nomination is a testament to the hard work and due diligence of the entire Three/21 collective who continue to stay true to the art of independent filmmaking. As we've had only a sprinkling of network aired videos, the digital revolution is in full effect. Our motto has always been: By Any Means Necessary and after three long years it's time to make a toast: This one's for the RENEGADES!"

JAMIE FOX MAKES HISTORY!
Jamie Foxx sets the all-time record for 12 consecutive weeks at #1 on the Urban Mainstream chart with his hit single "Blame It" (TLC's "No Scrubs" was #1 for 11 weeks in 1999)! This unprecedented feat is coupled with "Blame It" coming in at #1 on the Hot 100 Audience chart for a 4th week with an audience of 119.6 million. The single also maintains its Top 5 status this
week landing at #3 on the Rhythmic chart (after a 5 week run at #1), and #5 on the Top 40 chart. Additionally, "Blame It" is currently #3 on Nielsen's Ringscan chart as it crossed the million tone sales mark after peaking at #2 a few weeks ago. Foxx's RIAA-certified Platinum album Intuition is
currently #6 on the R&B Albums chart. Officially announced yesterday during his surprise appearance on BET's 106 & Park, Foxx will host and perform on the 9th annual BET Awards on June 28th at Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium. Jamie also garnered three BET Awards nominations for "Best Male R&B Artist," "Best Collaboration" with T-Pain for "Blame It," and "Video of the Year" for the star-studded "Blame It" featuring Ron Howard, Forest Whitaker, Jake Gyllenhaal, Samuel L. Jackson, T-Pain and more. Prior to the BET Awards, Foxx will perform his
hit single on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on May 18th and several songs from Intuition on Good Morning America's Summer Concert Series on June 19th. With his continuous chart-topping success in music, his widely popular The Foxxhole radio show on Sirius XM, creator and co-executive producer of one of MTV's highest-rated reality shows, From G's to Gents, and
co-starring role alongside Robert Downey, Jr. in the critically-acclaimed film The Soloist, Academy Award winner and Grammy-nominated artist Jamie Foxx is the undisputed "King of all Media."

SONY SUES EMI.
Sony Music Group has sued EMI Music and its North American COO Ron Werre, alleging that Werre broke a promise to join Sony for $3 million. According to Reuters, the suit claims Werre used Sony's offer as leverage to negotiate his recent promotion at EMI. Sony claims that Werre, who was previously EMI President of Music Services, had agreed to a three-year deal with Sony in February and that he would join the label after his EMI contract ran out in February of next year. But last week, EMI promoted Werre, leading to the lawsuit from Sony. "Werre never intended to fulfill his contractual obligations to Sony Music, but was merely using his contract with Sony Music as a stalking horse to solicit a more lucrative contract from EMI with enhanced job responsibilities," the suit claims, according to Reuters. Sony also says that EMI was aware that the label planned to hire Werre and that after the exec had agreed to join Sony, EMI contacted Sony CEO Rolf Schmidt-Holtz to ask for Werre's new contract to be scrapped.

BET AWARDS ARE SET.
The nominees for the 2009 BET Awards have been announced, and the trophies will be presented on June 28. The-Dream, Jamie Foxx, Ryan Leslie, Ne-Yo and T-Pain will go head up for Best Male R&B Artist. Beyoncé, Keyshia Cole, Keri Hilson, Jennifer Hudson and Jazmine Sullivan will go head-to-head for Best Female R&B Artist. Other nominees Best Male Rapper nominees include Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Rick Ross, T.I. and Young Jeezy. Best Female Rapper nominees are Lil Mama, M.I.A. and Trina. In the category of Best Group, the award could go to Day 26, GS Boyz, N.E.R.D., The Roots or Three 6 Mafia.

GUCCI MANE SIGNS TO WARNER BROS AND ENDS RELATIONSHIP WITH BIG CAT.
GUCCI MANE has announced his signing to Warner Bros. Records where he will release his new studio album in August, it also marks the end of his relationship with Big Cat Records. Big Cat is to release its final CD on GUCCI MANE today that consists of pre-2007 recordings and outtakes that were not assembled or endorsed by GUCCI MANE. "I am no longer signed to, booked by, or working with Big Cat Records or any of its employees in any way. The CD that Big Cat is putting out consists of records that were never planned to make my album and is a non-official release. My fans will get the OFFICIAL Gucci Mane album in August on Warner Bros. Records." states Gucci Mane. In 2005, GUCCI MANE released his independent debut album entitled Trap House, which featured the successful single "Icy" with Young Jeezy. Hard to Kill followed in 2006 and GUCCI MANE's career was propelled with the release of Back to the Trap House in 2007. The album was fueled by the hit single "Freaky Gurl." GUCCI MANE is currently putting the finishing touches on his new album and can be seen on the upcoming cover of XXL.

CEO OF NUMARK HAPPY WITH JUDGES DECISION.
Ruling Enables Scratch to Retrieve All Work Product and Source Code and Complete Its Game and Prepare for Launch. Scratch DJ Game LLC, a joint venture between Genius Products, LLC ("Genius") and Numark Industries LLC ("Numark"), announced that the Los Angeles County Superior Court ("the Court") has granted it a preliminary injunction in its lawsuit against Activision Publishing, Inc., a subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI - News) ("Activision"), and California 7 Studios ("7 Studios") and former owner and president, Lewis Peterson. The judge, following his issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order in favor of Scratch, on May 7, 2009 further granted a preliminary injunction against Activision's subsidiary, 7 Studios, and ordered the turnover of all Work Product associated with Scratch – The Ultimate DJ game ("Scratch"), including all source code, work-in-progress and all Developer's Pre-Existing Tool and Technology, including the source code to 7 Studio's game engine. The Judge further confirmed in his injunction order that both 7 Studios and its new parent company Activision continue to be "walled off" from disclosing any aspect of the Scratch game or technology with each other or with any third party. The Court's actions on May 7, 2009 dealt with the final materials relating to the game's development that the defendant was still withholding, including the source code to 7 Studios' game engine and other Developer's Pre-Existing Tools and Technology. Activision bought financially distressed 7 Studios, which was a contract "work for hire" developer for Scratch – The Ultimate DJ game, after Scratch refused to sell Scratch - The Ultimate DJ to Activision in March. Thereafter, 7 Studios, under Activision's control, refused to turn over the Scratch game code and attempted to prevent Scratch from obtaining the source code for the game engine. The Court found that Scratch has established a material breach of its Developer Agreement by 7 Studios and ordered that 7 Studios must turnover to Scratch all source code to the game engine and all other Developer's Pre-Existing Tools and Technology. Jack O'Donnell, Manager of Scratch and Chief Executive Officer of Numark, stated, "We are very excited to finish Scratch – The Ultimate DJ. We hope that this clear victory ends the delay tactics employed by the defendants to date to stop our game from being completed and brought to market. We will continue to vigorously pursue our damages case against Activision, 7 Studios and Peterson resulting from their actions to delay and take over the Scratch game. With the injunction order, we will also now be able to move forward to complete and launch our much anticipated Scratch game."

THE ORCHARD ANNOUNCES SIGNING OF GURU.
Guru, the legendary innovator and American hip-hop star best known for the trailblazing hip-hop group Gang Starr and founder of the imitable Jazzmatazz series, will release Lost & Found, his fourth project through his own hip-hop label 7 Grand Records, on May 19th through Orchard.

EMINEM TEAMS UP WITH STEWIE GRIFFIN.
Eminem joins FAMILY GUY's Stewie Griffin to host ANIMATION DOMINATION Sunday, May 17 on FOX. The evening will feature interstitials voiced by and featuring an animated version of the hip-hop superstar. "It was a thrill to work with Stewie," said Eminem about the youngest member of the Griffin clan. "I'm a big fan of talking babies and their humor." On working with Eminem, Stewie said "I was just about to meet him, but after I shook hands with his stylist, his assistant, his lawyer, his bodyguard, his other bodyguard, his photographer, his manager, his hanger-on, his flower girl, his driver, his videographer, his notary, his historian, his her-storian, his texter and his own greased-up deaf guy, I got the swine flu." On the season finale of FAMILY GUY airing Sunday, May 17 (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT), Peter has his palm read by a psychic who reveals that he had a fascinating past life in the 17th century as Griffin Peterson, a dignified gentleman from the newly founded colony of Quahog who vied for the love of Lady Redbush. It was a time of great love and adventure where King Stewart reigned supreme, the smartest dog in the room was the court jester, army lieutenants were merely boys and even old England loved "How I Met Your Mother" (Neil Patrick Harris, Josh Radnor and Jason Segel guest-voice).

LLOYD BANKS CONFIRMS G-UNIT DROPPPED FROM INTERSCOPE.
Banks himself has commented on the situation. “I was ready to make a move,” Banks said about leaving Interscope. “I’m a brand-new engine. If anything, it’s their loss. It’s been a dark shadow cast upon that. That’s why you hear Funk Master Flex on the radio boycotting Interscope, because it’s an aura created around that machine, and the artists automatically get smacked in the head.” “An artist signed to Interscope doesn’t even know what’s going on,” Banks added.“You just turn on the radio, and they’re saying, ‘F— Interscope Records,’ and you fall into that batch. So it’s almost a foul taste in the mouth when they deliver the record. I felt it’s time for me to go somewhere where it’s not biased and I get a fair shot. There’s a lot of stuff on the table right now. You don’t wanna speak about it until it gets ironed out all the way.” WATCH THE INTERVIEW HERE

HOLLYWOOD’S BIGGEST STARS GET SET TO PRESENT AT THE “2009 MTV MOVIE AWARDS. Denzel Washington, Cameron Diaz, Ryan Reynolds, Will Ferrell, Vanessa Hudgens, Leighton Meester, Jonah Hill and Lil Wayne are the first to be announced in the growing list of presenters. With a stage this hot, viewers can expect another year of incredible pairings and extreme moments. They join previously revealed performer Eminem, who will take the stage to perform music from his anticipated new album Relapse, available May 19, and give one of the captivating and unconventional live MTV performances fans live for. Hosted by Andy Samberg, the “2009 MTV Movie Awards” will be broadcast LIVE from the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, CA on Sunday, May 31st at 9p.m./8p.m.C. The “2009 MTV Movie Awards” marks the first year in which the final nominees were decided on by the fans. Mark Burnett serves as Executive Producer for the “2009 MTV MOVIE AWARDS.” Audrey Morrissey is Co-Executive Producer. Lee Rolontz is Executive Producer for MTV, Garrett English is Executive in charge for MTV and Jane Mun serves as Producer. Robin Reinhardt-Locke is Celebrity Talent Executive.

SOULJA BOY TELL'EM ACHIEVES THIRD #1 SINGLE.
Soulja Boy Tell'em will have his third # 1 single in the country as 'Turn My Swag On' will reach the top spot on Billboard's urban airplay chart next week. 'Turn My Swag On' will be Soulja Boy Tellem's third # 1 hit on national radio. Last month, Soulja Boy Tell'em reached the top spot with his 'Kiss Me Thru The Phone' record that reached # 1 on the urban and crossover radio formats and has spent 18 weeks on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. Both records combined have sold over 2.5 million copies digitally and are in the Top 15 on the digital singles sales chart. 'Kiss Me Thru The Phone' and 'Turn My Swag On' are off of his iSouljaboytellem album which was released December 2008. His first number one hit came with 'Crank That (Soulja Boy)' which spent 7 weeks at the top of the charts in all formats in 2007 off his SouljaBoyTellem debut album that sold over a million copies.

EMINEM TAKES OVER JIMMY KIMMEL FOR MULTPLE PERFORMANCES.
In a rare television event, late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel welcomes 9-time Grammy Award winner Eminem for an exclusive late-night musical performance on "Jimmy Kimmel
Live" airing Friday, May 15th on ABC (12:05 a.m. ET/PT). The following week, additional Eminem performances will be featured on both Tuesday, May 19th and Friday, May 22nd, with the performance on the 22nd featuring two live songs from Detroit. Eminem will debut material from his highly anticipated new album, Relapse, releasing Tuesday, May 19th. This is Eminem's first studio album in four years. "Jimmy Kimmel Live" will work in association with 5-Hour Energy to put on this unique performance on the Pontiac Garage Outdoor Stage.

T.I. RELEASES STATEMENT REGARDING ALFAMEGA DRAMA.
T.I. has released a statement about Alfamega. T.I. is disassociating himself and his company from the rapper in light of reports that he was a former informant for the DEA. “I am stunned and totally surprised about the news about Alfa (Ced Zellers),” he said. “Even though all of our artists and employees are asked by us to be honest and open about their past history, at no time did Alfa disclose to me or Grand Hustle what has now appeared in the media. He essentially deceived us by failing to fully disclose the truth about his past and there is no place in our organization for this kind of misleading behavior. This is our way of saying you must take responsibility for your own actions. We at Grand Hustle can not support or condone blaming others for our own mistakes. I hope and pray to God bless his financial plans but I don’t forsee me or my company playing a role in his personal or professional business.”

EMI MUSIC RELEASES FINANCIAL REPORT.
EMI Music has issued its financial report for the year ending March 2009. The company showed strong growth in profits and cash flow in its first full year under Terra Firma’s ownership. EMI reported that EBITDA rose over 200 percent to £163 million. This was driven by a £48 million year-over-year reduction in the cost of returns, strong cost management which has now been embedded in the company, and overhead savings from the significant restructuring that was done in 2008. EMI also said it generated operating cash flow of £190 million during the year, way up from the £142 million it recorded in 2008. The company now says it is "firmly on track" to deliver the £200 million ($301.85 million) of cost savings identified at the time of the acquisition in August 2007. Despite the improvement in operating performance, sales were actually down. Commenting on the performance, EMI Music CEO Elio Leoni-Sceti said, "I am very pleased we have delivered this strong operating performance and would like to thank all the staff and artists whose talent, creativity and hard work made it possible. These results are an important first step in building EMI’s future. We cannot afford to be complacent however since there is still a great deal of work to be done to restore EMI to its former greatness and we are doing it in the face of challenging economic conditions. Looking ahead we have some exciting new releases coming up, a much deeper understanding of the music consumer and a new engaged relationship with our artists to build on. Now it has established this platform, EMI can look to the future with confidence and optimism."

WARNER MUSIC REPORTS 1ST QUARTER LOSSES.
The Warner Music Group released it's first-quarter earnings this morning. The major posted a net loss of $68 million, a number that was close to double its loss of $37 million a year ago. The culprit: A one-time charge of $29 million related to the company's investments in digital services Imeem and Lala. “We do not intend to make more digital venture capital investments," Music Group Chief Executive Edgar Bronfman said in this morning's conference call, as quoted by PaidContent. "The intention was to invest in young companies pursuing innovative business models. Some of these digital venture capital investments have not met expectations." The company's charges included a $16-million write-off in Imeem and an $11-million write-down in Lala. Digital music sales, however, continued to rise, up 6% from the comparable quarter last year. When asked, Are there any superstars left? "We are dependent on identifying, signing and retaining artists with long-term potential, whose debut albums are well received on release, whose subsequent albums are anticipated by consumers and whose music will continue to generate sales as part of our catalog for years to come. The competition among record companies for such talent is intense ... Some music industry observers believe that the number of superstar acts with long-term appeal, both in terms of catalog sales and future releases, has declined in recent years."

CASSIE RELEASES STATEMENT:
Cassie issues an official statement regarding her recent nude photos.
"The recent personal pictures that have been leaked on the internet of me were hacked and stolen out of my computer," the statement read. "These photos were obviously never intended for the world to see and it's sad that people would really take time to steal and post them, it's just evil. At the end of the day breasts are breasts, mine weren't the first you've seen and they won't be the last... people need to grow up. Let's move on."

CASSIE'S NUDE PHOTOS LEAKED!! SEE HERE

MIKE JONES' VOICE #2 R&B/HIP HOP ALBUM IN THE COUNTRY
Mike Jones' sophomore CD, The Voice (Ice Age/SwishaHouse/Asylum Records), landed in the Top 5 (#2) on Billboard's "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums" chart and Top 20 (#12) on "The Billboard 200" chart. The Voice is Mike Jones' first release in four years and follows his platinum-plus selling debut, Who? Mike Jones.

BABY EXPLAINS WHY LIL WAYNE WON’T RESPOND TO 50 CENT.
In a recent interview, Bryan Williams aka “Baby”/"Birdman" recently talked about why Lil Wayne decided to not respond to the multiple disses from 50 Cent. “We got money man,” Baby explained. “We on islands and jets fucking hoes. We ain’t trippin’ off petty shit. We got money. Ain’t ever a dark day in my life, why won’t I go spend 250 right now, I’ll burn that bitch… We just did a deal for a 100 mil, we got money for real. It ain’t no game. We ain’t got time for bullshit. We getting money man. We go to the studio that’s money, that’s like $20 million. When I hit your town they pay 250 just to say they saw us… We been through the wars, I got scars from wars. Get with that anytime, but lets get with this money shit, that’s what’s up… Me and my son are rich for real, that’s why I won’t entertain bullshit… Today, I’m the only nigga in the industry, me, my son and my brother that own everything, nobody owns nothin’. We 100 percent in this bitch, we make more than they make.”

RAZOR & TIE EXPAND DISTRO DEAL WITH SONY.
Sony Music Entertainment and Razor & Tie Entertainment have expanded their exclusive distribution agreement to include full digital rights, it was announced today by Thomas Hesse,
President, Global Digital Business, U.S. Sales, and Corporate Strategy, Sony Music Entertainment, and Craig Balsam and Cliff Chenfeld, Co-owners, Razor & Tie Entertainment. Sony Music has distributed Razor & Tie's audio products since 1998. Under the terms of this multi-year agreement, Sony Music Entertainment will deliver physical and digital content from Razor & Tie's extensive artist roster across all commercial channels and on a variety of digital
platforms, including online and mobile. "Razor & Tie has been a valued partner of ours for more than a decade now," commented Mr. Hesse. "We couldn't be more pleased to be extending and
expanding our agreement with Razor & Tie as Sony Music continues to further build its distribution business with the best companies in the music industry." "Sony Music Entertainment has been an integral part of our success over the years," commented Mr. Balsam. "The company offers an unparalleled portfolio of distribution services and the team has an unwavering
commitment to customers. With their help, we have continued to grow our business and reach new customers."

BUMPY JOHNSON'S WIDOW PASSES AWAY.
Mayme Hatcher Johnson, a native of North Carolina who spent most of her life in Harlem, died in Philadelphia on Friday, May 1, 2009 of respiratory failure. Mrs. Johnson was born in 1914 in NC, and moved to New York City in 1938, where she found work as a waitress in a club owned by singer/actress Ethel Waters. In 1948 she met and married Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson, the legendary Harlem gangster who was depicted in the movies "The Cotton Club," "Hoodlum," and "American Gangster." In her book,, she told of meeting Bumpy for the first time in a Harlem restaurant. "Before long I was known as Bumpy's girl. It was a good title to possess. It meant I could get in anywhere I wanted to go, I was treated as queen wherever I went, and I was showered with gifts and jewelry on a steady basis. It also meant that I was constantly accosted by other women who were in love with Bumpy and wanted me out of the way. At first I was upset, but then I pretty much learned to ignore them. Like Bumpy said, they wouldn't even be stepping to me if they didn't realize that I was the one real woman in his life. And hell if I was going to let them back me away from a man who treated me as good as Bumpy treated me. . . Bumpy and I met in April 1948. In October that year we were driving past 116th and St. Nicholas Avenue in his Cadillac when he suddenly turned to me and said, "Mayme, I think you and I should go ahead and get married." I was stunned, but I kept my composure. I said simply, "Is that right?"
He said, "Yes, that's right," and kept on driving. We were married in a civil ceremony just two weeks later." She remained married to Bumpy until his death of a heart attack in 1968, though he was incarcerated at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary for ten years of their marriage. Mrs. Johnson was a long-time member of St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Harlem, and was known for her charitable and volunteer activities. "Mayme was a class act, and had a big heart," said Henry "Perk" Perkins, a Harlem restaurateur who was a close friend of both Bumpy and Mrs. Johnson. "She was the sweetest woman in the world, but she didn't take any nonsense. She carried herself like a real lady and expected to be treated as such." In 2004, Mrs. Johnson moved to Philadelphia, and three years later decided to finally write a biography about her husband, so that "people could know the truth about him rather than all the myths." Harlem Godfather was published in February 2008. More than 200 people attended the book launch party held in Harlem. "Yeah, she was tickled pink to tell people she was an author at age 93," Perkins said with a laugh. "Boy, it really made her proud to finally get that book done." Mrs. Johnson was notified two days before her death that a film production company was negotiating to purchase a book option for Harlem Godfather. Mrs. Johnson is survived by a granddaughter Margaret Johnson of New York City; a grandson Anthony Johnson of London, England; a sister Lily Andrews of North Carolina; a brother Melvin Hatcher of North Carolina; and two goddaughters Karen E. Quinones Miller and Camille R. Quinones Miller of Philadelphia. A daughter, Ruthie Johnson and stepdaughter, Elease Johnson both died in 2006. Final arrangements are private at the family's request.

NEW MUSIC - EMINEM FT. DR. DRE.
Check out the latest joint "Old Times Sake" LISTEN

IRV GOTTI LANDS GIG WITH FILA?
Since landing his gig on VH1, The Inc CEO Irv Gotti tells XXL mag that he inked a deal with sneaker company Fila. “The show actually helps business dealings out tremendously,” he said. “I am a Consultant for Fila. And my kids actually have a sneaker with Fila. The ASJ Melrose Edition Fila Sneaker. ASJ is the 1st letters of the kids. Angie, Sonny and JJ. With me having a show a lot of companies see it as a great opportunity for exposure for their brands.” Along with the Fila gig the record executive said the show helps his artists get airplay. “It also helps music- wise because it gives my artist exposure that other artists just can’t get,” he explained. “And you form a relationship with the music channels. So it makes it easier to get videos and other things done with them. You’re a part of the Viacom family.”

FIF COMMENTS ON RICK ROSS' #1 ALBUM.
When asked about the first-week sales of Deeper Than Rap, Ross' latest effort, 50 Cent wondered if the numbers were somehow flubbed by the record company. "I didn't get an opportunity to hear his record," Fif said in an interview. "But a lot of freak numbers come out of the Def Jam system. I mean, just look at it. I think [his numbers] could be a disappointment to the system, based on how much of an effort and money they spent marketing, but I can't call a number one a flop under any circumstances." He continued,"I think it can be a disappointment to the system, based on how much of an effort and money they spent marketing," 50 explained. "But you can't call a #1 [album] a 'flop' under any circumstances. It's still #1." Source: Mtv

T-PAIN LINKS UP WITH AQUA TEEN HUNGER FORCE.
T-Pain will star in an upcoming episode of Adult Swim’s Aqua Teen Hunger Force as Frylock, a flying box of fries, for a special live-action episode this month, according to Entertainment Weekly. T-Pain says he is a big fan of the show, sporting a pendant of Mooninite character Ignignokt in the music video for the Ludacris collab, “One More Drink,”as well as contributing a voiceover in a past Aqua Teen episode. The show will air on May 31 on the Cartoon Network.

WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY SIGNS MARY J. BLIGE
WMA has signed Mary J. Blige. According to Variety, the agency will rep the nine-time Grammy winner in all areas and guide the expansion plans of her entertainment company, Matriarch Entertainment. Blige had been repped by ICM. Blige's eight albums have sold over 48 million copies. Her last release, "Growing Pains," won the Grammy for contemporary R&B album. WMA will help her as she broadens her brand into other areas. Blige has already branched out into acting, appearing on "Entourage," filming the series finale of "30 Rock," and starring in Tyler Perry's "I Can Do Bad All by Myself," set for release on Sept. 11. Blige has several endorsement deals, currently featured in campaigns for Chevrolet, Citibank and Carol's Daughter, the cosmetics company that she owns with Will Smith, Jada Pinkett-Smith and Jay-Z. With manager Kendu Isaacs, Blige formed Matriarch Entertainment/ Records, whose roster includes Dave Young and Laneah. Matriarch is partnered with the management shingle Content, run by Jaha Johnson and Chris Hicks, which has also moved its business to WMA.

EX-COPPER RICKY ROSS GOES #1.
Rapper Rick Ross has scored his third #1 debut with his new album, Deeper Than Rap, which sold 158,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. His last two efforts, 2008's Trilla and 2006's Port Of Miami, also bowed at #1. Slip-N-Slide CEO Ted Lucas expressed some words towards the ex-copper's battle with 50 Cent. “When I heard about all that was going down, I knew that musically Ross would rebut by making great music and come out on top,” Lucas, who inked Ross to his first deal, told Billboard. “If he wants to get caught up in personal issues, that’s fine, but I never doubted him musically and lyrically.” “Ross is an incredible rapper and not too many people can out-rap him,” praised Lucas further, putting to rest rumors of friction between himself and Ross. “I want his label, Maybach Music, to blow up. I want to see people I help get started doing things. I’m always going to be supportive of him.”

ASHANTI TO PLAY DOROTHY IN "WIZ"
Ashanti has been confirmed to play Dorothy in the musical 'The Wiz’ which will run in New York this summer (June 12-July 5.) The musical, which made its Broadway debut in 1975, won seven Tony Awards and was made into a movie in 1978. Quincy Jones produced the movie’s soundtrack, with Michael Jackson playing Scarecrow and Diana Ross as Dorothy. No other casting has been announced for the production, helmed by Thomas Kail and choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler.

SMIRNOFF SIGNATURE MIX SERIES PRESENTS "I Got Cha Opin' '09 (Smirnoff Signature Mix)" by Buckshot + Kardinal Offishall. Today marks the debut of "I Got Cha Opin '09 (Smirnoff Signature Mix)" by Buckshot + Kardinal Offishall. LISTEN HERE
The Smirnoff Signature Mix Series is part of the brand's ongoing commitment to foster and promote both established and emerging musical talent. This is the second installment of the acclaimed program, designed to bring together respected artists in the hip hop community to recreate clearly original versions of iconic hip hop songs with a newly-mixed interpretation. Buckshot teamed up with Kardinal Offishall to put an original spin on his memorable underground hit, "I Got Cha Opin." Also in the mix, legendary artist Nas teamed up with Marsha Ambrosius, formerly of Floetry, to rework his Grammy-nominated single "If I Ruled the World"; and Nice & Smooth joined musical forces with Pac Div to create a new interpretation of "Funky For You". (See Below)

BEYONCE DOMINATES NATION'S FILM AND CONCERT TICKET SALES.
Beyonce is dominating both the music and film industries this week. "Obsessed," Beyonce's latest film (and first to feature the artist in a non-singing role), is the #1 film at America's box offices, bringing in an estimated $28.5 million for its opening weekend. A taut stalker-thriller,
"Obsessed" holds the record as the all-time highest grossing film for the last weekend in April (surpassing 2004's "Mean Girls"). "Obsessed" is Beyonce's third feature film to open at #1 (following 2002's "Austin Powers in Goldmember" and 2006's "The Pink Panther"). "Obsessed" is Executive Produced by Mathew Knowles, Founder/CEO of Music World Entertainment and Beyonce Knowles. The film is being released by Sony Pictures Screen Gems division. Beyonce launched the European portion of her "I AM..." world tour on Sunday night with an electrifying sold-out performance in Zagreb, Croatia. More than 17,500 ecstatic fans -- the largest single audience for an international artist in Croatian concert history -- danced, sang-along and
partied with the iconic superstar during an unforgettable two-hour show at Zagreb's Arena. "Halo," the current single from "I AM....SASHA FIERCE," Beyonce's latest chart-topping album, is a bonafide international smash. "Halo" has been the #1 on the UK airplay charts for five weeks running and is the #1 single in Norway. The single is #4 this week on Europe's airplay charts and
#6 on the singles chart. "Halo" is already Top 10 or better in Ireland (#3 airplay, #4 singles), Germany (#6 singles), Austria (#5 singles), Sweden (#10 singles, #1 CHR), and Switzerland (#9 airplay, #5 singles). The Northern American leg of the "I AM..." world tour will begin in New
York City on June 21. General public tickets for Beyonce's "I AM..." world tour went on sale Friday, the same day as the opening of "Obsessed." Overwhelming demand for premium packages and general tickets for the shows have made the "I AM..." tour one of the fastest selling concert events of the year. A second Madison Square Garden concert date has been added in New York City on June 22. Beyonce will cap off the tour with a four-night residency at Encore at Wynn Las Vegas July 30-August 2

LIL WAYNE, KANYE AND T-PAIN MAKE TIME'S TOP 100 MOST INFLUENTUAL LIST.
Lil Wayne has taken the number 12 spot on Time magazine’s “World’s Most Influential Person” list. “His Grammy-winning, multi-platinum album, Tha Carter III, was the perfect showcase for Wayne’s raw, hilarious, and often outer-planetary rap style,” Time explains of Lil Wayne. “And his Southern-gentleman act is legit, as evidenced by his slightly flirty interview with Katie Couric.” T-Pain takes #34. Kanye West takes #144. SEE THE LIST HERE

SWIZZ BEATZ TEAM UP WITH COGNAC
Rapper/producer Swizz Beatz and Hennessy V.S. are teaming to launch a new, limited line of cognac, called Hennessy Black. The artist will perform an original song, "When I Step Into the Club," alongside the JabbaWockeez of "America's Best Dance Crew" during a launch event in New York on May 5, According to Billboard. An accompanying video by director Hype Williams will be revealed as well. "Beatz is a long-time fan of the brand and approached us looking for ways we could work together. Since this product is all about having fun in the club, he suggested collaborating on a track that would be a hot dance song in the clubs," Andy Glaser, senior VP of Hennessy Business, tells Billboard. Hennessy will launch a dance contest titled "Up/Down" on their YouTube channel, where consumers will be able to create and post their own "Up/Down" dance for a chance to be flown to LA, where Williams will film and cut them into a new version of the video to "When I Step In the Club." Hennessy Black, the company's first major launch since 1961, will be available in 10 markets throughout the U.S. including Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, New York City, Ohio, Washington DC and Massachusetts. The company hopes the new drink - which has a blend of Jasmine, daffodils and orange flowers mixed with citrus, honey and grapes - will take the Hennessy brand beyond the cognac category to the premium mixed spirits.

FORMER CLIPSE MANAGER INDICTED ON $10 MILLION DRUG RING.
According to the Virginia Pilot, Anthony Gonzalez, former Clipse manager and club owner has been indicted and charged with being behind a 10-million dollar drug this week by a U.S. District Court. An unnamed police officer also is listed as an unindicted co-conspirator in the 60-page indictment. Federal authorities say the six-year drug operation was based at the former club Encore Lounge and led by the club's owner, Anthony Gonzalez. The indictment says Gonzalez bought the club at 1889 Virginia Beach Blvd. in November 2007 from an unidentified co-conspirator for 40 pounds of marijuana and about $80,000 in drug proceeds. The club closed earlier this year after more than 100 incidents of violence, shootings, drug dealing and disorderly conduct. The 82-count indictment charges Gonzalez, 34, of Chesapeake and six others in a drug conspiracy that stretches from Hampton Roads across the country to South America and back. Police and federal agents were still searching for Gonzalez, also known as Geezy, as of late Monday. Two suspected underlings, brothers Raymond D. McCoy, 24, and John Lee McCoy III, 26, were in court Monday and ordered jailed pending bond hearings on Wednesday. Another suspect, Richard W. Hoggard, 25, who was arrested Friday, will have a bond hearing today. The indictment says the operation has distributed more than a ton of marijuana and more than 100 pounds of cocaine since 2003 throughout Hampton Roads. The suspects obtained drugs mostly from Panama, Arizona, California and Florida, and either flew them here or drove them with cars containing hidden compartments, the indictment says. The indictment also says an unidentified police officer, who sources say is from Norfolk, fed information about the drug inquiry to Gonzalez. A Norfolk police spokesman declined to comment on the matter Monday. Gonzalez and other suspects lived lavishly, staying at a ritzy Arizona resort while obtaining multiple kilos of cocaine and hundreds of pounds of marijuana at a time, according to the indictment. Gonzalez bought himself a $127,000 Bentley sedan and a $90,000 Mercedes-Benz. He's also accused of laundering proceeds through various businesses, including Soul Providers Management, Soul Providers Entertainment, D&A Trucking and the nightclub. Soul Providers Management is listed as the booking agent for Clipse on Clipse's MySpace Web page. The suspects held "themselves out as music producers, rappers, entrepreneurs, club owners, clothing designers and other legitimate occupations in order to conceal the true source of their income," the indictment says. This is not the first time the club, between Laskin and First Colonial roads, has been linked to narcotics trafficking. Onetime Olympic gold medal winner Tim Montgomery, who had been a partner at the club, was charged and convicted of selling heroin from the club in 2007. He's serving a five-year prison term. It's unclear whether there's a connection between this case and the Montgomery case, though both were led by the Drug Enforcement Administration with help from the Virginia Beach Police Department, and the alleged sales by Gonzalez cited in the indictment were occurring at the same time and at the club. Officials with the DEA, the U.S. attorney's office and the Beach police declined to comment. Federal agents recorded many of the drug sales, according to the indictment. In one call, Gonzalez is told by one of his suppliers that, "I'm here with my boy and he's giving me something right now... it's really nice... like half in buds... half in shake," the indictment says. In another recorded call, Gonzalez refers to himself as the "Last of the Mohicans" because he had not yet been caught, further stating, "They know that I ain't crazy enough" to be dealing with "hand-to-hand stuff," the court papers say. Gonzalez oversaw some of the biggest drug shipments while underlings traveled the country making smaller deals, the indictment says. In one transaction, Gonzalez is accused of purchasing 625 pounds of marijuana for $540,000 in May 2007 from a supplier in Arizona. In another, he's accused of buying 10 kilos of cocaine for $200,000. Gonzalez had been the manager of the rappers Clipse at least through 2006, according to news reports. Clipse is brothers Pusha and Malice - Terrence and Gene Thornton - from Virginia Beach. Efforts to reach the rap stars were unsuccessful Monday. Clipse is still featured on Encore's MySpace page. The other suspects in the ring were identified in the indictment as Charles A. Sanderlin, 25; Shawn J. Branch, 35; and Ron Q. Williams, 32. Williams is in federal prison on an unrelated crime. Branch and Sanderlin had not been arrested as of Monday.

SNOOP TESTIFIES IN COURT.
Snoop Dogg told jurors in a Santa Monica court that he didn't hit a man suing him for millions of dollars with a brass-knuckle microphone during a melee at one of his 2005 concerts. The rapper took the stand for nearly two hours and denied that he hit Richard Monroe Jr. during the show near Seattle. Broadus said he went back to his tour bus immediately after Monroe jumped on stage and was tackled by security. Broadus described the people who were on stage during a melee in which Monroe claims he was seriously injured. He identified several people near the struggle as being affiliated with the Game, a fellow rapper who toured with Snoop on the "How the West Was Won" tour. The often-playful entertainer was mostly serious while on the stand on April 27, but did include a few moments of levity while detailing who he saw on stage in a frame-by-frame analysis. When a face on a screen shot proved difficult to make out, Broadus told his attorney, "Man! I can't make it out - a lot of bald heads." For the most part, he unflinchingly identified the performers and security personnel who can be seen on the video struggling around Monroe. Monroe's attorneys challenged Broadus' clear recollection of the incident from the screen shots and attempted to question the rapper about drug use the night of the concert. A judge rejected that request. Broadus, for his part, said the shots shown in court on Monday were clearer than ones he was shown during a deposition. Monroe sued in 2006, claiming he was seriously injured after Broadus and members of his entourage and security detail struck him and poured alcohol on him during a performance of the hit "Gin and Juice." He sued for $22 million; a 12-person jury will decide whether he receives any money. Monroe testified on Friday that he woke up backstage, naked and in a pool of blood after the altercation. He said he was responding to what he thought was a call for audience members to join the performers on stage. Broadus' attorneys have argued that Monroe was wrong to come on stage and that the rappers' security was reacting because they thought Snoop was being attacked. Broadus told jurors essentially the same thing on Monday. "The best way for the injuries not to have occurred [was] for him to stay in his seat and enjoy the show like the rest of the fans," Broadus said. Source: Billboard

SCOTT STORCH RECOVERING FROM COCAINE ADDICTION.
In an interview with MTV, Storch revealed that he has hit rock bottom. The producer is currently recovering from a cocaine addiction. "I'm taking it back to square one," he said, sitting in a Miami studio. The boards in the factory displayed his name and his publishing company, Tuff Jew. "I found myself slipping a little bit," he said with a very anxious look on his face. "I got involved in doing drugs. I had to get myself into recovery. Being in the life that I was living — very fast-moving, option to do anything you want, go anywhere you wanna go — it definitely takes its toll on you, and you lose your concept of reality. I had to get it under control. I had to take it back to the beginning and back to the Hit Factory, where I made a lot of my hits." Storch is currently living in a three-quarter house, where he is supervised by a live-in counselor but allowed to go to work in the studio as long as he's back by curfew. "Just taking it day by day," the producer said of his life now. "I haven't won the war. It's not like something you can just fix and it's just gone. Addiction is a disease, and I have to constantly battle it. I feel so much better and have more clarity, especially in the studio. It's cool. It's been a really productive period. ... With the help of my publisher TVT, I've had the chance to woodshed and come up with a whole new vibe. I'm very happy right now."

MYSPACE AND DEF JAM HOST JADAKISS CONCERT
MySpace Music and Def Jam Records will host a Jadakiss concert event to celebrate the official release of his new album "The Last Kiss" featuring the hit singles "By My Side," "Can't Stop Me," and "Letter To B.I.G." Special guest DJ Knuckles to perform. Donations will be accepted for Operation Hideo. The concert is scheduled for April 28 in Los Angeles, c a.

NEW VIDEO - CAPPADONNA - LIFES A GAMBLE ft. RAEKWON - WATCH HERE

BET NETWORKS REVAMP THEIR LINEUP.
BET Networks reveals a new direction for the company and the launch of a new cable network, CENTRIC. "Given the historic change our country has experienced, this is the perfect time for BET Networks to re-examine where we are as a company and what we can be for our audience," said Debra L. Lee, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, BET Networks. "As the #1 African American media company in the world, we have a unique opportunity to make the world of our audience better and provide them with quality entertainment that speaks to where they are in their lives and where they want to go. BET's reinvigorated approach is built on supporting families, embracing and encouraging their dreams, focusing on the issues that are important to them and presenting the freshest talent and entertainment." "we're confident that our new programming line-up and brand strategy will allow us to build on our strong momentum," said Scott Mills, President and Chief Operating Officer, BET Networks. "We're also extremely excited about the launch of our new network, CENTRIC, which is designed for, focused on and central to the African American adult experience." The new shows are:

-- THE MO'NIQUE SHOW, the network's new nightly talk/variety show featuring the incomparable actress/comedienne;

-- CHANGING LANES, in partnership with The 909 Group and NASCAR Media Group, a unique and exciting series chronicling the     search for the sport's next generation of drivers;

-- CREWS CONTROL, a reality series about the life of talented actor Terry Crews (Everybody Hates Chris, Terminator Salvation),    his wife Rebecca and their five kids;

-- MONICA: STILL STANDING, a new docu-drama following the GRAMMY(R) Award-winning artist as she balances raising a young   family and making her comeback in the music industry; and more.

-- THE HOLLYWOOD TREATMENT, a powerful reality series that pairs celebrities with individuals looking to transform their lives.

CENTRIC: A NEW BET NETWORK   BET Networks also will announce its new entertainment and music channel, CENTRIC. This new network - aimed at today's affluent, trend-setting, sophisticated African American adult - was created through the collective creative resources and expertise of BET Networks and MTV Networks, and is scheduled to launch in the fourth quarter of 2009 in nearly 45 million homes. Programming offered on CENTRIC will include: KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES, which will follow the drama-filled lives of Houston's high society; MODEL CITY, a series about young African American male models trying to make it in New York City; REAL LIFE DIVAS and LEADING MEN, profile shows about African American women and men who have impacted American culture; and URBAN LIVIN', a chic lifestyle interior design show.

SOUNDSCAN CHART NUMBERS/STATS- Week Ending 04/21/09
Day 26 debuts Forever in a Day @ #2 with 113,314 copies sold. Jadakiss' Last Kiss takes #6 with 44,785 copies sold (179,706 total). Flo Rida's R.o.o.t.s grabs #21 with 18,779 copies sold (105,879 total) ..Hiow bout T.I. ? Is he still selling units? What about Kanye, Bow Wow, Gorilla Zoe, etc..? See where your favorite rapper is placing on the charts..
GRAB THE FULL CHART REPORT HERE

EMINEM CHECKS IN AT SHADE 45. NEW MUSIC!! LISTEN HERE
Eminem appeared this morning (April 23) on Angela Yee’s Lip Service show (Shade 45 Sirius Satellite Radio channel) to promote his upcoming album. Em said with Dr. Dre producing most of the album, he was allowed to focus more on being creative with his vocal presence. “Dre made a lot of tracks,” he explained, “and I would get to pick through them and I tried to pick the ones that would challenge me rhythm-wise. I tried to experiment with a bunch of different flows, “ he said. “I try to do that every album, but this album I actually got an opportunity to sit down, and go all out with, and try to make every flow different and just pick unique beats.” Em’s manager and business partner Paul Rosenberg told listeners that the rapper will be making a cameo in a movie this summer. Without giving any further information Rosenberg said, “It’s kind of like a big deal.” Em added that he’s open to returning to the film world, “We’re definitely open to scripts and I’m definitely looking to get back into it soon,” he said enthusiastically. Check out his latest single "3 A.M." prod. by Dr Dre. LISTEN HERE

HAZARDOUS/UNAUTHORIZED RECORDS INKS LABEL DEAL WITH ASYLUM RECORDS.
Fresh off the success of the hit single "I Do It" by their flagship artist Real Dynamite Raleigh, North Carolina based record label Hazardous/Unauthorized Records has officially inked a label deal with Asylum records. Hazardous/Unauthorized Records now joins the ranks of other notable Asylum Records labels such as Trill Ent. (Lil' Bossie & Webbie), Swhisha House (Paul Wall and Mike Jones), So Icey Ent. (OJ Da Juiceman & Gucci Mane), Diplomat Records (Cam'ron), D4L Records (Shawty Lo), and a host of other successful indie labels. Hazardous Records Label Manager Joe Wunstop says the label looks forward to not only strengthening their own notoriety but helping pave the way for other Carolina based labels to sign similar deals. The Hazardous Records roster consists of solo artist Real Dynamite, duo Ike and Shyst, and their in-house production crew "The Firemen". The label plans to release a revamped version of Real Dynamites first single "I Do It" featuring DJ Khaled within the next month in preparation for his debut album slated to drop early Fall '09 and they've locked in Grammy Nominated singer/songwriter Keri Hilson for Real Dynamite's 2nd single "Energy" which will hit radio the end of the summer.

JUDGE REJECTS LIL WAYNE'S REQUEST TO BLOCK RELEASE.
A state court judge has refused a request by rapper Lil Wayne to block the release of QD3 Entertainment's documentary "The Carter." Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael S. Mink denied Wayne's request for a preliminary injunction this week according to Variety. The film, written and directed by Adam Bhala Lough, was an official selection at Sundance. Wayne sued QD3, QD3 topper Quincy Jones III and Digerati Holdings last month, alleging Wayne was not allowed to exercise his right of approval over the contents of the film. Reps for Wayne were not immediately available for comment. Jones said Tuesday the ruling frees QD3 to seek distribution of the film. "We're very pleased with the court's decision," Jones said. "We made a great film, which was incredibly well received at Sundance, and showcases Lil Wayne's extraordinary talent."

'DMC' TO BE HONORED BY ROTARY CLUB.
On Saturday, May 30, 2009, the Rotary Club of Century City will honor the legendary Darryl "DMC" McDaniels with the "Service Above Self" award for his dedication to disadvantaged youth in the inner cities. The award will be presented during the club's 2nd Annual "Service Above Self" Star of the Avenue Gala dinner at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel, 2025 Avenue Of The Stars Los Angeles, CA 90067, a month after McDaniels' induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. "DMC's commitment to helping inner city youth mirrors Rotary International's objective to use one's occupation as an opportunity to serve society," said Shahram Hazany, president of the Rotary Club of Century City. "The Rotary Club of Century City is honored to present the 'Service Above Self' award to an artist who is dedicated to using his musical success toward improving the lives of children." The event will begin with a cocktail reception at 6:00 p.m., with dinner following at 7:00 p.m. R&B superstar Soso Perez, granddaughter of Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Solomon Burke, and comedian Artrell "Buckwow" Jackson will provide entertainment for the evening. Sponsorship packages start at $5,000 and include a reserved table for 10. Tribute book advertisements are also available. Individual tickets can be purchased for $250. In honor of McDaniels' dedicated work, this year's Star of the Avenue Gala dinner is intended to bring awareness to the challenges and opportunities that exist within the inner cities. Proceeds from the Star of the Avenue Award Gala Dinner will benefit the Felix Organization, Streetlight Production Assistant Program, Homeboys Industries, Compton Foundation, and Morningside High School 0711 Program, all dedicated to helping youth in the inner city.

**RUMOR CONTROL: Keyshia Cole and Maino Are Not An Item**
Manny Halley, CEO of Imani Entertainment and Keyshia Cole’s manager/business partner is dispelling all rumors of Keyshia Cole and rapper Maino dating. On behalf of Keyshia Cole and Imani Entertainment, Manny has released the following statement:

“In response to the rumor about superstar R&B Artist Keyshia Cole dating rapper Maino, which has been floating around the ‘Net, I, Manny Halley would like all the bloggers to personally know that there is no truth to this rumor. Keyshia and Maino do not have a personal relationship at all. Keyshia is gearing up for her headlining tour with Dream, Keri and Bobby Valentino, working on a script for her biopic and working in the studio nightly on her 4th studio release, which is slated for December 2009.” Keyshia is too busy right now for a relationship to slow her down. But rest assured that she is involved in a love triangle with her, herself and her money.

GUN CHARGES DROPPED AGAINST FLESH-N-BONE.
Gun possession charges against Stanley Howse, one of the founding members of the rap group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, were dropped today in a Santa Clarita courthouse. “The defense turned over some information, and we investigated and realized we were unable to proceed with the charges as filed, so the judge dismissed the case,” said Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles district attorney’s office. Howse, who is on parole, was pulled over April 2 by Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies, who noticed a brake light was out on his car, Robison said. Deputies then conducted a search of Howse’s vehicle and his Canyon Country home, where they recovered a 9-millimeter semiautomatic pistol. The Grammy-winning rapper known as Flesh-N-Bone was arrested and charged with gun possession by a felon. Howse, 35, and his attorney Shepard Kopp, of the Geragos & Geragos law firm, have maintained that the weapon belonged to Howse’s wife, a Chicago police officer who is on leave from the Chicago Police Department and recently moved to California. The dismissal of the case left his client “overjoyed,” Kopp said. “It vindicates what I’ve said from the start of this case, which is that Mr. Howse did not possess any contraband,” he said. “When you haven’t done anything wrong and you wind up in jail it’s a pretty traumatic event. There’s still a parole hold, and we hope to get that resolved within the next week.” Prosecutors said Howse has five prior felony convictions dating back more than a decade that include assault with a semiautomatic weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon and assault likely to produce great bodily injury. Source: LA Times

MYSPACE THROWING BASH IN ATLANTA WITH MIKE JONES, BUN B AND PAUL WALL.
MySpace Music is proud to announce the "Beyond the Sound" concert featuring Mike Jones, Bun B and Paul Wall at The Loft in Atlanta, GA, on Wednesday, April 22. The Texas hip-hop icons will perform a free show for their MySpace Music friends to celebrate the release of their upcoming (and recently-released) respective albums, with special guest DJ Knuckles. Doors open for the show at 8:00 p.m. and admittance will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis. "Beyond the Sound" is a new music program bringing MySpace DJs and producers across the country together to perform alongside buzz-worthy artists, giving fans an in-depth look at their music via intimate live shows and video interviews. The "Beyond the Sound" show featuring Mike Jones, Bun B and Paul Wall is being powered by Coca-Cola.

WARREN G CELEBRATES 420 WITH RELEASE OF EXCLUSIVE 420 ANTHEM FEATURING TRAVIS BARKER. Warren G f/Travis Barker & Black Nicc “Lets Get High” (420 Anthem): LISTEN HERE--- His laid back flow and production have made him an undisputed Hip-Hop legend, but those attributes and accomplishments have and always will certify multi-platinum rapper and producer, Warren G as a West Coast icon. While many West Coast artists such as Tupac, Dr. Dre, and Snoop signed record deals with LA's Death Row Records, Warren G took an alternative route and signed with Def Jam in New York, quickly proving he had something remarkable up his sleeve. His 1994 debut album, Regulate...G Funk Era, certified Warren G as a multi-platinum internationally acclaimed artist, selling over 10 million units worldwide. He also received multiple award nominations (Grammy, American Music, Soul Train) for his smash hit “Regulator.” Def Jam founder and the God Father of Hip Hop, Russell Simmons, would later cite Warren G's signing as “a turning point" for the storied Def Jam Records imprint and its subsequent mega-success. "After that, Def Jam never looked back," Simmons wrote in his book Life and Def. Likewise, as one of the first rap artists on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” Warren G helped put the West Coast on the Hip-Hop map with his success and by nurturing the careers of many other talented artists. Subsequent albums Take a Look Over Your Shoulder (1997) and I Want It All (1999) were certified gold and generated hits "I Want It All" and "I Shot The Sheriff," a cover of Bob Marley's popular song by the same name. Warren’s 2001 release Return of the Regulator showcased his studio skills through working with legendary artists like Stevie Wonder and George Clinton (the two, alongside the late Tupac Shakur, are cited by Warren as some of the great highlights of his extensive collaborations over the years). With five LP’s already under his belt, Warren G will release his sixth studio LP, Tha G Files, in August 2009 (an entirely self-produced effort) and in order to celebrate its impending release and mark 4-20, he is releasing a very special 420 promotion free download of “Lets Get High” (4:20 Anthem) f/ Black Nicc and Blink 182’s Travis Barker who adds his unparalleled drumming abilities to the track (“Lets Get High” will also be included on Warren’s upcoming Tha G Files LP). "I wanted to do something very special this year to support the 420 movement, explains Warren G. "Marijuana has been proven to be an effective medicinal treatment for cancer and many other medical problems", he adds.

KANYE AND WEEZY TO ROCK OUT IN DENMARK.
Kanye West, Nine Inch Nails, Oasis, Lil Wayne and Coldplay are set to headline the 39th annual Roskilde Festival, to be held July 2-5 outside of Copenhagen, Denmark. Additional artists slated to perform at the seven-stage event, which is the longest-running outdoor music festival in the world, include Lily Allen, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Pet Shop Boys, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Slipknot, The Mars Volta, Royksopp and Gang Gang Dance, among others. According to Billboard, it's the “longest running music festival in the world.” Roskilde promoters anticipate 75,000 in attendance for the festival. Part of the proceeds will go towards environmental issues in India and Bangladesh.

RICK ROSS ALBUM LEAKS A WEEK EARLY
Digital music news reports that upcoming releases from Rick Ross and Asher Roth are now leaking, according to monitoring from data partner BigChampagne. The Rick Ross album, Deeper Than Rap, was found on the web this past Tuesday. That is one full week ahead of its official release date of April 21st.

NBA ENLISTS KANYE FOR PLAYOFFS. WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
The NBA has recruited Kanye West's latest single, "Amazing," as the musical backdrop for its 2009 playoffs campaign. A new music video produced by NBA Entertainment in which memorable moments from past playoff games was released which features Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and other NBA players are sequenced against the pounding beat of the West track. Charles Rosenzweig, NBA senior VP, entertainment & player marketing, calls the selection a "no brainer. For decades the NBA has enjoyed an extensive relationship with the music industry-it is part of our game, our presentation, our marketing. This is a classic case where we heard the song and knew right away it was the perfect fit with our overall campaign." The 2009 NBA Playoffs tip off April 18 with games airing nationally on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT and NBA TV. Source: Billboard

“RECORD STORE DAY” GOING DOWN THIS SATURDAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
On Saturday April 18, hundreds of independently-owned music stores across the country will simultaneously link and act as one with the purpose of celebrating the culture and unique place that they occupy both in their local communities and nationally. This is the one day that all of the independently owned record stores come together with artists to celebrate the art of music. Several Universal Music Group artists and labels will be releasing special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products exclusively for Record Store Day including The Killers, Def Jam 25, BB King, Queen, Sublime, Whiskeytown, and MANY MORE! Festivities at the stores include performances, cook-outs, body painting, meet & greets with artists, parades, djs spinning records and on and on.

ASCAP APPOINTS NEW CHAIRMAN.
Paul Williams has been elected chairman and prexy of the songwriters rights org ASCAP.
Williams will succeed Marilyn Bergman, who announced her resignation as after 15 years at the helm of ASCAP earlier this month. Williams, who has been an ASCAP board member for the past eight years and vice chairman for two years, was elected Thursday (today) ayem at the ASCAP board of directors meeting in Nashville. Williams' has earned an Oscar for co-writing with Barbra Streisand "Evergreen," the theme from "A Star Is Born," and he's earned five other Oscar noms. He's also been active for years as thesp in film and TV shows.

NATE DOGG CLEARED ON STALKER CHARGES.
Nate Dogg has been cleared of criminal charges stemming from a case involving his estranged wife, according to the Associated Press. Nate, who had been charged with stalking and threatening charges, was let off the hook after California prosecuters said they never heard from the woman who pressed the charges.

MADAME TUSSAUDS UNVEILS SNOOP DOGG WAX STATUE
Today, the world famous wax attraction, Madame Tussauds announced that they will be unveiling a wax statue in the likeness of famed rapper/actor/entrepreneur Snoop Dogg on April 20, 2009 at their Las Vegas location. SEE THE PHOTO HERE

KID CUDI JOINS MOTOWN.
Kid Cudi is joining the artist roster of Universal Motown, the label announced today. “Kid Cudi is at the vanguard of a game-changing new generation of artists,” said Universal Motown President Sylvia Rhone. “He crosses musical boundaries with an appeal that goes beyond genre, format, race, language, and culture. Cudi lives easily in the hip-hop, indie rock, pop, and R&B worlds – a diversity that shows in his innovative music and his all-embracing persona. He is a born storyteller who brings a positive, life-affirming message to his brilliant lyrical flow and compelling music. There are no clichés in what Cudi does. He is a breath of fresh air – a dynamic and important new voice, not only in the next phase of hip-hop, but as a groundbreaking trendsetter who represents the future. I am thrilled to welcome Kid Cudi into the Universal Motown family.” Cleveland, Ohio native KID CUDI (pronounced CUT-ty, with short ‘u’), now residing in Brooklyn, New York, is completing his debut album, Man on the Moon: The Guardian, for late summer 2009 release on Dream On/G.O.O.D. Music/Universal Motown. Cudi also is launching his own label, Dream On, along with partners Emile and Plain Pat, in a joint venture with G.O.O.D. Music later this year. “Cudi is a combination of constant inspiration, struggle, reality and dreams put to melody!” declared superstar producer/artist and G.O.O.D. Music label founder Kanye West. KID CUDI holds two slots in the Billboard Top 20 singles this week: as an artist on his own single, and as co-writer of West’s double-platinum smash “Heartless.” “Partnering Kid Cudi with Universal Motown and Sylvia Rhone couldn't be a more natural fit,” commented Emile and Plain Pat. “They were the first major company to take notice of our movement and truly grasp our vision. We are thrilled to extend and deepen our relationship. It's a great feeling to watch the world discover the talent we saw in Cudi over these past years.” The ingenious, spaced-out wit and sparse but addictive electronic arrangement of “Day ’N’ Nite” has already made the song a Top 5 iTunes download – No. 4 on the Top Songs list, and No. 3 on Rap/Hip-Hop -- while debuting in Billboard’s Hot Digital Tracks chart at No. 6, at the threshold of gold certification with over 450,000 digital singles sold; and on Hot Ringmasters at No. 10. “Day ’N’ Nite” is a bulleted No. 7 On Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart and is Greatest Gainer in sales on that list. On national radio, the track is Top 5 in the Rhythmic-Crossover format, Top 25 on Mainstream Top 40 and Top 15 on Urban formats, where it is among the week’s top 5 Greatest Gainers in spins. Alternative stations are also following, in a building multi-format surge. Online, the song has driven almost 5 million page views on MySpace.com, and several posted tracks have generated nearly 30 million individual song streams.

RAEKWON SET FOR ONLY BUILT FOR CUBAN LINX 2
Raekwon, whose 1995 platinum classic Only Built 4 Cuban Linx was universally hailed as a rap classic and has sold more than 1.1 million units in the US, according to Nielsen Soundscan, has signed a distribution deal with EMI Label Services for his ICEH20 Records label to release Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2 in the US and Canada later this summer. EMI Label Services will also provide Raekwon with additional radio promotion support and licensing and synchronization services. “The wait is finally over,” Raekwon says. “Words cannot describe how extremely happy I am to work with EMI Music to put out my album.” The album features a spectacular line-up of guest appearances and producers: The RZA, Dr. Dre, J Dilla, The Wu-Tang Clan, Jadakiss, Busta Rhymes, Bun B and The Game, among others. "We are thrilled to have a chance to work with the legendary Raekwon,” said Dominic Pandiscia, Senior Vice President and General Manager, EMI Label Services. “He has had a massive impact on the history of Hip Hop and Urban music overall. Everyone at EMI is excited to be working on this record and continuing his legacy.” Now, with the impending release of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2, Raekwon is ready to release his second masterpiece. “It’s been a long time coming,” he says, “and I’ve put my blood, sweat and tears into making this classic album for my fans.”

DIDDY ADDED TO SARAH MARSHALL SPIN-OFF.
Variety is reporting that Diddy will star alongside "Superbad" actor Jonah Hill and Russell Brand in a Judd Apatow produced movie called "Get Him To The Greek." The “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” spin-off focuses on Brand’s sex addicted rocker, Aldous Snow, who had left Marshall and Hawaii behind for newer, greener pastures. Snow falls off the wagon, gets hooked on cocaine and heroin, and is due in L.A. for a big comeback concert. It falls to Jonah hill, a superfan in “Marshall” and now a record executive intern, to make sure he gets to L.A. from London in one piece. According to Variety, Combs’ part will stick close to home, as he’ll be playing a record executive. He’s undoubtedly one of the “really famous people” Brand hinted was joining the cast. Byrne will play Jackie Q, a scandal-ridden pop star, and Aldous Snow’s newest love interest. Moss will play the girlfriend of Hill’s character, and will undoubtedly end up in Snow’s amorous clutches somehow. The film is scheduled to be released in April 2010.

EMINEM GRABS LATEST COVER OF XXL. SEE THE COVERS HERE
Get ready to enter the Em Zone. Back from a three-year hiatus, Eminem is set to grace two XXL covers for the magazine’s June issue on stands May 5, two weeks before Em’s fifth solo album, Relapse, hits stores May 19. A special collector’s edition, the issue showcases Eminem posing as Marvel Comics’ notorious vigilante The Punisher. In addition to the cover story written by XXL Editor-in-Chief Datwon Thomas, the issue’s entire feature well is dedicated to Marshall Mathers and documents his illustrious career. The magazine also includes an exclusive collaboration between XXL, Shady and Marvel Comics: a special edition Punisher comic book entitled Eminem/Punisher: Kill You starring Eminem and created by Marvel Comics.

HERE'S SOME QUOTES FROM THE UPCOMING ISSUE:
On His Drug Addiction
“I wasn’t ready mentally. I wasn’t ready to give up the drugs. I didn’t really think I had a problem. Basically, I went in, and I came out. I relapsed, and I spent the next three years struggling with it. Also, at that time, I felt like I wanted to pull back, because my drug problem had got so bad. I felt like, Maybe if I take a break, maybe this will help. I started to get into the producer role more… I can still be out there with my music, like with the Re-Up album, but I don’t have to be in the spotlight the whole time.”

On Proof’s Death
“Everyone felt his loss, from his kids, to his wife, to everyone. But, for some reason, in hindsight, the way I felt was almost like it happened to just me… Maybe at the time I was a little bit selfish with it. I think it kind of hit me so hard. It just blindsided me. I just went into such a dark place that, with everything, the drugs, my thoughts, everything. And the more drugs I consumed, and it was all depressants I was taking, the more depressed I became, the more self-loathing I became… By the way, I’m just now at the point where I’m better talking about it. It took me so long to get out of that place where I couldn’t even speak about it without crying or wanting to cry… Proof was the anchor. He was everything to D12. And not just the group-for me, personally, he was everything.”

On T.I., Lil Wayne & Hip-Hop
“I stayed up on the music, and obviously I watch TV and saw what was going on. And without naming any names, it just felt like hip-hop was going downhill. And it seemed like kinda fast. You know, in them three years, it was like everybody just cares about the hook and the beat; nobody really cares about substance. But with this new T.I. album, with this new Lil Wayne album of recent, it seems like things are looking a lot better now. You can appreciate Lil Wayne using different words to rhyme and actually rhyming words that you know. Or T.I., where you hear shit and you’re like Whoa, ah, I wish I would have thought of that! You know what I mean? Or you hear all the compound-syllable rhyming and all that. It just seems like now the craft is getting cared about more.”

BOW WOW SAYS HE'S RETIRING... AGAIN??
His latest release, New Jack City Pt. II bombed on the sales charts, (currently under 31,000 units sold) The disappointment has critics saying it's what's pushed him into the "retirement" zone. "This is my last album because for me, there's no more that needs to be done on the music side, I've done everything," Bow Wow said in a recent interview. "And the scary thing is I'm 22-years-old and I'm young. I'm still a baby, so it's kinda like on the music side, I've been doing it since five. That's 17 years of non-stop music, music, music." He then says, "There's nothing more to accomplish that I haven't seen yet... I feel like now it's time to endure a new challenge... Close the chapter on the Bow Wow legacy... As far as albums, I'm good. Seven albums at 22, that's crazy."

EMINEM SET TO PERFORM AT 2009 MTV MOVIE AWARDS.
Eminem is set to take the stage at the 2009 MTV MOVIE AWARDS. Eminem's performance comes days after the release of his anticipated album Relapse, available May 19. Hosted by Andy Samberg, the eighteenth annual MTV MOVIE AWARDS will air on Sunday, May 31st at 9PM (Live ET/Tape Delayed PT.) Presenters and additional performers will be announced at a later date. For the first time in Movie Awards history, MTV is letting the fans participate in the nominee process. Beginning today, April 13, voting will open and viewers will be able to select the 2009 MTV MOVIE AWARDS nominees from an eligibility list of over 200 movies. MTV Mobile will also enable viewers on the go to text VOTE to 66333 to vote for nominees in the Best Movie category from their mobile phone. Voting for this round will close on April 20. On May 4, the 2009 MTV MOVIE AWARDS nominees will officially be announced. Viewers will also have the opportunity to vote on the winners online and on their mobile phones. This second round of voting will close on May 18, with the exception of Best Movie which will remain open through the show. Eminem's "We Made You" debuted on April 7, 2009, and currently stands as the biggest music video debut of all time on Mtv's site, with more than 758K streams in its first 24 hours, breaking the previous record by 15%. Eminem has sold more than 75,000,000 albums worldwide. Mark Burnett will serve as Executive Producer for the 2009 MTV MOVIE AWARDS. Audrey Morrissey is Co-Executive Producer. Lee Rolontz is Executive Producer for MTV, Garrett English is Executive in charge for MTV and Jane Mun serves as Producer. Robin Reinhardt-Locke is Celebrity Talent Executive.

BEASTIE BOYS, BLACK EYED PEAS AND Q-TIP ADDED TO 3-DAY FRISCO FESTIVAL.
Another Planet Entertainment, Superfly Productions and Starr Hill Presents, in a partnership with the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, are proud to announce the line-up for the second annual Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival. The multi-faceted, three-day festival will once again take place in San Francisco's historic Golden Gate Park August 28 - 30, 2009. Tickets will go on sale Sunday April 19th at 10am PST. A significant portion of every ticket sold will directly benefit San Francisco's Recreation and Park Department. In one year, the Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival singlehandedly raised the bar for live music in Northern California. Now an annual gathering, this year's lineup will solidify Outside Lands as the premier festival in the region, with unmatched creative programming that showcases leading artists in many musical scenes, including rock, pop, world music, soul, hip-hop and electronic. Like the inaugural event, major national headliners such as Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, Beastie Boys, Incubus, Black Eyed Peas, Jason Mraz, Thievery Corporation, Ween, The Mars Volta, TV on the Radio, Tom Jones, Built To Spill, Calexico, The National and Q-Tip, will perform alongside exceptional emerging artists such as Deerhunter, Heartless Bastards, Blind Pilot, Mastodon, Trombone Shorty and Dengue Fever. Local acts such as The Dodos, The Morning Benders, Brett Dennen, John Vanderslice, Raphael Saadiq and SambaDa will be featured prominently as the festival strives to highlight the great artists of the region. The complete announced lineup is listed below. More acts will be announced soon. "We are so proud to have introduced this vital and unique annual event to the music fans in San Francisco," said Superfly's Rick Farman. "We are really excited to be back and can't wait to unveil all we're planning. The great lineup is just the tip of the iceberg." ARTIST LINEUP: Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, Beastie Boys, Incubus, Black Eyed Peas M.I.A, Jason Mraz, Ween, The Mars Volta, Thievery Corporation, Modest Mouse
Band of Horses, TV on the Radio, Dead Weather, Atmosphere, Tom Jones, Silversun Pickups, The National, Q-Tip, Brett Dennen, Built To Spill, Mastodon, Raphael Saadiq, Calexico, Os Mutantes, Midnite, JJ Grey & Mofro Kinky, Deerhunter, Lila Downs, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, The Dodos Bettye LaVette, Dengue Fever, Heartless Bastards, The Dirtbombs, Lenka
Akron/Family, John Vanderslice, Matt and Kim, Portugal. The Man, The Morning Benders, The Duke Spirit, Zee Avi, Blind Pilot, SambaDa, Ryan, Bingham, West Indian Girl, and Extra Golden

YOUNG R&B STAR MISHON DEBUTS NEW SINGLE.
The young, super-talented R&B star Mishon is delivering a new anthem for the ladies and springtime lovers. Check out his new single, "Just a Kiss" LISTEN HERE

NAS TO PERFORM AT BMI'S 12TH ANNUAL UNSIGNED URBAN SHOWCASE
BMI will present its 12th Annual Unsigned Urban Showcase Thursday, April 23, featuring a combination of the recording industry’s eminent stars and most-promising unsigned talent. The event will be staged at E.S.S.O Nightclub in Atlanta, GA. Headliners for the highly-anticipated night of music are NAS,Trey Songz and Novel, who will each bring their respective high-energy sounds. DJ Khaled will host the event. Hopefuls from across the country vied for a chance to display their talent in front of Atlanta’s influential, superstar-spotting music community, and the showcase finalists were chosen by a group of top BMI songwriters, producers and industry executives from over 300 submissions. The contenders include songwriting siren Ryn Nicole (San Diego); genre-smashing showman Kameron Corvet (Atlanta); Source Magazine “hyped” MC Rain (NYC); and r&b wranglers 718 (NYC). The night provides a unique opportunity for BMI affiliates to showcase before a room of industry professionals. The final four will perform for a panel of celebrity judges including singer/songwriter Dallas Austin (Madonna, TLC); Capitol Records Senior Vice President, Urban Music Leonard Brooks; MySpace Records President, Urban Music Marquis Collins; manager and Imani Entertainment Group CEO Manny Halley (clients include Keyshia Cole & Lyfe Jennings); Def Jam Recordings Executive Vice President Chris Hicks; Polo Grounds Music President and RCA Music Group Senior Vice President, Urban Bryan Leach; manager and Czar Entertainment CEO Jimmy Rosmond (clients include The Game, Gucci Mane & Pleasure P). BMI will also present the Legends of ATL Award to a community leader, recognizing his or her contributions to the Atlanta music scene. Past recipients of the prestigious honor include Big Oomp, Organized Noize and Dallas Austin.

BATTLE BOW WOW ON XBOX LIVE - NBA LIVE '09
Do you think you are better than Bow Wow at NBA Live '09?
Bow Wow Game With Fame on Xbox LIVE
Date: April 15th
Location: Atlanta
Time: 5:00PM - 7:00PM (EST)
Game: NBA Live '09
GAMERTAG: Bow Wow GWF (**space between Bow and Wow and GwF)

TORAE AND MARCO POLO.. WHO?
When it comes to beats and rhymes, Canadian producer Marco Polo and Brooklyn MC Torae don’t play, just check the résumé. On his 2007 critically acclaimed album Port Authority, Polo recruited a who’s who of MC’s like Kool G Rap and Kardinal Offishall to ride over his hard-hitting instrumentals. Torae, on the other hand, has certified his rep as one of the game’s illest lyricists in a similar fashion, with remarkable wordplay on his highly touted 2008 street album Daily Conversation. So, in the spirit of great hip-hop duos, the producer and the MC signed with Duck Down Records to release their collaborative album "Double Barrel," on June 2nd. "He’s bringing the hardest production that he can bring, I’m bringing the hardest rhymes I can bring; together its like a double barrel blast,” says Torae of the album’s persistent theme. The two first hooked up when Marco tapped the MC to guest on his Mick Boogie-helmed mixtape, The New Port Authority, in 2007. In turn, Marco went on to produce “Casualty” on Tor’s Daily Conversation. “I think we just had a connection in the studio,” says Polo, “We wanted to make an album that we wanted to hear with banging beats and aggressive rhymes.” Sonically Double Barrel pays homage to New York’s mid-‘90’s rap scene, when artists like Gang Starr and Wu-Tang Clan reigned supreme. “I think the sound of the album is not the most popular or trendy, but we’re going to crash the party,” says Tor, “We’re coming in with this sound and we’re coming in doing what we want to do.” CHECK OUT THEIR LATEST JOINT "But Wait"

SOUTH PARK CLOWNS KANYE WEST.
Watch the full episode CLICK HERE

SOUNDSCAN CHART NUMBERS/STATS- Week Ending 04/08/09
Prince's LOtUSFLOW3R debuts @ #2 with 168,420 copies sold. UGK's UGK 4 Life debuts at #6 with 76,419 units sold. Flo Rida's R.O.O.T.S. debuts @ #8 with 55,285 copies sold., Is Lloyd and Snoop Dogg and Scarface still in the "Top 200"? GRAB THE FULL REPORT HERE

BLACK EYED PEAS SCORE THEIR 1st #1 ON HOT 100
The Black Eyed Peas set the mark for best single-week and debut download totals by a group as "Boom Boom Pow" shifts 465,000 in its first week of release. The title easily tops Hot Digital Songs and is set to become the act's first Billboard Hot 100 No. 1, with a hefty 39-1 leap, when the chart is released tomorrow morning. "Boom Boom Pow" is the first single from The Black Eyed Peas' upcoming fifth studio album The E.N.D., which is due from Interscope Records on June 9th, 2009.

DIESEL AND COMMON PRESENT NEW MALE FRAGRANCE
In creating a scent that represents the man who takes a stand, Diesel chose to collaborate with American hip-hop artist and actor Common. Inspired by visionary artists, icons and rebels, Only The Brave is a fragrance about seizing opportunities and making a difference. Only The Brave boasts the determination and strength to overcome adversity and make a mark. The GRAMMY-winning hip-hop artist's song "The 6th Sense" fully embodies the spirit of Only The Brave. Exploring what motivates a man and the challenges he faces, the song and the artist behind it encompass the qualities that make a brave man--determination, perseverance and principle. "I've always thought Diesel was a progressive, fresh brand--it has a classic feel, but pushes the envelope," Common explains. "I wanted to partner with Diesel because that's really what I'm about too--to be an individual and an artist, it takes both bravery and courage." Common is the author/composer of seven critically acclaimed albums and three children's books. He has appeared in films including "Dave Chappelle's Block Party," "Wanted" and "American Gangster" and is also the founder of the Common Ground Foundation, an organization dedicated to the empowerment and development of urban youth in the United States. Through his foundation, Common inspires bravery in the next generation and gives tomorrow's youth the strength to speak out. Diesel President Renzo Rosso: "Common perfectly represents the spirit and energy of Only The Brave fragrance: passion, will and conviction. He's in control of his own destiny and has made his mark in all of his pursuits, creating changes through every effort and every medium." Featured in the dedicated print and television advertising campaign of the new fragrance, shot by world renowned photographer Platon, and developed in collaboration with the Diesel Creative Team headed by Creative Director Wilbert Das, Common will also perform at selected Diesel stores worldwide, including the Los Angeles one on Wednesday, May 20, 2009.

ASCAP PRESIDENT STEPS DOWN.
Marilyn Bergman is stepping down as president and chair of (ASCAP) the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers after 15 years. Decision comes as she has recently taken on more music projects with her writing partner and husband, Alan Bergman, that require her attention. "Alan has always been supportive of the time that my ASCAP presidency required, but with so much exciting work before us, I feel it's time that I fully devote myself to my first calling: writing," Bergman said. Bergman was the first woman to be elected to the ASCAP's board of directors. During her tenure, she helped the org increase its membership from 55,000 when she became prexy in 1994 to the current total of more than 350,000. During that period, Bergman had a strong presence on Capitol Hill, helping persuade the Supreme Court in 2003 to uphold the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998, which extended copyright protection by 20 years. She also lead ASCAP's lobbying effort to secure the passage of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act in 1998; it brought the U.S. in line with World Intellectual Property Organization treaties and strengthened music copyrights on the Internet. Most recently, Bergman played a key role in the launch of a Bill of Rights for Songwriters and Composers, an ASCAP advocacy and awareness-building initiative designed to remind the public, the music biz and Congress of the central role and rights of music creators. She also has been a strong supporter of educating young people about the creative process and piracy through a number of school programs. ASCAP will elect Bergman's successor during its next meeting later this month. She will continue to serve as an active board member. "From the moment she assumed the role of president and chairman of the board, Marilyn worked tirelessly on behalf of our membership to the benefit of all music creators," said ASCAP chief exec John LoFrumento. "She has been tremendously effective in helping ASCAP anticipate the changing needs of our members, particularly given the immense shifts that have occurred in music, technology and society as a whole over the past decade."

2009 LINEUP FOR ROCK THE BELLS TOUR.
The lineup for the 2009 Rock the Bells tour was announced today. Headlining the concert series is Queensbridge’s finest Nas along with Jamaican sensation Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley. The duo are currently working on their collaboration album. Joining them on the bill is Philadelphia ensemble The Roots, Chi-Town vet Common, OutKast rapper Big Boi, seminal Bronx MC KRS-One, a reunited House of Pain featuring super-group La Coka Nostra, DJ Hi Tek and Talib Kweli’s Reflection Eternal, Wu-Tang mainstays RZA and Raekwon, internet supergroup Slaughterhouse and Brooklyn reps M.O.P. Indie favorites Buckshot, Slum Village, Necro, Eyedea & Abilities, Sage Francis, Tech N9ne, The Alchemist and Evidence and Charlie 2Na have also been added. While up-and-coming rappers K’Naan, Mickey Factz, Tabi Bonney will also be hitting the stage. Murs, KRS, Supernatural and Pete Rock will host the show with more surprise acts to be named at a later date. Set to hit cities across the U.S. and Canada, dates and venues are yet to be announced.

50 CENT SIGNS UP FOR NEW FILM ROLE.
50 Cent has signed on for a new role on the big screen. Variety reports that the G-Unit leader will star in Twelve, a new film by director Joel Schumacher (Batman and Robin). The movie will also star Chace Crawford, Emma Roberts, Rory Culkin, Ellen Barkin and Kiefer Sutherland. Production begins April 20 in New York. Jordan Melamed wrote the script. Story follows a high school dropout-turned-drug dealer. His lucrative life sours when the dealer's cousin is brutally murdered on an East Harlem playground and his best friend is arrested for the crime.

METHOD MAN LINKS UP WITH NEYO AND CUBA GOODING JR.
Method Man is set to star in famed director George Lucas’ long delayed World War II film, Red Tails. “I’ve been wanting to do ‘Red Tails’ for 20 years, and we’ve finally got the means to showcase the skill of the Tuskegee pilots,” Lucas said in the press release. “We’re working on techniques which will give us the first true look at the aerial dogfighting of the era. And our top-notch cast will really make this story special.” The movie’s cast also includes “Iron Man” actor Terrence Howard, Bryan Cranston of “Breaking Bad” and Grammy award winner Ne-Yo, as well as a cluster veteran actors from “The Wire,” listing Tristan Wilds, Rick Otto, Michael B. Jordan and Stacie Davis. According to the release, “Red Tails” is set in 1944 during the heat of WWII when the famed pilots stepped up to their fated entry into the war. Relegated to second-class citizens due to the U.S. government’s racist policies at the time, their success under the most dangerous of circumstances earned the group legendary recognition. Hundreds of black airmen would follow them from the Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama overseas before the war ended.

SNOOP HEADLINES ONLINE CONCERT.
Snoop Dogg will be joined by several surprise musical artists to present Our World Live in a premiere performance extravaganza in Hollywood Tuesday, April 7- sponsored by Microsoft Silverlight, Skyy Vodka, and EFG :: Entertainment Fusion Group. The events show will be broadcast LIVE via Microsoft Silverlight in High Definition including five camera angles that the fans can choose between, directing their optimal experience. The Our World Live groundbreaking technology will forever change a performers impact on the world in a single night. This sure-to-be legendary single performance will broadcast to an estimated two million viewers LIVE. "EFG prides itself on staying ahead of the curve in technological advancements, as is evident in our newly launched (EFG)mobile Marketing and Social Media departments. We are proud to be part of this historic event which will launch this new technology and viewing experience by Our World
Live," says Peter Philipp Wingsoe, managing director of EFG. "Online LIVE performances are the wave of the future, and we are thrilled to be part of the first ever concert to be broadcast all over the world via internet." This momentous event will be the first in the concert series. Future concerts will be held nationally with other super star musical acts.

TONY D ( POOR RIGHTEOUS TEACHERS) DIES IN CAR ACCIDENT.
Hip-hop producer TONY D has died in a car accident at the age of 42. The music mogul, real name Anthony Depula, lost control of his Jeep and mounted a pavement, before the vehicle flipped onto its side in New Jersey on Saturday (04Apr09) night. Depula sustained a neck injury and was rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He had produced for a number of acts including The Outsidaz, Young Zee, King Sun and Pace Won. Depula's most well known track was Rock Dis Funky Joint by the Poor Righteous Teachers. He is survived by his wife.

PAUL WALL SETS HIS SIGHTS THROUGH 2009.
Paul Wall is gearing up for the release of his 3rd album, Fast Life (due out 5/12 on SwishaHouse/Asylum). Fast Life features an all star cast of producers (Travis Barker, Beanz & Kornbread, Mouse, and Antwan “Amadeus” Thompson) along with a complementary selection of superstar features that include: Baby Bash, Yung Joc, Gorilla Zoe, Too Short, Z-Ro, Lil' Keke & Expensive Taste. In addition to getting “bizzy” with fun party records and tales of life in the fast lane, Paul brings a lot of depth with Fast Life. Album highlights include “Look At Me,” where Paul delves deep into his rocky rise to the top, and “Daddy Wasn’t Home” where he details his absentee father’s drug addiction and his family’s hardships. Paul has taken 2009 by storm thus far. He rocked the Grammy red carpet on 2/8, then spent a week in Las Vegas promoting his (and Travis Barker’s) Expensive Taste clothing line at Magic, and squeezed a quick jaunt to Scotland in between the two! He blew Houston up with Rick Ross at Street Flava TV’s 15th Anniversary party, and has just put the finishing touches on the video for “Bizzy Body,” which he shot recently in Houston with Trill Entertainment’s Webbie. As always, Paul has a lot going on - his upcoming release Fast Life, his Expensive Taste clothing line with Travis Barker, the evolution of his jewelry line (now in the upscale Galleria in Houston), his work with the USO, training with his major league baseball friends, being a husband and father, squashing beef with Chamillionaire, and plans to tattoo Obama’s face on his neck… In addition to all of that, Paul and his wife Crystal will be featured on “Rapper Wives: The E! True Hollywood Story” (scheduled to premiere 4/29 @ 10PM on E!) and he is set take part in a Texas Department of Transportation Click It or Ticket Campaign which aims to reduce the number of teen driving fatalities and injuries by increasing knowledge with the importance of buckling up!

KILLER MIKE GOING UNDERGROUND.
After participating in MTV's signature series, My Block: Atlanta and taking the historical photo - “Great Day in Atlanta” with most of the cities' hip hop talent present, Mike decided he needed to connect all these artists together again and feature them on one album. The idea of Underground Atlanta was born. Atlanta is known for it's hyped underground music scene and it's diverse sound that includes Crunk, Snap & Pop and Trap Music. Mike enlisted a notable group of artists, some who are originators of this music, to be featured on the new album. They include: Gucci Mane, OJ da Juice Man, Pastor Troy, Princess of Crime Mob, Yung Ralph, Big Kuntry King, Young Dro, T.I., Stat Quo, Bobby Creekwater, Da Bill Collector, Dem Getaway Boyz with appearances from fellow Southern rappers SL Jones, Scar and Juvenile. The album also boasts an appearance from UGK, who obviously aren't from the Atlanta Underground but appear on a star studded remix that fans will gladly give Mike a pass on. Most of the tracks on the album were produced by DMG Music Group (B-Don, Leno and Young Ced). Mike wants his fans to have as much fun listening to the album as he had making it, "This is an Atlanta record!!! There is not just one type of Atlanta artist featured. This record is the ATL experience, welcome to Atlanta baby 4 REAL!" Underground Atlanta precedes Killer Mike's as-yet-untitled Grand Hustle debut, which he is currently recording. Mike sees this album as a way to give back to the Atlanta hip hop scene that gave birth to him and made him the artist he is today. Be on the lookout for Underground Atlanta in June on Grindtime Official/ SMC/ Fontana.

VIPER RECORDS PRESIDENT & RECORDING ARTIST IMMORTAL TECHNIQUE WALKS THE WALK. Rapper Immortal Technique, known for his hugely influential underground albums Revolutionary V. 1, Revolutionary V.2 and The 3rd World, has just returned to the US from a two week voyage to Afghanistan where he personally participated in opening of the Amin Institute. A dream he helped to fruition by doing a number of benefit concerts and donating his own money. The Amin Institute, opened in conjunction with San Francisco based OMEID International, will serve the children of Afghanistan as an orphanage, school and medical facility. While in Afghanistan, Immortal Technique helped with final construction on the institute, procured supplies, hired staff and spread the word. The opening ceremony took place and the first students were enrolled. During his time in Kabul, he stayed in both a safe house and the home of retired Afghan military officer, giving him further insight into the inner-workings of the country. Of the people of Afghanistan, Immortal Technique says, “If you are a visitor, they will treat you like one of their own and more…they are some of the humbled and more respectful people I have ever come across. You have to admire their resilience of their spirit fighting again and again [against the Soviets, Taliban and Al Qaeda] to retain their independence and identity. I hope the operations there are handled with extreme care and respect for the sovereignty of the nation. If the situation worsens, and the people of Afghanistan are fully turned against the United States, it will not be a winnable war.” Traveling to Afghanistan and not merely throwing money at the cause is a testament to the type of individual Immortal Technique is. More than just a rapper, he is a Revolutionary thinker and a man of action who isn't afraid to literally make change happen with his own hands. The subject matter of his music ranges from introspective and historically poised, to violent and painful. His work as a philanthropist mirrors his inspiring work as an artist, not afraid to ruffle feathers and go a step further than what is deemed safe. His experiences will be documented in a movie he is producing with filmmaker C. Stuart who accompanied him to Afghanistan. Viper Records Ltd. was founded in 1998 as a Revolutionary label whose sole purpose was to release material with social relevance which otherwise might not get to market. Through music, they hope to promote what is most important to all of us: knowledge, culture, struggle, peace, respect for all, personal responsibility, and a sincere desire to help move this civilization forward into the 21st century. Immortal Technique joins a small group of artists who have shown such a commitment to having an affect on the world around them. His work with Omeid International to open the Amin Institute continues this tradition. When an artist is willing to literally risk his own life for a philanthropic and Revolutionary cause he believes in, instead of just giving out toys for the cameras - there is no better way to embody that principle.

PRODUCTION BLOCK FEATURE - CORY MO
Super producer in the making, Cory Mo has been bringing heat to various Rap/Hip Hop albums as far back as 1999, after forming M.A.D. STUDIOZ with his brother Mike Mo in Houston, Texas and recently opening another location in Atlanta, GA. Cory has worked with Grammy winning, Platinum selling artists such as Scarface, Geto Boys, Lil Wayne, Chamillionaire, David Banner, Devin The Dude, Talib Kweli, Slim Thug, Mike Jones, Paul Wall & Rick Ross to name a few. “I don’t want to be portrayed as a gimmicky one-hit-wonder, I plan to have longevity by
staying focused and... CHECK OUT THE FEATURE

NIPSEY HUSSLE TO PERFORM AT RECORD STORE DAY
Fresh off a 39-city tour with The GAME, rising west coast hip-hop recording artist Nipsey Hussle will return to his home state of California on April 18th in celebration of Record Store Day; stopping in at two independent music retailers to meet fans and perform tracks off of his highly anticipated debut album, South Central State of Mind. The first signee to the Cinematic/Epic Records joint venture, Nipsey Hussle emerged from the streets in Los Angeles and is effectively building momentum as a rising emcee and working on his debut album, due out later this year. Nipsey will be heading over to VIP Records in Long Beach, CA to perform and meet fans in the early afternoon. VIP Records has just recently celebrated it’s 30th anniversary and is known as the store where famed rapper Snoop Dogg filmed one of his first music videos. Later that same day, he will head to his neighborhood to meet fans at one of his favorite local spots on Slauson Ave, VIP Music. “I’ve been going to VIP since I was a kid, it’s a record store that caters to my fans and it’s an honor to be participating in their Record Store Day event. I look forward to seeing all of my fans there.” says Nipsey.

KERI HILSON DEBUTS AT #1
Keri Hilson's debut album, In A Perfect World..., lands at #1 on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Album Chart and debuts at #4 on Billboard's Top Album Chart with sales totaling in excess of 94,000 units. The Decatur, Georgia native boasts that her album is "a true reflection" of her diversity. This singer/songwriter has proven that she can take center stage and excel. Timbaland, Polow Da Don and Danja provide stellar production for In A Perfect World... The album also features guest appearances by Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Akon, Keyshia Cole, Ne-Yo and Trina. The smash hit "Turnin' Me On" featuring Lil Wayne has been on top of the Urban Radio Charts for six weeks. Hilson's third single, "Knock You Down," which features Kanye West and Ne-Yo, is already tracking to be a successful hit as it was the number one most added song at Urban Radio last week. Hilson is currently touring on the "I Am Music Tour" with Lil Wayne, T-Pain, Gym Class Heroes and Electric Red.

DJ FURIOUS PREPS FOR SHYNE RELEASE.
Having served almost nine years behind bars rapper Jamal 'Shyne' Barrow is set to return to the real world this summer. To celebrate the release of the former Bad Boy, DJ Furious Styles has concocted one of his exclusive mixtapes to bring Shyne back to the forefront of our memories allowing us to reacquaint ourselves with the Brooklyn adoptee yet again. Laced with tracks from his previous projects released before and during his highly publicized incarceration, 25 to Life Plus 9 is a mixtape not to be slept on as we head into the second quarter. Like anything Furious Styles attaches his name to, the results are always favorable to both the artist and the DJ and this project is no different. Interwoven with interviews of him speaking on that notorious night back in December of 1999 and all that came along during and after the trial which saw him facing a possible life sentence, 25 to Life plus 9 proves that this entertainer needs to be back where he can be seen and heard. "Shyne is a MC that lives by a code that is seldom followed by any individual. It is monumental to hear Shyne's point view on his court case, the shooting and the time that he is serving." - DJ Furious Styles. GRAB THE FREE MIXTAPE HERE

FLO RIDA SECRET SHOW IN L.A.
MySpace Music is proud to announce Release Show concert with Poe Boy/Atlantic artist Flo Rida at The Roxy on Sunset on Sunday, April 5. Flo Rida will be performing a free show for his MySpace Music friends to celebrate the release of his new album "R.O.O.T.S." Doors open for the 21+ show at 7:00 p.m. Admittance will be handled on a first-come, first-serve basis with a limited number of slots available for fans who bring a print-out of the Flo Rida online flyer available on his MySpace page. As a very special addition, Bluestar/Atlantic artist Pleasure P, "America's Best Dance Crew" season three winners Quest Crew, and 7-year-old boy wonder B-Boy Jalen will be opening the show. The Flo Rida Release Show is being powered by Adidas.

BULLET PREPS NEW PROJECT
Mr. Robotic aka Bullet who is hard at work in the studio on his impending project delivers yet another bass thumping, club jumping banger for our approval. The Slot A produced TAKE IT TO THE TOP is literally where Bullet is heading as he continues to exude consistency and creativity in his recordings. Check out for more on Bullet and the project coming soon and where you can see him performing during the month of April.

KELLY ROWLAND EXITS COLUMBIA RECORDS SOLO.
Kelly Rowland will no longer be recording with Columbia Records as a solo artist, it was officially announced today by the label. Rowland, a founding member of Destiny's Child, the world's top-selling female group, will continue her relationship with Columbia Records in her ongoing role in the iconic ensemble. "Because Columbia Records has been my home base as an artist for more than a decade, the decision to move out on my own required a lot of soul-searching," said Kelly Rowland. "As a solo artist, I felt the need to explore new directions, new challenges, and new freedoms outside my comfort zone and my friends and family at Columbia have been incredibly understanding about my evolution. I want to thank everyone at Columbia for the love and support they've shown and I will never forget how many good times we've had over the years." "Kelly Rowland is one of our finest contemporary artists and a musical force to be reckoned with," said Rob Stringer, CEO, Columbia/Epic Label Music Group. "It has been a privilege and a pleasure to work with Kelly and we will continue our working relationship with her under the Destiny's Child moniker. The decision for Kelly to seek other opportunities for her solo career was agreed upon mutually, and any reports to the contrary are false."

HIP HOP BITS N PIECES
T-Pain Exposed By Father? The rift between T-Pain and his father continues to grow as a phone conversation is leaked, Plus, behind the scenes with Stehani Vara, New video with Prince and Q-tip, and more.. WATCH HERE

RAEKWON SIGNS WITH EMI.
Raekwon has just inked a deal with EMI. “Project is vicious right now, it’s done,” he said. “I just closed my deal, you the first one to know, that I signed with EMI right now. I just signed off yesterday made everything official so EMI is the home right now. They the ones that’s paying me they gave me a nice piece of what I needed.” When asked if Ghostface Killah - his longtime partner-in-rhyme and co-star on the original Cuban Linx – will be involved, Rae said he wanted to give others rappers a chance to shine. “Ghost gonna be up but at the end of the day it’s gonna be raw hip-hop, B,” he explained. “When I made this album I made it to be a classic, I didn’t look at it as having Ghost all the way through it like that, because it don’t make it special if I don’t give other brothers a shot.” WATCH THE INTERVIEW HERE

TODD MOSCOWITZ JOINS WARNER BROS. RECORDS
Warner Bros. Records announced today that Todd Moscowitz has joined Warner Bros. Records as its Executive Vice President. Moscowitz currently serves as CEO of WMG’s Independent Label Group (ILG), which includes the Asylum and East West labels. In his new role as EVP of Warner Bros. Records, Moscowitz will bring Asylum to the Warner Bros. family of labels, reporting to Warner Bros. Chairman and CEO Tom Whalley. Moscowitz will continue to serve as CEO of the remainder of ILG, reporting to John Esposito, WEA Corp.’s president and CEO. Moscowitz will bring his years of experience to Warner Bros. Records where he will oversee the expansion of the label’s urban roster. With Asylum as part of the Warner Bros. Records family of labels, Asylum’s developing artists will be able to draw upon the proven marketing and promotional expertise of the Warner Bros. team. At the same time, Asylum will serve a valuable A&R and artist development resource for Warner Bros. as it increases Warner Bros.’ presence in urban music. “I’m excited about the opportunity to work even more closely with Tom and his team and to provide Asylum artists the unparalleled resources of Warner Bros. Records,” says Moscowitz. “It’s an honor to be a part of a label so deeply-rooted in the history and culture of our business.” “Todd’s success in urban music and his commitment to artist development make him the perfect partner for Warner Bros. Records,” says Whalley. “As the music business continues to evolve, executives such as Todd, who appreciate the importance of great artists and understand the complexities of the business, will shape the future of our industry. I am thrilled that Todd will be leading the way with me at Warner Bros. Records.” Named President of Asylum Records in 2004, Moscowitz quickly established the label as the premier destination for independent entrepreneurs looking to release their music nationally. He was integral in transforming hip-hop artists Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Bun B, D4L and Webbie into gold and platinum superstars. Prior to joining WMG, Moscowitz was GM of Def Jam Records, head of Rush Communications, and was a partner at Violator Management, where he helped guide the careers of 50 Cent and Missy Elliott, among others.

PRODIGY SUES VOX MUSIC.
Mobb Deep's Prodigy has sued Vox Music Group -- an independent label that delivered his last album, H.N.I.C. 2 in over 14,000 languages for a breach of contract, according to the New York Post. In the suit, filed last Monday (March 23), Prodigy claims the label failed to pay him upwards of $30,000--forcing his family to foreclose on their house. He alleges that VMG was supposed to give him $10,300 monthly payments but missed three months. The Queens-based MC also says that the label did not give him his royalty statement and is asking to end his agreement with the company. Billboard reports that Prodigy teamed up with the label last year to use VMG’s voice translation technology Voxonic.

MUSIC INDUSTRY VET LIONEL RIDENOUR HEADS TO MALACO.
The legendary Malaco Music Group, after 40-plus successful years of making southern rhythm & blues and gospel hits, has tapped industry veteran Lionel Ridenour to head up its new Urban Music Division. The Urban Division will bring a mix of established and new cutting edge talent from the worlds of Hip Hop and R&B to the legendary soul, blues and Gospel label. "We are excited about branching out into new territory with our Urban Music Division and Lionel Ridenour was our first choice to helm this project," said Tommy Couch, President of Malaco. He brings with him to Malaco, 20 years of working with the best that Hip Hop and R&B have to offer. We look forward to working with Lionel and the talented new artists that he will be escorting through our doors." Under his deal with Malaco, Ridenour will also focus on bringing the industry's hottest new urban independent labels to the Music Division. "Our plan is to create a new home for established independent labels as well as provide guidance to new labels," says Ridenour. "Our division is geared up and our team is ready to provide not only distribution but national urban marketing and promotion." Ridenour comes to Malaco with a long history in the industry. He stepped into the business as an entrepreneur in 1987, with the successful L.A.-based street promotion company, Mainframe Promotion, of which he was co-owner. Understanding the value of grass roots level outreach, Capitol Records brought Ridenour in-house. Ridenour and his partner were the first in-house street team to ever be hired by a major label, starting a new trend in music marketing. At Capitol he worked with such talent as MC Hammer, MC Ren, Mello Man Ace and Mantronics. In 1993, Ridenour was named Sr. National Director of Promotion at Arista Records in New York during a time when the label was at the top of its game. He worked closely with industry veteran and label President Clive Davis on projects from stellar artists like Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin, while also working alongside music mogul L.A. Reid and his La Face Records on releases from multi-platinum stars Outkast, Usher, Toni Braxton, Monica, TLC, Pink and Baby Face. When Sean "Diddy" Combs made the decision to bring his new Bad Boy Record label to Arista, it was Lionel Ridenour who sat down with him and Clive Davis to map out a plan for their now classic 4X platinum first release, "Ready to Die," from rapper Notorious B.I.G. Chart topping hits from Craig Mack, Faith Evans, 112, Total and, then named, Puff Daddy followed. Ridenour was named Executive Vice President of the company in 2000. Moving on to Virgin Records as Executive Vice President of Urban Music in 2003, Ridenour was instrumental in the careers of such talents as Janet Jackson, Outkast, Jermaine Dupri, Lenny Kravitz and Dem Franchize Boyz as well as the label venture, Purple Ribbon, from Outkast member Big Boi. D. A. Johnson, Malaco executive states, "The Malaco Music Group houses the largest and oldest Gospel music catalog in the world with Savoy Records, Malaco Records, Muscle Shoals Sound Records and Atlanta International Records. We are also the home of many of the icons of Rhythm and Blues such as the late Johnnie Taylor, Little Milton, Tyrone Davis, and Bobby "Blue" Bland who is still working today. It was only a matter of time before we would utilize our 40+ years of record business experience to incorporate the Hip Hop & Rap genre. The addition of Lionel solidifies us as a major player in the Hip Hop and Rap game."

METH AND REDMAN ON SET OF NEW VIDEO
Method Man and Redman shoot a new music video for their hot new bangin' single "A YO" featuring Saukrates. CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS HERE

T-PAIN IN GOLF CART ACCIDENT- LOSES TEETH.
Singer/producer T-Pain was allegedly involved in a freak golf cart accident on Friday (March 27) that has left him with serious injuries. According to reports, T-Pain suffered a number of cuts and abrasions on his face and he also lost four teeth in the accident.

NAS AND DAMIAN MARLEY UNVEIL NEW MUSIC.
Recorded at an undisclosed Los Angeles studio over the last several months, the duo will finally unveil stripped-down versions of the new songs Friday at 8 p.m. at L.A. Live’s Grammy Museum.
The performance will be accompanied by a Q&A, where the pair will answer questions about their new album and discuss their humanitarian work. Earlier this year, Nas told MTV News, “We tryin' to build some schools in Africa… and trying to build empowerment. The record's all about the 'hood and Africa.” While an official label announcement has yet to be made, the LA Times reports that most media speculation has pointed toward the release of "Distant Relative" coming from Island Def Jam, the label for which Nas currently records (Marley is signed to Universal). Nas and Marley have worked together before, on “Road to Zion,” the second single from Marley’s breakthrough third album, the Grammy Award-winning “Welcome to Jamrock.”

T.I. SENTENCED.
Clifford J. Harris Jr., a.k.a. "T.I.," 27, of College Park, Ga., was sentenced today by U.S.
District Judge Charles A. Pannell, Jr. on charges of unlawfully possessing machine guns and silencers and possession of firearms by a convicted felon, announced David Nahmias, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. Harris was sentenced to serve one year and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was also sentenced to serve 365
days of home confinement and 1,500 hours of community service, with credit for approximately 305 days of home confinement and 1,030 hours of community service that he completed before sentencing. In addition, Harris was ordered to pay a fine of $100,000. Harris has agreed to forfeit all of the firearms and ammunition involved in the offenses and to waive appeal. "We are very pleased with the result in this case," said David E. Nahmias, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. "Mr. Harris has received a significant penalty for the serious firearms offenses
he committed, including spending the next year in federal prison, a year in home confinement, and three years on supervised release. His prison sentence was reduced from what it might have been, but the public got something very significant in exchange: the extensive and unique community service program that Mr. Harris committed to doing when he pleaded guilty. By all accounts, his community service has been a remarkable success - it certainly exceeded our expectations - and there is still more to come when he gets out of prison." Mr. Nahmias continued, "Preventing crime is a critically important law enforcement objective. Many of us spend considerable time trying to reach young people and teach them about the importance of leading law-abiding and productive lives -- but we have real trouble connecting with the kids most
at risk. For the past year, Mr. Harris has used his high public visibility, his exceptional communication skills, and his real-world life experience to deliver the right message to literally thousands of kids. He has told them about the mistakes he has made and educated them about the dangers of violence, guns, gangs and drugs. Young people have wanted to hear from 'T.I.,' and we are confident that at least some of those kids will lead better and more law-abiding lives as a result. That is a very positive result for our communities, and it merits a sentence reduction for Mr. Harris, just as we routinely reduce sentences for defendants whose assistance leads to another conviction." "I hope that young people are paying close attention to this case and
realize that no one who commits gun offenses is immune from investigation, prosecution and possible prison time," said Special Agent-in-Charge Gregory Gant of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). "Those who commit such crimes can, and will, face very real consequences for their actions. Every day, ATF agents work aggressively to prevent and address violent crime and the criminal misuse of firearms in our communities. The last place that machine guns and silencers should be is in the hands of a convicted felon." At the sentencing hearing, the court found that Harris had fully complied with the conditions of his plea agreement and bond. More information about the community service that Harris has performed is available in the Sentencing Memorandum filed by his counsel, which is available upon request. According to U.S. Attorney Nahmias and the information presented in court, including the Stipulated Statement of Facts underlying the guilty plea: In 1998, Harris was convicted of possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute in Cobb County, Ga. Thereafter, as a convicted felon he could not lawfully buy, receive, or possess firearms or ammunition of any kind. During September and October 2007, one of Harris' bodyguards purchased nine firearms for Harris at his request. The bodyguard delivered these firearms to Harris at his residence in College Park. Harris took
possession of the firearms and placed some or all of them in a hidden compartment inside a closet in his bedroom. This case was investigated by Special Agents of the ATF. Assistant U.
S. Attorneys Todd Alley and Francey Hakes prosecuted the case.

SMIRNOFF SIGNATURE MIX SERIES - 2nd Installment.
"Funky For You '09 (Smirnoff Signature Mix)" by Nice & Smooth + Pac Div - LISTEN
This is the second installment of the acclaimed program, designed to bring together respected artists in the hip hop community to recreate clearly original versions of iconic hip hop songs with a newly-mixed interpretation. Legendary artist Nas teamed up with Marsha Ambrosius, formerly of Floetry, to rework his Grammy-nominated single "If I Ruled the World"- LISTEN ; Buckshot and Kardinal Offishall are putting an original spin on Buckshot's memorable underground hit "I Got Cha Opin".

SNOOP TO GET WAXED DOWN?
The world famous wax museum, Madame Tussauds, has become internationally known for sculpting life-like wax figures. Their skillful ability to pay attention to the smallest detail makes the figures eerily authentic. They have already molded the musical talents of pop singers Beyonce, Justin Timberlake and Usher. They have brought notable hip-hop artists Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G "back to life." But now they are preparing for one of their greatest unveilings...Premiering at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas on April 20th (better known as 4/20), this wax figure is the first living hip-hop artist to be crafted and will be one of their biggest and best works yet! We're sure you have a good hunch, but can you guess who it will be? We'll keep ya posted.

50 AND WHOO KIDD LAUNCH NEW RADIO SHOW WITH MS. MIMI.
Today the G-Unit crew announces the promotion of G-Unit’s leading lady, Ms. Mimi, and the launch of the new show, “BIG SUNDAYS”. The new radio show joins the established line up of #1 rated G-Unit radio programs airing on the Sirius/XM Satellite channel Shade 45/XM 66 all weekend long. Ms. Mimi, the listener’s choice radio personality, will be hosting the new show in the Sirius/XM satellite studios in New York, NY. Mimi says “I am so excited about this new position, the Gomez Brothers, Whoo Kid and 50 have been mentoring my career since my impromptu audition three years ago. It feels good that these industry heavy weights believe in my talent …” Legendary dee-jays, high profile acts, and 50- Cent himself will be joining the line up of Big Sunday guests. The show will air on Sunday evenings from 4-8pm est. This promotion follows Ms. Mimi’s three-year tenure with G-Unit Radio. As the co-host, for the #1 rated Saturday evening show, The Gomez Brothers, Mimi dishes out hot topics and gossip news. Ms. Mimi is also known for her sexy tips on her solo slot and 1# rated show “The G-Spot”. “The G-Spot” has a "Reality Radio" series that harnesses exclusive stories of everyday people going through real situations pertaining to love, sex and relationships. Being cited by DJ Whoo Kid for being “Extremely talented and funny”, Ms. Mimi is taking the advice of the fellow dee-jay by launching a stand-up comedy career. The host has been booked at local comedy clubs in NY and has plans to make her official debut in larger venues by end of year.

SOUNDSCAN CHART NUMBERS/STATS- Week Ending 03/22/09
The Dream's Love Vs. Money takes #4, Gorilla Zoe's Don't Feed Da Animals takes #8. T.I.'s Paper Trail grabs #12, Is K'Naan still in the "Top 200"? GRAB THE FULL REPORT HERE

MICHAEL VICK OUT OF PRISON.
Michael Vick is out of prison, and is headed for a halfway house in Virginia--But he faces new legal issues, now that the U.S. Labor Dept. is accusing him of illegally withdrawing more than $1.3 million from a pension plan. The department filed complaints yesterday against Vick in federal district and bankruptcy courts in Newport News. The federal Department of Labor is accusing imprisoned NFL star Michael Vick of illegally withdrawing more than $1.3 million from a pension plan. Vick's attorney Mark Lichtenstein declined to comment on the complaints. The department says Vick made a series of prohibited transfers from a pension plan sponsored by MV7, a celebrity marketing company owned by the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback.

GORILLA ZOE DEBUTS AT #1.
Block Entertainment/Bad Boy South recording artist Gorilla Zoe has made a stunning chart debut with his just-released sophomore album, “DON’T FEED DA ANIMALS.” The collection – which includes the lead single, “Lost” and the second single, “Echo (Feat. P. Diddy)” – entered Billboard’s “Top Rap Albums” chart at #1, while also coming in at #8 on the Billboard 200 – the week’s highest charting new release. With sales in excess of 31,000 units, “DON’T FEED DA ANIMALS” debuted at #2 on Billboard’s “Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums” ranking, as well as #10 on the “Top Digital Albums” chart (where it received an astounding 14% market share). “Lost” is shaping up as one of the ATL-based rapper’s biggest radio hits to date. The Drumma Boy-produced track is a top 40 success at Rhythmic outlets nationwide after impacting as the #1 Most Added song at both Urban and Rhythmic. In addition, “Lost” companion video clip is currently receiving major play on BET, where it has been a top 10 favorite on the 106 & Park countdown while also scoring “Heavy” rotation on The Deal. Furthermore, “Lost” is now in “Sizzlin” rotation at MTV Jams as well as having been recently added to MTV2’s Sucker Free.
In other news, Gorilla Zoe will be among the artists performing on the upcoming DUB Show Tour 09. The rapper will appear at the traveling custom auto show and concert through the summer, with stops slated in Memphis (on April 18th), Detroit (May 30th), Dallas (June 6th), Atlanta (August 15th), and Houston (August 23rd).

NEW MUSIC: Jibbs - "The Dedication (Ay DJ)" ft Lloyd LISTEN

THE 2009 SEA WINNERS.
The 2009 SEA's were held at the Gold Strike Casino in Tunica this past weekend. Here are the winners:

#1 DJ IN THE SOUTH
DJ Jelly

FEMALE DJ OF THE YEAR
DJ Southern Belle

IMPACT DJ OF THE YEAR
DJ Aaries

SLEPT ON DJ OF THE YEAR
DJ Dollar Bill

OLD SCHOOL DJ OF THE YEAR
DJ Spanish Fly

DJ CREW / FAMILY OF THE YEAR
Slip n Slide DJ's

MIXTAPE DJ OF THE YEAR
DJ Scream

MIXTAPE OF THE YEAR
DJ Bobby Black - Crack Addiction (Jay Z & Barack Obama)

BEST ART/GRAPHICS ON A MIXTAPE
DJ 2Mello & Rapmullet.com - Summer Breeze

MIX-TAPE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
DJ Spinatik

BEST MIX-TAPE (DUO/TEAM)
DJ Whut It Dew & DJ Scrill

BEST CHOPPED & SCREWED MIX
OG Ron C - F-Action 50

MIX-TAPE ARTIST (MALE) OF THE YEAR
Gucci Mane

MIX-TAPE ARTIST (FEMALE) OF THE YEAR
Rasheeda

BEST FREESTYLE (ON A MIXTAPE)
Yung Texxus.

BEST HOST ON A MIXTAPE
DJ Ames

BEST SKILLS ON A MIXTAPE
DJ Houston

BEST INTRO ON A MIXTAPE
DJ Wheezy

JAY-Z TO HEADLINE ARIZONA CONCERT.
Jay-Z will be headlining the first concert at Arizona Stadium since 1977 next month.
According to UA News, the concert "Last Smash Platinum Bash," will take place on April 29th.
The "Platinum Bash" will mark Jay-Z's first major concert of 2009. Jay-Z will share the stage with Kelly Clarkson, Third Eye Blind and The Veronicas. The last concert at the Arizona stadium was by the rock group Fleetwood Mac in 1977. Only 17,000 tickets will be sold for the April concert.

JILL SCOTT LANDS HBO GIG.
Based on Alexander McCall Smith's passionate book series, 'The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency' chronicles the adventures of Precious Ramotswe, the proprietor of the only female-owned detective agency in Botswana. Aided by her highly-efficient secretary Mma Makutsi, Mma Ramotswe investigates cases and helps people solve problems in their lives. Grammy® Award-winning singer Jill Scott stars as series heroine Precious Ramotswe, who has become one of the most beloved characters in international contemporary fiction. Anika Noni Rose ('Dreamgirls') stars as Mma Makutsi and Lucian Msamati stars as Mma Ramotswe's devoted suitor JLB Matekoni. The show debuts Sunday MArch 29 on HBO.

WYCLEF JEAN AND MIRI BEN ARI TO PERFORM AWARD DINNER.
Music and sports will rule at Phoenix House's Phoenix Rising Award Dinner on Monday, March 30, honoring Lisa Ellis of Fireman Capital Partners and Carnival House Recordings at The Plaza in New York. The evening's celebration will be headlined by a special acoustic performance by Wyclef Jean, the Grammy Award-winning musician, producer, and humanitarian. Grammy Award-winning "Hip-Hop Violinist" Miri Ben-Ari will also entertain. Shaquille O'Neal will make a special video tribute. Latest guests include Eli Manning, Rick Fox, Michael Strahan, Shaun O'Hara, Cristie Kerr, Gus Williams, and Wes Welker -- plus entertainment industry and business leaders such as Paul Fireman, Chairman of Fireman Capital Partners and former Reebok CEO, plus Dan Fireman and Andy Spellman, Rose Marie Bravo, Shari Redstone, Richard Plepler, HBO Co-President, Jeff Ross, Executive Producer of The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien... and more.

MR CARTOON LINKS UP WITH UNIVERSAL PICTURES FOR FAST & FURIOUS.
Universal Pictures has teamed up with legendary graffiti artist Mister Cartoon to create an original, one-of-a-kind billboard creation in support of the upcoming action-thriller FAST & FURIOUS. Assisted by artists Revok and Toomer, the artwork features the unique graffiti style that has made Mister Cartoon an icon in the art world. The beautiful film-inspired billboard just debuted in West Hollywood, CA, Tuesday night. Check out the images, and Behind the Scenes Video HERE

KANYE WEST TO HEADLINE WIRELESS FEST.
Kanye West has been confirmed as the headline act for the Wireless Festival, which takes place in London's Hyde Park in July. Kanye will conclude the two-day event on Sunday July 5th, organizers have confirmed. A Wireless statement said the Brit winner's appearance would "make this show undoubtedly one of the finest performances seen in Hyde Park". “After 2008’s spectacular performance by Jay Z, Kanye West is set to establish Hip-Hop’s place in Hyde Park.” Dizzee Rascal, The Streets, Paul Oakenfold and Basement Jaxx will also be performing at the two-day event. Jay-Z headlined the festival last year.

UPDATE: 50 GETS BUMPED IN STALLONE FLICK.
It's been announced 50 Cent has now been replaced by actor Terry Crews in the upcoming movie "The Expendables". As reported earlier, 50 Cent landed the role after Whitaker dropped from the flick due to a scheduling conflict but according to reports, Stallone's fan base reacted angrily to the action star picking the rapper. Stallone has now decided to go with Terry Crews (Everybody Hates Chris, White Girls). The Expendables revolves around a group of mercenaries on a mission to overthrow a South American dictator. The movie is expected to begin filming this month. The film was written by Stallone and he will be also starring and directing. "The Expendables" stars Mickey Rourke, Jason Statham, Jet Li and Stallone himself as Barney "The Schizo" Ross. Lundgren and Arnold Schwarzenegger have also been rumored for roles in the muscle-bound, testosterone-fueled extravaganza.

TRICK DADDY REVEALS HE HAS LUPUS.
During an interview with syndicated Southern radio personality Rickey Smiley earlier today, Miami rapper Trick Daddy shared that he is suffering from Lupus – a harmful and incurable disease in which the person’s immune system attacks its own organs and tissues.
CHECK OUT THE INTERVIEW HERE

MARY J BLIGE ADDED TO PERRY FILM.
Mary J. Blige has signed on to star alongside Taraji P. Henson in "I Can Do Bad All by Myself," Tyler Perry's upcoming film for Lionsgate according to a report from Variety. The movie, based on his play of the same name, is set for a nationwide release on Sept. 11. Blige will portray a nightclub manager and singer who is a good friend to Henson's character. Perry's signature character Madea will be featured in the film. Lensing is taking place at the Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta.

EMINEM TO INDUCT RUN-D.M.C. TO ROCK N ROLL HALL OF FAME.
Eminem is scheduled to induct hip-hop legends Run-D.M.C. into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next month according to the Associated Press. Run-D.M.C. will be only the second rap act to earn a spot in the prestigious club behind Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Em will officially swear the group in on April 4th in Cleveland’s Public Audiorium. Run-D.M.C. is largely credited as the first major rap act to crossover in to the mainstream with such hits as “My Addidas,” “Run’s House,” “King of Rock,” “It’s Tricky” and “Walk This Way.”

NEW STUDY SHOWS ONLINE MUSIC SALES CLIMBING.
Market research firm The NPD Group has released a new study on consumers' music buying habits. It shows that CD sales are way down while digital music sales are on the rise. NPD says the number of Internet users paying for digital music increased by just over 8 million in 2008 to 36 million people. Purchases of digital downloads increased by 29 percent since last year, and they now account for 33 percent of all music tracks purchased in the U.S. NPD’s study also revealed that there were nearly 17 million fewer CD buyers in 2008 compared to 2007. The decline in CD buyers cuts across all demographic groups, but was particularly focused on teens and consumers age 50 and older. Overall, there were 13 million fewer music buyers in the U.S. last year, compared to the prior year. The decline in music purchasing was led by a 19 percent drop in CD sales. Only 58 percent of Internet users reported purchasing CDs or digital music downloads last year, versus 65 percent in 2007. "Rising incidence of paid downloads is a positive development for the industry, but not all lost CD buyers are turning to digital music," said Russ Crupnick, entertainment industry analyst for The NPD Group. Consumers’ primary reason for not purchasing CDs was that they were spending less on entertainment overall, because of the recession. Consumers were also concerned about the price of CDs, and expressed satisfaction with the collection of titles they already own. Among the reasons consumers cited for preferring digital music over CDs was that they could choose only the songs they wanted to purchase, and could immediately download and listen to their purchases."The trends we’re seeing in our consumer tracking studies are evidence of the continued transformation of the music industry," said Crupnick. "Just as music piracy and the advent of digital music ended the primacy of the CD, we are beginning to see new forms of listening challenge the practice of paying for music. The music industry now has to redouble efforts to intercept and engage these listeners, so they can create revenue through upselling music, videos, concert tickets, and related merchandise."

50 CENT TO STAR IN STALLONE ACTION FILM.
50 Cent will be replacing Forest Whitaker in an upcoming Sylvester Stallone flick titled The Expendables. Whitaker dropped from the flick due to a scheduling conflict and the G-Unit general was Stallone's next choice. The writer-director himself says "the anger of the casting of 50 Cent is understandable, but not fair. A player is only as good as his coach. If a man can communicate in one medium, he can communicate in another if his strengths are brought out and he has the support of well-wishers. So, trust me, the change of Forest Whitaker to 50 Cent a.k.a. Curtis Jackson is a good one." In the same message, Stallone says that "nobody wanted Eric Roberts to replace Ben Kingsley" but he believes it's vastly improved casting," and reminded "Rocky" fans that no one believed in Talia Shire, Carl Weathers, Dolph Lundgren, Richard Crenna or Mr. T. at first either. The Expendables is expected to begin filming this month. The film was written by Stallone and he will be also starring and directing. "The Expendables" stars Mickey Rourke, Jason Statham, Jet Li and Stallone himself as Barney "The Schizo" Ross. Lundgren and Arnold Schwarzenegger have also been rumored for roles in the muscle-bound, testosterone-fueled extravaganza.

KANYE WEST CHARGED IN LAX SCUFFLE.
The Los Angeles city attorney’s office has filed criminal charges against Kanye West and Don Crawley. West, 31, has been charged with one count of vandalism, one count of grand theft and one count of battery. According to the LA Times, Crawley, 33, has been charged with two counts of vandalism, two counts of grand theft and two counts of battery. If convicted on all counts, West could face up to two years and six months in jail and Crawley could face up to five years in jail. The pair are scheduled to be arraigned April 14 at the Los Angeles Airport courthouse. The decision by city prosecutors to pursue several charges -- expected to be misdemeanor vandalism, battery and grand theft -- comes six months after the Los Angeles County district attorney's office declined to pursue felony charges. Attorney Blair Berk, who is representing West, had no immediate comment on the city's decision to file criminal charges against her client and his road manager, Don Crawley. A spokesman for City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo had no immediate comment. West and his road manager were arrested at LAX the morning of Sept. 11, 2008, on suspicion of felony vandalism after they confronted two paparazzi outside the passenger screening area in Terminal 4 and smashed the men's cameras, authorities said.

EMI TO REPRESENT DR.KING.
EMI Music Publishing has signed a long-term global deal to represent the intellectual property of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Under the terms, EMI will create new revenue streams by expanding the use of Dr King's teachings, contemporary musical settings on CDs, online and in all digital media. As part of the deal, EMI will work closely with Intellectual Properties Management (IPM), the company that manages the licensing program for the King Estate, to create a licensing regime for online uses of King's work, name and likeness as it applies to existing non-approved uses. IPM will continue to administer and process all non-music requests for King's name, image and likeness and recorded voice and rights of publicity. As part of the deal, EMI will work closely with Intellectual Properties Management (IPM), the company that manages the licensing program for the King Estate. IPM will continue to administer and process all non-music requests for King's name, image and likeness and recorded voice and rights of publicity. IPM will also work with EMI to create a licensing regime for online uses of King's work, name and likeness as it applies to existing non-approved uses. "We have been engaged to use the skills we have refined defending the rights and expanding the market for music to do the same for the works of Dr. King," EMI Music Publishing chairman and CEO Roger Faxon said in a statement. "His works are the expression of a man who helped to transform our society, and to this day his words continue to inspire the world. Assuring that Dr. King's words are accorded the same protection and same right for compensation as other copyrights works is a profound responsibility, and we are proud of the confidence that the Estate has placed in us to fulfill that responsibility." Source: Billboard

JIM JONES' HIP HOP MONOLOGUES RETURN.
Hip Hop's most talked about theatrical production is coming back to the stage. Produced by Sony Entertainment, Damon Dash, and J Kyle's Korner Entertainment, Hip Hop Monologues: Inside the Life & Mind of Jim Jones, the critically acclaimed artistic listening set to stage, will open for the first time to the public at the 37 Arts Theater in New York City and will play for a limited edition run of six performances. Performances run from Tuesday March 24th to Friday March 27th at 8 PM with two final performances on Saturday March 28th at 7 PM and 10 PM. The 37 Arts Theater is located at 450 West 37th Street in NYC. Hip Hop Monologues: Inside the Life & Mind of Jim Jones, first debuted in November 2008 as a first of its kind, two-day theatrical album listening of sorts, set to stage using music from Jones' forthcoming Columbia Records
debut album Pray IV Reign (in stores March 24th) as the platform. Its two day showing was exclusive to an audience of celebrities and media, music and entertainment industry insiders. Accompanied by a live band conducted by Om'Mas Kieth of SA-RA and an ensemble of professional actors, Jim performs songs from his new album in the context of a scripted story. The plot is straight-forward and peripherally autobiographical: rapper Jim Jones, having garnered worldwide fame, returns to Harlem to interact with characters from his past: a preacher, his son's mother, a police detective, jealous enemies, even Jim himself as a younger man. After almost getting killed in an impromptu dice game, Jim is counseled by an old school elder on how to endure the stresses of being famous and the great responsibility of teaching the next generation. Later Jim finds himself having to make the decision of his life by either taking his elder's wise advice or returning to his street ways and risk losing it all. Several roles will be portrayed by contributors to Pray IV Reign. The play, produced written and directed by acclaimed actor, writer and director J. Kyle Manzay, interweaves many elements including multimedia and an intricate backdrop among other things into what J. Kyle terms a "surreal representation of 110th Street in Harlem"-- complete sensory stimuli.

MYKO SECURES DEAL WITH STEVE RIFKIND.
R&B's hottest newcomer, Myko, is preparing for his highly anticipated release on Universal/SRC Records. Led by the single "Give It 2 U," the song is already receiving major airplay in New York, Chicago and Atlanta. This is Myko's first release on the label led by CEO Steve Rifkind, whose credits include Wu-Tang Clan, Akon, David Banner and Big Pun. After gaining buzz in major markets and on the Internet, Myko is primed to make a lasting impression in the mainstream R&B world.

KANYE LINKS UP WITH FAMILY GUY.
Kanye West was at FOX in L.A. last Thursday sitting in on a table read of new animated sitcom The Cleveland Show. "It was surprising to us that [he] was so into it that he came to the table [read], and wonderfully surprising how cool he was, how funny he was and how unassuming he was," says executive producer Mike Henry, who voices Cleveland Brown and other characters on the show. "He's just a great presence." West then spent three hours in the studio Friday laying down his voice as not-so-mega-star rapper Kenny West. "We knew Kanye was a big Family Guy fan because he invited [creator] Seth [MacFarlane] to his house a year or two ago," adds Henry. "And there was a mention on his blog when the spin-off was announced that he was excited about it. We knew he was a big fan and a lot of us are fans of his." West came early to meet the cast and the writers. Soaking up the table-read process, West, 31, got pointers from series regular Sanaa Lathan, who plays Cleveland Brown's wife Donna, and excelled at improvisation. According to executive producer Richard Appel, "Before we came to the table ... there was only one line he didn't love and he came up with another idea and in a completely modest, nice way said, 'Would you mind if I changed just this one line?' And our feeling was, how many raps have we written? One? And how many has he written? Be our guest!" And would the producers ever have Grammy-winning West back on the show? "We just recorded him in the booth and he was fantastic," says Appel. "Once he read it a couple times through, he just owned the character, which I guess isn't hard since he was named Kenny West. He said he'd be glad to [be back.]. I said we could write him in to the next 21 episodes!" Also in the episode, which will air in 2010, is Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson. The Cleveland Show is set to premiere on FOX in the fall of 2009. Source: People

DJ AM TO SUE PEOPLE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PLANE CRASH.
DJ AM has reportedly filed a $20 million lawsuit against the people responsible. According to TMZ, AM is looking for a minimum of $20 million -- $10 million for medical bills, lost earnings and profits, and other economic damages and $10 million for mental and physical pain and suffering. Last month, the owner and operator of the plane, Inter Travel & Services and Global Exec, filed a $12 million lawsuit against the airport, tire company, and the people behind the design of the jet. Travis Barker also filed a lawsuit against Global Exec back in September of last year, seeking $25,000 in damages.

LYFE JENNINGS INKS LABEL DEAL WITH WARNER BROS.
Today marks a new chapter in the book of life for Chester Jennings, better known as his stage name, Lyfe Jennings. Parting ways from his former label, Sony Entertainment and management, the Platinum-selling R&B star has inked his own label deal, Jesus Swings, with the Warner Bros. imprint home to artists like Alanis Morissette, Madonna, Seal, Talib Kweli, and Eric Benet. The Ohio native is set to release his highly-anticipated release on the record behemoth later this year. His debut album 268-192, titled after his identification number in prison, received overwhelming acclaim including the New York Times who called Jennings, “…a socially minded R&B singer” after hearing the pain and rawness in his voice and message. Three albums later, Jennings has switched management teams and is currently managed by superstar manager, Manny Halley, CEO of Imani Entertainment Group. Halley, best known for guiding the successful career of Grammy Nominated R&B Songstress Keyshia Cole, serves at the helm of Jennings’ latest venture. “It isn’t every day, let alone in an economy such as the one we have, that an artist can leave a label, ink a multi-million dollar deal and do it all with a positive message,” declares Manny Halley. “It’s a pleasure to witness good still reaping good.” “Manny is the first manager who I really feel gets me,” says Lyfe. “And just like he’s done great things with superstar Keyshia Cole, we’re gonna do great things together; for music and our communities.” Life is no longer on hold for Lyfe Jennings whose fourth album is tentatively scheduled to be released this Summer.

AFENI SHAKUR COUNTERSUES AGAINST FILM COMPANY.
Afeni Shakur, the mother of late rapper Tupac Shakur, will be filing a $10 million countersuit against film production company Morgan Creek today, March 16. Morgan Creek filed a lawsuit against Afeni and Amaru Entertainment in February claiming that they backed out of an agreement to sell Tupac's life rights for a film adaptation. Afeni and Amaru Entertainment have denied Morgan Creek's accusations and according to The Hollywood Reporter, they will be filing their countersuit Monday morning. Afeni and Amaru claim that Morgan Creek's lawsuit is an attempt to force Afeni to hand over Tupac's movie rights. They also claim that Morgan Creek has sabotaged their attempts to negotiate with other film studios. "Instead of negotiating in good faith with Amaru, they sought to obtain the rights by concocting a nonexistent 'agreement' and engaging in heavy-handed threats, coercion and intimidation to interfere with and ultimately destroy the film project," said Afeni and Amaru Entertainment in the countersuit. Aside from the $10 million, Afeni and Amaru Entertainment want the court to declare there was never a deal with Morgan Creek.

CHRIS BROWN LOOSES ANOTHER DEAL.
Chris Brown’s deal with undergarment company Big Headed Boxers has come to an end! In a statement released Thursday afternoon, Big Headed Boxers chairman Keith Davis says “In light of recent events, BigHeaded Boxers would like to confirm that notwithstanding prior public statements made by Chris Brown about his relationship with BigHeaded Boxers, Mr. Brown has repudiated his contract with BigHeaded Boxers”. As reported on Singersroom in September, Brown inked a deal with the company for an exclusive line of boxers that were “designed to not rise up, allowing you to let loose and enjoy yourself”.

JIMMY IOVINE'S WIFE FILES FOR DIVORCE.
Vicky Iovine, born Vicki McCarty on January 13, 1954, has filed for divorce from record producer and Interscope Founder Jimmy Iovine. Jimmy Iovine’s wife filed for divorce yesterday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the divorce. Vicky Iovine, a former Playboy model and author of The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy has been married to Jimmy for almost 24 years and have 4 children together. Jimmy Iovine, born James Iovine on March 11, 1953, is Chairman of Interscope-Geffen-A&M. Jimmy’s mega-fortune is estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars. His wife is asking for attorneys fees and an undetermined amount of spousal support. Vicky Iovine is a former member of the board of directors of the Special Olympics, as well as a former television producer and radio show talk host

NEW MUSIC - Flo Rida feat. Wynter-"Sugar" LISTEN

CHRIS BROWN AND RIHANNA RECORDING LOVE SONG?
The recording sessions were jam-packed with emotion and serious drama, according to a source. "The feeling in the room was pure love" and the two singers have been "playfully touching each other." Now a spokesperson for producer Polow Da Don has confirmed the rumors. Polow Da Don advised both Chris and Rihanna to get in the studio and record a love song, stressing that timing was important because the heightened emotions would translate powerfully into the music. "My heart goes out to both Chris and Rihanna for what has happened in the past," Polow said in a statement. "They are both great artists to work with, and I wish them well." The producer's publicist said that the duet was completed earlier this week.

RICKY ROSS FINALLY ADMITS OFFICER PAST,
With his third solo album, Deeper Than Rap, slated for an April 21st release, Rick Ross is gracing the cover of XXL magazine’s upcoming May issue. In the XXL cover, Ross addresses initially denying being a correctional officer, his street credibility and his feud with 50 Cent, among other things. This marks the second time the Boss graces the cover of XXL. He first posed alongside DJ Khaled, Trina and Flo Rida for XXL’s July 2008 issue and now gets to shine solo on the May 2009 issue. Here are some quotes from the cover story. On Denying Being A Correctional Officer “Me not answering or addressing that situation has nothing to do with my career. I’ve accomplished enough, and I’ve made enough money for me to be good… Yes, it was me in those pictures. But I’ma tell you this. Me taking that job, I was doing my job. You understand what I mean?” On His Street Credibility “The stuff I talk about is real. The dope is real. The gun talk is official. Look up Kenneth ‘Boobie’ Williams. Look where he’s from. That’s not nothing to be proud of. I wish that on no man. But, just to let you know, that’s what I witnessed. It’s a reality. I cannot discuss certain people that’s still in the streets, and I will not. I took a street oath, and I’ma live by that, and I’ma die by that. And it’s not about a music career, ’cause that shit, I’m good. It’s about me and being in the streets.” On His Feud With 50 Cent “50 Cent made a statement [that he'll] ruin somebody life. Where I come from, it takes a AK-47 to do that. Cartoons, we laugh—funny. You put on a wig, come out the closet—funny. At the end of the day, we in the streets finna drop another No.1 album, we pressing on.” XXL magazine’s May 2009 issue featuring Rick Ross on the cover hits newsstands April 7th.

WYCLEF JEAN, BAN KI-MOON, BILL CLINTON VISIT HAITI TO RAISE GLOBAL AWARENESS AND NEEDS OF DEVASTATED COUNTRY. Port au Prince, Haiti – Haiti Goodwill Ambassador, Wyclef Jean arrived in Port au Prince yesterday with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and former U.S. President Bill Clinton in an effort to bring worldwide awareness to Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Haiti, which has been hit by a series of devastating storms over the past year, desperately needs help after more than 800 people died and over 1 million people were left homeless or in desperate need of recovery and reconstruction efforts. Jean, who is from Haiti and has lead in efforts to help rebuild, educate, and create jobs with his Yéle Haiti foundation was invited to accompany the former President and Secretary-General tour the region. “I was honored to show my support when they asked me to join them on this important humanitarian trip which also gave them the opportunity to experience the beauty underneath the devastation my country and its people have had to face. It’s crucial for me to do all I can to raise awareness and help Haiti get through this tough time.” While in the country, they visited a Yéle sponsored feeding program at a school in Cité Soleil and an education leadership program in Turgeau, met with President René Preval and senior government officials, and a walking tour of Sonapi Industrial Park. Before the three headed off on a plane back to the US, Jean attended a press conference where Clinton and Ban summarized their trip and discussed the Hope II US trade deal which gives Haiti direct access to US markets for apparel without duty; a bill that Jean lobbied for extensively before it was passed. Also invited on the trip were renowned physician Paul Farmer, who works extensively in the region, Deputy Chairman of the Toronto-Dominion Bank Frank McKenna, and several other business leaders.

STATEMENT FROM JOYCE HAWKINS- CO-MANAGER FOR CHRIS BROWN:
Reports that Chris is looking to replace his team, including Mark Geragos, Tina Davis and Mike Sitrick, are false. There are only two people who could make a change at that level on Chris' behalf: his business attorney Kenny Meiselas and me -- and neither of us were the source of this information. To the contrary, Kenny told the media outlet that broke this item, that the information they had was false. So there is no room for doubt or misunderstanding, let me state unequivocally, that no change is planned or being made with respect to Mark Geragos, Tina Davis or Mike Sitrick. We are very pleased with the work they are doing.

STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF TINA DAVIS- MANAGER OF CHRIS BROWN.
Within the recent news reports concerning Chris Brown and Rihanna are rumors suggesting that there was a text message between Mr. Brown and his manager, Tina Davis, of an intimate nature. Ms. Davis has authorized her attorney, Marshall B. Grossman of Bingham McCutchen LLP, to issue the following statement: "The relationship between Ms. Davis and Mr. Brown is that of manager and client. There has never been any other relationship. The rumors in circulation are false. There are no emails between Ms. Davis and Mr. Brown of the type which have been described in media reports. If the source of the false rumors is identified, legal action will be taken. Given the nature of the legal issues affecting Mr. Brown, Ms. Davis will not be making any further statements."

ERYKAH BADU TEAMS WITH ARTIST STEVEN LOPEZ.
Respected Los Angeles artist Steven Lopez will begin work on his latest piece in the “After Midnight Series” featuring soul goddess Erykah Badu. The After Midnight Series is a personal excursion for Steven to combine his two passions, music and art. It is this combination that has inspired the After Midnight Series and in the process brought Steven together with such musical greats as Chaka Kahn, Sade Adu, Aretha Franklin, India Arie, Jill Scott and his first inspiration into the After Midnight Series, Erykah Badu. Steven researches each artist’s photo history, discography, and live performances to begin the creative process. Once versed visually and aurally,Steven selects a favorite and many times inspirational song to focus on and begin the painting process. His manner of painting synergistically with music is heavily influenced and constantly nurtured at the world famous Mint Club in Los Angeles where he performs his craft in front of a live jazz audience regularly. Jazz, soul, funk, and hip hop are all ingrained into Steven’s artistic style beginning with his days as a respected graffiti artist and to his current exploits as a contemporary artist with a unique vision. Steven works with many of the top agencies, brands, and record labels including Reebok, Nestle, X Games, Coachella, Vans, the United Way, Global Inheritance, and Spy Optics among others. His art has also been featured on such networks as BBC, The Discovery Channel and FUEL TV among others. Steven is excited and honored to work with Erykah Badu, saying “Erykah is one of my favorite artists of all time and I’ve been looking forward to interpreting her music since I saw her perform in 2005 during the “Sugar Water” tour stop at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles.” The After Midnight Series will include 100 limited edition giclee prints signed by both Steven and Erykah. The signing will take place on March 24th in Badu’s home town of Dallas. They will be available for purchase, Midnight April 15th. A portion of proceeds will be donated to Badu’s charity organization, Beautiful Love Incorporated Non Profit Development—or B.L.I.N.D. Beautiful Love Inc. was established in 1997 and provides community-driven development for inner-city youth through music, dance, theater and visual arts.

COOLIO UPDATE:
Coolio was charged March 10th with battery and crack cocaine possession following his arrest at Los Angeles International Airport. Coolio was taken into custody at the airport on Friday after authorities said they found the drug and a crack pipe in his luggage. The rapper was charged with a single felony count of possessing cocaine base, and a misdemeanour charge for the pipe. The battery charge was included because the performer grabbed an airport screener's arm to prevent the search of his luggage Coolio is scheduled to appear in court on April 3rd. He faces three years behind bars if he is convicted.

NEW SAIGON/STATIK SELECTAH ALBUM CREATED IN 1 DAY!
“All In A Day’s Work” was entirely produced by Statik Selektah and…- The album was created, recorded, and produced in 1 day (24 hours)- The album will be released on Tuesday March 17th 2009 (the first time an LP has been created in 24 hours and released a week later in digital format and without the traditional 60-90 day setup).- The album will be released on a digitally only format- “All In A Days Work” is the precursor Saigon’s “Warning Shots 2” which is a prelude to his long awaited “Greatest Story Never Told” LP. Both Saigon’s “All In A Day’s Work” and “Warning Shots 2” are signed to Amalgam Digital. Check out Saigon & Statik Selektah’s "The Rules" and Saigon & Statik Selektah’s "Spit" LISTEN

MYSPACE SECRET RELEASE SHOW FEATURES THE-DREAM ON THURSDAY, MARCH 12
Special Guests to Include Kanye West, Electrik Red, Dwele and Others. MySpace Music is proud to announce Grammy-nominated singer, producer and songwriter, The-Dream, will be performing a free show for his MySpace Music friends to celebrate his new album "Love vs. Money." The show will take place at Area night club in West Hollywood on Thursday, March 12. Admittance for the 21+ show will be handled on a first-come, first-serve basis with 200 slots available for fans that bring a printout of their MySpace profile displaying The-Dream in their top friends. As a very special addition, Kanye West will join The-Dream on stage to perform the song "Walkin' On the Moon," as well as Electrik Red, Dwele (DJ set) and DJ Knuckles making appearances throughout the evening. The-Dream Release Show is powered by K-Mart and Protégé.

DR. DRE AND CUBE TO PRODUCE NWA FILM.
New Line Cinema is developing a film called “Straight Outta Compton” that will chronicle the rise and fall of N.W.A. Ice Cube and Dr Dre will help produce the film on the group they helped form along with Eazy-E and MC Ren. Fellow producers Tomica Wright (Eazy-E’s widow) and Circle Of Confusion Entertainment are currently searching for a director. In related news, N.W.A. was recently featured on VH1’s “Rock Doc: N.W.A.: The World’s Most Dangerous Group” last fall. The show examined hip-hop’s most gangster rap group, using interviews from former group members Ice Cube, MC Ren, Dr. Dre, DJ Yella plus Eazy-E’s widow Tomica Woods-Wright, Ice-T and director John Singleton. Chris Rock narrated the feature that was written and directed by Mark Ford.

T.I. AND SHAWTY LO SQUASH BEEF
Last Friday night, T.I. and Shawty Lo united onstage at Tip's Club Crucial. The two have been going back and forth with dis songs and humorous jabs in interviews for more than a year. Everything came to a head November 24 when members of T.I.'s Grand Hustle clique clashed with Shawty Lo and his crew during the Dirty Awards in Atlanta. Tip and Lo apparently decided enough was enough. "After that last altercation at the Dirty Awards, I told him my side of the story," Lo said Sunday in his studio, located in Atlanta's Bankhead neighborhood. "We talked for, like, 15 minutes. We decided in 2009, we're coming into a clean slate. And he's finnin' to go in. What better place to do it than in Bankhead at Club Crucial? "It was unexpected," Lo continued. "We already talked. Me being a man, I just went up there, and the crowd went crazy. They was shocked. We dapped each other as soon as I hit the stage. It was a good feeling." Despite the beef between the two being dead, Lo said making a song with Tip is probably premature thinking at this point, but it isn't impossible. "We don't know," Lo said with a smile before going off to join the likes of Fat Joe, Jim Jones, Young Jeezy and DJ Drama and DJ Infamous' party at the Velvet Room. "Stay tuned. Everything is in the mix. We haven't talked about doing music since 2006, but at least we have been talking. It feels good to be here." Lo is working on a new album, now titled I Am Carlos. The LP, due in June, features T-Pain, Mya, Trey Songz, Rick Ross and Bun thus far. Source: Mtv

C-MURDER BACK IN JAIL
Three years after he was placed under house arrest to await retrial on a murder charge, rapper Corey "C-Murder" Miller was jailed on his birthday Monday for allegedly leaving his residence for 10 minutes in violation of home incarceration rules. Miller, 38, was booked into the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center about midday and will remain there at least until Wednesday, when he will appear before Judge Hans Liljeberg of the 24th Judicial District Court. Liljeberg could keep Miller in jail until his trial, set to begin April 20, or release him back into house arrest. Miller, who faced similar allegations in court two weeks ago, denied leaving his grandmother's Kenner home shortly after 3 a.m., when monitoring equipment signaled his absence, his attorney Ron Rakosky said. "He was in bed sleeping, " Rakosky said. The rapper is charged with second-degree murder in the Jan. 12, 2002, death of Steve Thomas, 16, who was shot during a brawl in a Harvey nightclub. If convicted, he faces a mandatory life sentence in prison. As a condition of his $500,000 bond, Miller wears a transmitter attached to his ankle that is electronically tethered to a receiver. If he strays too far from the receiver, he is "out of range" and an alert is sent automatically to a home incarceration company, said Deputy Chief Charles Whitmer of the Gretna Police Department, which runs Jefferson Parish's house arrest program. Miller's house arrest officer was immediately notified Monday, and that officer called Miller's residence, Whitmer said, "When he called he could hear the monitoring unit saying 'hang up, ' because it was trying to send a signal to the monitoring company saying (Miller) was back in range, " Whitmer said. "That shows that he was definitely out of range at some point, that it wasn't a malfunction of the equipment as they've argued in court before." Prosecutors last month sought to have Miller jailed on grounds that he allegedly was out of range five times since October, for as little as two minutes to as long as 18 minutes. Miller denied leaving, and Rakosky argued the equipment must have malfunctioned. In court documents, Rakosky said he could not contradict the signals, "other than to note such equipment has been found to be fallible." Prosecutors had no witnesses who saw the rapper leave, but the house arrest officer, Mike Dawson, testified he had recently tested the equipment. After hearing testimony and asking witnesses questions of his own, Liljeberg ruled he was not "100 percent convinced" that the monitoring equipment worked properly. He declined to jail Miller. However, the judge reminded Miller of comments he made in January, when he told the rapper he would "be looking for a reason" to increase his bond and warned him to "conduct yourself accordingly." A jury convicted Miller of second-degree murder in September 2003, but the presiding judge, Martha Sassone, tossed the conviction months later in siding with Miller's complaint that prosecutors improperly withheld from the defense criminal background information on three witnesses. Sassone rejected their request to jail Miller and at one point, when a house arrest officer was transporting Miller to jail for allegedly breaking the rules, the judge contacted that officer directly and ordered him to return Miller to his residence. Dawson, Miller's house arrest officer since September, testified Feb. 27 he did not attempt to jail the rapper for recent out-of-range alerts because of Sassone's rulings. "A lot of procedures in this case are different from every other case I have, " Dawson said. Sassone, who was not re-elected last year, left the bench Dec. 31, and the case was allotted to Liljeberg's court.

ICE-T LINKS UP WITH LG MOBILE.
LG Mobile Phones joined forces with the VH1 Save The Music Foundation for a one-year, multi-faceted partnership to promote the importance of music education. The partnership will include check presentations at public schools around the county and a national year-long advertising campaign - 'Come Together' - that was funded by LG Mobile Phones to raise awareness
about music education and the positive impact it has on children's lives. "We are very excited to continue our partnership with the VH1 Save The Music Foundation because LG is passionate about the importance of music education," said Tim O'Brien, senior director of marketing communications for LG Mobile Phones. "Together, we hope to continue to improve and restore
music education in our public schools." "Restoring music education in our public schools is an essential cause, and we applaud LG for its continued support of this worthy mission," says
Paul Cothran, executive director of the VH1 Save The Music Foundation. "It is important for people to recognize the central role music education has in a student's life and our hope is to help raise awareness through this initiative with LG." The performance and presentation were held at the City College Academy of the Arts, a New York public school supported by the VH1 Save The Music initiative. A string ensemble from the school performed for the executives, Ice-T, Chrisette Michele and 300 of their fellow students. The group's instruments were all donated by the VH1 Save The Music Foundation in 2006. Ice-T spoke and Chrisette Michele performed two songs for the assembled students. LG also debuted their TV spot showcasing real life students who have benefited from the Foundation.

COOLIO CRACKED OUT AT LAX?
Accoridng to TMZ, the rapper was going through a security screening to get to his Southwest Airlines flight when a screener found crack cocaine on his person. Sources close to the situation tell us Coolio -- real name Artis Leon Ivey, Jr -- got physical with the screener at some point during the incident. Coolio was booked by LAX police -- It looks like Coolio was headed to Tulsa, Ok. to play a gig tonight at the Flytrap Music Hall. His co-headliners -- Tone Loc and Shock G of The Digital Underground. Story is still developing ...

YOUTUBE AND UNIVERSAL MUSIC PARTNERSHIP?
Google Inc.'s YouTube and Universal Music Group are discussing a significant partnership under which YouTube would provide technology and ad sales support to help distribute Universal's video content to other Web sites, said people familiar. The plan would entail YouTube's building a new hub for music videos, people familiar with the matter say, in order to sell more, higher-priced ads against the popular content. Financial details of the arrangement — which is in negotiations and could still fall apart — could not be learned. But the partnership would represent YouTube's stepped-up efforts to lure premium content through added services and promotion beyond basic ad-sharing relationships it has relied on in the past. Talks about the new effort, which has the working title "Vevo," have been under way since last fall, according to people familiar with this matter, and are at an advanced stage. The arrangement is still weeks away from being finalized and could still fall apart, they say. Whether YouTube is discussing a similar agreement with other music companies with whom it is in regular negotiations remains unclear. A spokesman for YouTube declined to comment on any discussions with Universal, but said "we are always working with our partners to find creative ways to connect music, musicians, and fans." A spokesman for Universal declined to comment. The plan aims to help both companies milk more money out of music videos, which are some of the most popular on the video-sharing site. The idea is to better showcase the videos on and off the site in a way that appeals to advertisers, people familiar with the matter say. It comes as tensions between YouTube and the record labels have escalated in recent months, with both sides facing pressure to earn more revenue. In December, Warner Music Group Corp. removed its songs and videos from the site, after talks to renew their licensing agreement failed. Source: Wall Street Journal.

CHRIS BROWN CHARGED WITH 2 FELONIES.
Chris Brown has been charged with two felonies, including assault likely to cause bodily injury and making criminal threats, according to court documents. The 19-year-old R&B singer, who is free on $50,000 bail, is expected to appear in court later today (Thursday). A source familiar with the situation has identified the woman as Brown's girlfriend, fellow music star Rihanna. A phone message left for Brown's attorney and publicist was not immediately returned. In the meantime, new details emerges in the Chris Brown/Rihanna altercation. FOX 11 in Los Angeles obtained LAPD detectives notes from a search warrant in the case, TMZ reports. According to the notes, Rihanna read a three-page text message on Brown's cell phone from an unknown woman. An argument started and Brown tried to force Rihanna getting out of his car. Then Brown reportedly smashed Rihanna's head against the passenger window. He continued to punch her in the face when she turned to face him, according to the notes. Rihanna's face and clothes were covered in blood after the incident. Furthermore it reads that Brown allegedly told Rihanna, "I'm going to beat the f*ck out of you when we get home. You wait and see."Ri Ri then called her assistant and left a message saying, "I'm on my way home. Make sure the cops are there when I get there." Brown then replied, "You just did the stupidest thing ever. I'm going to kill you."

REEBOK PARTNERS WITH KIDZ IN THE HALL FOR THE CLASSIC REMIX COLLECTION- LISTEN TO Kidz In The Hall - I Got It Made (Reebok Classic Remix)
This spring Reebok will release a new collection of classic footwear styles which has been updated to create the Classic Remix collection. Key retro elements of the past and streamline detailing of the present combine a 'then and now' look at Reebok's history. The Classic Remix collection will be available exclusively at Foot Locker stores. In celebration of this new collection, Reebok is partnering with today's top emerging hip-hop artists. Each will re-interpret an original influential song from the 80's to be distributed exclusively with the Classic Remix collection. Kidz In The Hall (Major League/Duck Down Music) will be the first group in the series to re-interpret the classic song, "I Got It Made" by Special Ed. The new track will be available for download to customers who purchase footwear from the Classic Remix collection at Foot Locker stores starting March 10th, 2009. Reebok will offer new styles and color ways from the collection throughout the year, each featuring a new artist and re-interpreted track. Next in the series will be Kid Sister, followed by B.o.B.

EMINEM MAKES ANNOUNCEMENT.
Anticipation for Relapse has been building since the fall, when Eminem first announced the album title and debuted the freestyle, "I'm Having A Relapse," during an interview on his Shade 45 satellite radio station. Last month, the release of "Crack A Bottle" from Eminem, Dr. Dre and 50 Cent brought that anticipation to a head. The track soared to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 (Eminem's second #1 after 2002's "Lose Yourself") and set a Nielsen SoundScan record for opening week download sales (418,000). The recording ranked third in the history of all weekly download sales. "Crack A Bottle" will be included as an album track on Relapse. With the announcement of the release date for Relapse also comes confirmation of something that had been rumored in recent weeks: Eminem is already working on a follow-up album, Relapse 2, that fans can expect in the second half of 2009. "A lot of people were expecting Relapse to drop
last year," said Eminem. "I was one of them. Then Dre and I went back in the studio in September for a few days, and that turned into six months. We were on such a roll; we wound up with a ton of new music produced by Dre. Putting out Relapse 2 will let everyone get all of the best stuff." Eminem has sold more than 75,000,000 albums worldwide. His previous studio album, Encore, reached #1 and dominated the charts in late 2004. Certified quadruple platinum and spinning off four Top 40 Hot 100 hits, the Grammy-nominated disc has sold more than 11,000,000 copies around the globe. The #1, double platinum, 2005 greatest hits collection, Curtain Call: The Hits and #2, platinum, 2006 various artists compilation, Eminem Presents: The Re-Up, followed. In October 2008, Eminem released "Eminem: The Way I Am," a book compiling thoughts, stories, and memorabilia from various points in his life. The book entered the New York Times Best-Seller list at #11.

DRUG CHARGES DROPPED AGAINST LIL WAYNE
A judge in Atlanta has dismissed felony drug charges against rapper Lil Wayne. The Grammy-award winning rapper, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., was arrested in August 2006 at a hotel. Atlanta police said they found unmarked bottles containing hydrocodone and a generic form of Xanax, along with a small amount of marijuana. On Tuesday, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Michael Johnson granted the rapper's request to suppress on the basis of an illegal search. Carter's attorney, William Head, said his client wasn't staying in the room where the arrest was made. Carter currently faces drug charges in Arizona, stemming from a January 2008 arrest, and a weapons charge from 2007 in New York. Source: Associated Press

MAKERS OF SMIRNOFF VODKA TAP NAS, BUCKSHOT, NICE & SMOOTH, AMD MORE.
Makers of Smirnoff vodka announced the launch of the second annual Smirnoff Signature Mix
Series, a campaign designed to bring together respected artists in the hip hop community to recreate clearly original versions of iconic hip hop songs, with newly-mixed interpretation. Legendary artist Nas is teaming up with Marsha Ambrosius, formerly of Floetry, to rework his Grammy-nominated single "If I Ruled the World"; [[ LISTEN HERE ]] Buckshot and Kardinal Offishall are putting an original spin on Buckshot's memorable underground hit "I Got Cha Opin"; and Nice & Smooth are joining musical forces with Pac Div to create a new interpretation of "Funky For You". This is the second installment of the acclaimed program. Last year's Smirnoff Signature Mix Series celebrated reworked classics by acclaimed artists Common, Q-Tip, and KRS-One paired with renowned producers Just Blaze, Cool & Dre, and DJ Premier. "It was a pleasure working with Nas again," said Marsha Ambrosius. "Smirnoff gave us a great opportunity to put a new twist on a classic record, and I'm excited to be a part of the project this year." "We're really looking forward to adding onto the success of last year's Signature Mix Series with these six artists, and coming up with some clearly original, reworked songs to add to the campaign," said David Tapscott, Brand Director - Smirnoff. "We love to reach out to consumers in unique ways, and this is a perfect way of inserting the brand naturally into our consumer's lifestyle." The Smirnoff Signature Mix Series held an exclusive press event in New York City last night to unveil the three new songs. In its continued commitment to responsible drinking, Smirnoff provided guests with a variety of non-alcoholic drinks throughout the evening. As always, Smirnoff encourages guests to celebrate responsibly at every Smirnoff event.

50 TALKS NEW ALBUM DATE AND FUTURE PLANS..
50 Cent recenty appeared on ABC’s ‘Whats The Buzz” show in New York where he let the fans know when his album would drop. “My album Before I Self Destruct will be out in May. My record kinda got moved back because Eminem’s record will be coming out before me because Dr.Dre will have completed his project before I can get Dre to finish the pieces I need to complete my project.” In the interview, 50 also talked about his contract with Interscope ending and what he migh do first. “My next album, Before I Self Destruct, is my fourth and the fifth is a greatest hits option for Interscope Records, so when they’re saying last album, my contract will be up and I’ll be re-negotiating,” Fif said in an interview. “I could potentially be staying at Interscope or going somewhere else.”

CASH MONEY HIT WITH LAWSUIT.
Producer TRISTAN ‘T MIX’ JONES is suing the owners of Cash Money Records for more than $2 million for allegations of breach of contract. Tristan (formerly signed to Bryan ‘Baby’ Williams, aka Birdman, and Ronald ‘Slim’ Williams’ label) claims he has only received partial payments for his work on four Cash Money albums between 2005 and 2007. Jones filed his lawsuit in the United States Eastern District Court in Louisiana on 26 February (2009), alleging he entered into an exclusive deal to provide production for artists on the Cash Money roster, including Lil Wayne and Baby. He was also required to work on programming, arranging, recording, mixing and editing. Jones claims he was never paid in full for his contribution to projects including Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter 2 in '05, Baby’s Fast Money in '05, and the pair’s collaborative disc, Like Father, Like Son in '06. Jones goes on to allege that the records have gone on to sell over three million copies and he should at least be entitled to the $2.25 million worth of work put in. He is seeking compensation for royalties owed, in addition to court and attorney costs.


YOUNG JEEZY ADDS ADDITIONAL MANAGEMENT.
Young Jeezy joins Hip-Hop Since 1978 (the firm that represents Kanye West and Lil Wayne) will now manage all aspects of Young Jeezy’s career alongside HUSH Management. Jeezy’s longtime manager Demetrius “Kinky B” Ellerbee expressed his excitement over the new deal, “With Young Jeezy we’ve watched a legitimate movement build into an incredible brand over the past several years,” Ellerbee said in a statement. “In partnering with Gee and Hip-Hop we are hoping to continue to push his brand further than ever. I’m thrilled to have them on board." “Young Jeezy, along with our artists Kanye West and Lil Wayne, is at the pinnacle of this culture right now,” Roberson added. “So it’s just great synergy to be able to work with him and Kink during this exciting time in his career.”

SNOOP APPEARS AT NATION OF ISLAM EVENT.
Rapper Snoop Dogg made an appearance Sunday at the Nation of Islam's annual Saviours Day convention, praising Minister Louis Farrakhan and suggesting that he is a member of the movement. Snoop gave a $1,000 donation to the Nation and said he will always seek the minister out. The rapper called himself the "leader of the hip-hop community" and said it was his first Saviours Day event. He told followers that he would share the information he gathered with other musicians. "When you get a speech from Minister Farrakhan it's about a mirror, it's about looking at yourself," the rapper later told The Associated Press. "It's about seeing yourself and what you can do to better the situation ... We're doing a lot of wrongs among ourselves that need correcting." When asked if he planned to convert and become a member of the Chicago-based Nation of Islam, Snoop said he has already joined in the movement. "I'm already in the Nation, that's why I'm here," he said. "I'm an advocate for peace. I've been in the peace movement ever since I've been making music. My whole thing is not about really trying to push my thing on you. It's just about the way I live, and I live how I'm supposed to live as far as doing what's right and representing what's right. That's why I was here today." During the speech Sunday, Snoop sat on stage behind Farrakhan clapping and nodding. Rapper Doug E. Fresh also attended the convention but didn't speak publicly. Rapper T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, appeared via recorded video. He told followers that education is the key to success. Source: Associated Press

REEBOK PARTNERS WITH KIDZ IN THE HALL FOR THE CLASSIC REMIX COLLECTION
This spring Reebok will release a new collection of classic footwear styles which has been updated to create the Classic Remix collection. Key retro elements of the past and streamline detailing of the present combine a 'then and now' look at Reebok's history. The Classic Remix collection will be available exclusively at Foot Locker stores. In celebration of this new collection, Reebok is partnering with today's top emerging hip-hop artists. Each will re-interpret an original influential song from the 80's to be distributed exclusively with the Classic Remix collection. Kidz In The Hall (Major League/Duck Down Music) will be the first group in the series to re-interpret the classic song, "I Got It Made" by Special Ed. The new track will be available for download to customers who purchase footwear from the Classic Remix collection at Foot Locker stores starting March 10th, 2009. Reebok will offer new styles and color ways from the collection throughout the year, each featuring a new artist and re-interpreted track. Next in the series will be Kid Sister, followed by B.o.B.

FAT JOE ON DECK.
On April 7, 2009, rapper Fat Joe will continue one of the most impressive runs in recent Hip-Hop history with the release of his ninth solo studio album, Jealous Ones Still Envy 2 (J.O.S.E. 2). The project reprises the title of Joe's 2002 RIAA-Certified Platinum release, Jealous Ones Still Envy, and will mark Joe's third release since bringing his Terror Squad Entertainment imprint to the EMI family in 2006. EMI Music Services is supporting the release with promotion, street teams, digital, marketing, licensing and synchronization and brand partnership services. For this album, Joe has reached out to a who's who of the Industry, landing assists from artists including Ron Browz; Fabolous; former Atlantic Records label mate Lil' Kim; T-Pain; Lil' Wayne, with whom he scored a tremendous hit in 2008's multi-platinum single "Make It Rain;" and Akon, who appears on J.O.S.E. 2's official first single, "One." Much of the production comes from names familiar to Fat Joe fans, including Jim Jonsin, The Incredibles, and frequent collaborator The Street Runners. Fat Joe is currently scheduling a month-long national promo tour in support of J.O.S.E. 2, which will run from early March through the album's release. "We are thrilled to be backing Fat Joe's latest creation and continuing EMI's relationship with him," said Dominic Pandiscia, senior vice president and GM of EMI Label Services. "He's a significant musical and cultural force whose appeal cuts across so many different genres and fans. This is a great record and the response is terrific."

TWISTA SIGNS WITH EMI GLOBAL MUSIC.
Ready to reclaim the spotlight, Chicago's Grammy-nominated hip-hop legend is back with a new label and album entitled Category F5. Twista has brought his Get Money Gang Entertainment label to EMI Global Music Services. The first project under the new partnership is the rapper's sixth studio album, "Category F5." Preceding the album's June 16, 2009 release is the buzz track "Wetter". GMG Entertainment is headed by Twista's manager Rawle Stewart and Henley Halem, who will act as the liaison between GMG and EMI. "We are very pleased to be in business with EMI and Capitol," says Twista. "I am excited about being independent again but having the resources of a major." As he gears up for the release of "Category F5," Twista notes, "The hustle never stops. Over the last couple of years, I've just been thinking about what the fans want from me. And that was motivation enough to bring out another classic album."

50 SAYS EM COMING BEFORE ANYONE ELSE ON INTERSCOPE.
50 Cent visited the Howard Stern show today. 50 said he won't be releasing Before I Self Destruct until Eminem's Relapse drops. "Right now I'm on a train, and the Em-choo-choo-car goes first. I think people forgot that I'm actually Eminem's artist because I've had so much success on my own and moved away from it," said 50. "Because Dre is mixing Em's album, Em will be completed entirely before we get a chance to finish up the pieces that me and Dre did together," he continued. He also talked about working with Deniro, the Chris Brown/Rihanna episode, plus Jay-Z's success and Beyonce and more... Listen to the segment HERE

UNCLE CHARLIE IS #1
Acclaimed R&B solo singer/songwriter Charlie Wilson tops the charts with his newest offering, Uncle Charlie. This week, Wilson's album debuts at No. 1 on the R&B Albums chart, and enters at No. 2 on the Pop Albums chart. These are his highest ranking debuts on both charts as a solo artist and front-man for the legendary Gap Band. This chart-topping week comes as the singer's first solo album on Jive Records, Charlie, Last Name Wilson, receives gold-certification from the RIAA. The album's lead single "There Goes My Baby" is currently among the Top 5 most played songs at the Urban Adult Contemporary radio format, and the accompanying video will debut March 2nd as a featured spotlight on Yahoo's main music page. The new album features collaborations with Snoop Dogg and T-Pain and production work by the Grammy-nominated duo the Underdogs. The album title, Uncle Charlie, refers to Wilson's status as the "de facto father of new jack swing" and his influence over some of today's top musicians and singers. Wilson is considered one of the greatest and most distinctive voices in R&B. Charlie Wilson is currently completing a special tour for U.S. troops stationed in Iraq and Kuwait. In March, he will join an all-star cast that includes Robin Givens for a national tour of the gospel musical, Save Me From My Secrets.

DMX COULD FACE 8 YEARS IN PRISON!
DMX is serving time in the valley and we're now learning that he may spend a lot more time behind bars! DMX, also known as Earl Simmons, may be charged with felony aggravated assault. He's serving a 90 day sentence for several charges and was placed in lock down earlier this month. FOX 10 has learned that while in lock down, Simmons apparently assaulted a Sheriff's detention officer. If convicted of these new charges, his probation could be revoked and he could be sentenced to 8 years in prison.

BATTLE 50 ON XBOX
On March 1, 50 Cent and his friends will try and rule the Xbox LIVE service as he plays his own game, 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand, with Xbox LIVE Gold members. If you're an Xbox LIVE Gold member, and you want a chance to play with 50 Cent, send a friend request to the following Gamertags and be online half an hour before (5:30 P.M. ET) the Game with Fame session starts on Sunday, March 1, 6:00 P.M. ET.

Date: Sunday, March 1, 2009
Time: 6:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. ET/3:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. PT
Game: 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand
Gamertags: Fifty Cent GWF, Fifty Cent GWF 2, Fifty Cent GWF 3, Fifty Cent GWF 4

MTV TO AIR DALLAS WEEK W/ PLAY-N-SKILLZ.
Grammy Award Winning Duo Chaperoned MTV thru Dallas for an inside look into the next music city to blow-up! Play-N-Skillz continue to shine a national spotlight on Dallas, TX. The MTV camera's were rolling as Play*N*Skillz celebrated their 2009 GRAMMY Nominations with a celebrity packed red carpet event at Dallas hotspot PLUSH. Rap Superstars Too $hort, Bun B, Paul Wall, Slim Thug and many others performed in an event that was electrifying. Fresh off their GRAMMY win for producing Lil' Wayne's hit "Got Money", the duo will help showcase Dallas to the world via an MTV special entitled "Dallas Week on MTV" that will highlight Dallas music, culture and fashion airing on Tuesday, February 24th and Wednesday, February 25th. Here is a link to a teaser.

DJ CLASS RESIGNS FROM HIS POSITION AT THE V-103 “FRANK & WANDA” MORNING SHOW. Atlanta’s WVEE V-103 morning show production member, DJ Class, reluctantly resigned from eight year tenure at the CBS radio station to continue his music career. In addition to being an artist and dee-jay, Class was a member of the production and imaging team for the Frank & Wanda Morning Show and stepped down due to the budding success of his new single “Im the Ish” that is unexpectedly climbing the Urban format, Top-40, and Rhythmic radio charts across the country. Class started out with the station nearly eight years ago, and considers the V103 team his second family. Class’ tour schedule, in conjunction with finalizing production on his debut album, “Alameda & ColdSpring” has made it hard for the DJ and producer to fully continue his responsibilities at the station. Therefore, Class amicably parted ways with the station last week to continue his tour and promo schedule. Class says “I already miss being with my v103 family and wish them all many more successful years.” Aside from that, the respected Baltimore club pioneer has just confirmed a featured appearance on the official remix of MIMS new single “MOVE” that was released this past December. In related news, DJ Class inked a deal with Universal Republic, upon release of his infectious single “Im the Ish” that spread the net virally with unofficial remixes and YouTube videos of Jermaine Dupri, and Trey Songz in the studio laying down verses to a song that Jermaine says “if the shoe fits I wear it”. Just last week, Miami’s own, Pitbull, jumped on the official remix that features the king of crunk, Lil Jon. Label management also reports scheduled appearances at the South by Southwest Music Conference, Winter Music Conference, and Urban Networks. Class is also gearing up for an upcoming video shoot in L.A next month, directed by the Chris Robinson’s imprint Robot Films. DJ Class’ album “Alameda & ColdSpring” is slated for a summer release.

HUSSEIN FATAL DROPPED FROM LABEL.
Hussein Fatal has been dropped by his record label Global Music Group after just 6 months. On February 22, 2009 the former member of 2Pac's Outlawz was given a full release from Global Music Group, and dropped from the label. Despite readying an upcoming single, and completing a music video, the rapper failed to meet contract requirements by delivering the masters of his album Born Legendary to the label within the contract deadline. Global Music Group issued a statement on their website which read, "GMG has tried on numerous occasions to obtain these masters but to no avail."

OFFICIAL STATEMENT BY AMARU ENTERTAINMENT REGARDING THE MORGAN CREEK LAWSUIT. We at Amaru Entertainment would like to clarify some of the recent media reports concerning a lawsuit filed by Morgan Creek Productions. This lawsuit has no merit. We felt it was important to bring the story of Tupac Shakur, one of music's most remarkable icons, to life onscreen and, in realizing this vision, we sought to find the best partner who would be true to Tupac's vision and bring his unique story to life on the big screen. In doing so, we have taken every step to ensure that our partner in this process is committed to the integrity of Tupac Shakur's legacy and, more importantly, that they are the right people. To that end, we have been in discussions and negotiations with several major studios and production companies, including Morgan Creek Productions. However, at no time did we have an agreement with MorganCreek. Sadly, MorganCreek decided to take advantage of this situation and attempt to frustrate our project by interfering with our business relationships. We will not be frightened by MorganCreek's tactics and we are absolutely confident that the movie will be produced and released. Tupac's story is what Hollywood legends are made of - and we want to make sure that the movie tells Tupac's story like it should be told and lives up to everyone's expectations. "Tupac touched so many people in his brief life and it makes me feel honored in keeping his message alive. And I want to do so with integrity - in the right way with the right people," says Afeni Shakur. "That's what Tupac would have wanted."

XZIBIT RELEASES STATEMENT REGARDING THE "GAY CLUB" WITH DIDDY.
"Wow, so I wake up this morning and my phone is going nuts. I turn on the computer and find all this shit about me "throwing puffy under the gay bus" whatever that means. All this SPIN that you journalist are putting on the statements I made on a radio show to DIRECTLY effect a guy in a manor not intended is wrong. I got a call yesterday (which caught me off guard) from Diddy himself stating the club was an after hours spot called "space" I believe. The rumor mill that has ground this bullshit out to be the shit storm that it is, is doing so on its own accord. Like I said at the top, I have no beef with Diddy. BUT WAIT... a bigger problem I see is the negative stance these hip hop sites and blog sites are taking when speaking of gay people in general. All I can say to that is :PEOPLE GROW UP! I do NOT like to spread hate and make it a point not to do so, so this is not the way I intended this interview to unfold. You heard it directly from me ladies and gents, Im looking forward to the issues at hand that really mean something to both my fans and Diddys as well: ART & MUSIC."... Thanks. ALVIN "XZIBIT" JOINER

BEST SELLING AUTHOR CHARLOTTE HUGHES TEAMS UP WITH PETEY PABLO.
Perhaps the most unlikely collaboration of the year has just surfaced, as best selling author Charlotte Hughes announced today that her book NUTCASE (Jove, March 2009) has inspired a rap song of the same title written and produced by Petey Pablo, recording with JD Hawg and T.R. Flow. The teaming up of a New York Times best selling author with a Platinum selling hip hop recording artist is a novel concept. The pairing of rap music and romantic comedy may seem an unlikely mix, but NUTCASE the book strikes a universal theme, with its zany plot filled with madcap and mayhem. Ms. Hughes, whose FULL series coauthored with Janet Evanovich established her as a best selling author, writes with a distinctive southern voice. The three hip hop artists also bring a southern flavor to their records, with Pablo having North Carolina roots and Hawg and Flow hailing from South Carolina. While the publishing and recording industries are playing defense in hard economic times, Ms. Hughes and the three rappers have created some buzz with their bold moves to reach out to each other s natural markets. JD Hawg and TR Flow initiated the project when they discovered Ms. Hughes critically acclaimed book, which is steeped in crazy humor. Petey Pablo learned of the project from Hawg, a protégé who had toured with Pablo in Europe. Hawg and Flow decided to feature Pablo, who wrote and recorded the hook for the song, and produced the record in time for the novel's March release. Charlotte Hughes, who mostly writes romantic comedy and mysteries, is launching NUTCASE with a book tour and a virtual (web based) tour called VIRTUALLY NUTS. Hawg and Flow plan to appear at some events, and Hughes will be making downloads of the song available for her fans. The book NUTCASE is the second and stand alone book in a series that is in discussion for a possible TV series.

MARK DIDIA UPPED AT ISLAND DEF JAM.
Mark DiDia has been appointed EVP/General Manager, Island Records; it was announced today by Steve Bartels, President and COO, Island Def Jam Music Group. In this newly created position, Mr. DiDia will oversee all day-to-day operations of Island Records. Mr. DiDia, who is based in New York, will report directly to Mr. Bartels "Mark's arrival at Island Records is perfectly timed to coincide with the label's 50th anniversary this year," said Mr. Bartels. "He brings a wealth of experience in every field of the business, respect from the major label artists with whom he's worked, and a unique vision for Island's future. We welcome him to IDJ's senior management team and look forward to working together on the many exciting challenges that face us." "I'm thrilled to join the legendary Island Records," said Mr. DiDia. "I'm a true champion of the artists on the roster and I look forward to working closely with all of them." Mr. DiDia comes to Island from Columbia Records, where he was Executive Vice President/General Manager. Prior to that, he was EVP/GM at Capitol Records, Hollywood Records and Def American Recordings. Mr. DiDia began his career in music at rock stations WXRK (K-Rock) in New York, and WYSP in
Philadelphia, which lead him to being tapped as head of Promotion for Geffen Records.

KEN LUCEK JOINS WBR/REPRISE
Ken Lucek has joined Warner Bros./Reprise as VP of Pop Promotion. Lucek, who was most recently VP of CHR Promotion-West Coast at Jive Records, will be overseeing the Pop promotion departments for the Warner Bros. and Reprise labels. He will report to both WB SVP/Promotion Ron Cerrito and Reprise SVP/Promotion Mike Rittberg.

JOHN LEGEND RESPONDS TO RACIST CARTOON.
The New York Post ran an editorial cartoon comparing the author of the federal stimulus bill to a crazed chimpanzee shot and killed by police earlier in the week after attacking a woman in Stamford, Connecticut. John Legend responded to the cartoon with the following open letter to the Post:

Dear Editor:
I'm trying to understand what possible motivation you may have had for publishing that vile cartoon depicting the shooting of the chimpanzee that went crazy. I guess you thought it would be funny to suggest that whomever was responsible for writing the Economic Recovery legislation must have the intelligence and judgment of a deranged, violent chimpanzee, and should be shot to protect the larger community. Really? Did it occur to you that this suggestion would imply a connection between President Barack Obama and the deranged chimpanzee? Did it occur to you that our president has been receiving death threats since early in his candidacy? Did it occur to you that blacks have historically been compared to various apes as a way of racist insult and mockery? Did you intend to invoke these painful themes when you printed the cartoon?

If that's not what you intended, then it was stupid and willfully ignorant of you not to connect these easily connectable dots. If it is what you intended, then you obviously wanted to be grossly provocative, racist and offensive to the sensibilities of most reasonable Americans. Either way, you should not have printed this cartoon, and the fact that you did is truly reprehensible. I can't imagine what possible justification you have for this. I've read your lame statement in response to the outrage you provoked. Shame on you for dodging the real issue and then using the letter as an opportunity to attack Rev. Sharpton. This is not about Rev. Sharpton. It's about the cartoon being blatantly racist and offensive. I believe in freedom of speech, and you have every right to print what you want. But freedom of speech still comes with responsibilities and consequences. You are responsible for printing this cartoon, and I hope you experience some real consequences for it. I'm personally boycotting your paper and won't do any interviews with any of your reporters, and I encourage all of my colleagues in the entertainment business to do so as well. I implore your advertisers to seriously reconsider their business relationships with you as well.

You should print an apology in your paper acknowledging that this cartoon was ignorant, offensive and racist and should not have been printed. I'm well aware of our country's history of racism and violence, but I truly believe we are better than this filth. As we attempt to rise above our difficult past and look toward a better future, we don't need the New York Post to resurrect the images of Jim Crow to deride the new administration and put black folks in our place. Please feel free to
criticize and honestly evaluate our new president, but do so without the incendiary images and rhetoric. ... Sincerely, John Legend

UNCLE LUKE RELEASES STATEMENT REGARDING RECENT AREST.
"The story in yesterday's Miami Herald gives a false impression about my arrest on Tuesday. The arrest had nothing to do with "allegedly owing" over ten thousand dollars in a child support case. I have acknowledged that I am the father of the child in question and I am fully up to date on his child support. Rather, I was arrested because I had not paid the lawyer's fees of this child's mother. This is a matter of ongoing legal dispute. In December of 2009, the court sided with me in regard to my not paying the legal fees. This past Tuesday I was at the courthouse on other business. When the sheriff learned of my presence on the premises, he had me arrested although the Florida constitution states that a person cannot be jailed for consumer debt. I was released from jail only after I paid the lawyer's fees of the child's mother. This is not the end of this matter. Because this writ was originally vacated I intend to fight the legal decision requiring me to make that payment of attorney's fees and the sheriff's decision to arrest me. If the court has now decided to lock people up for not paying attorney's fees then just about everybody is going to jail. But there's a larger problem here: It's one in which African-American fathers are routinely demonized as "deadbeat dads" by the legal system. It's more accurate to call me a "denied dad." I wanted the right to visit my child. I wanted shared parental rights. The child's mother opposed my wishes. The court ruled in her favor. In fact, you don't have to be a black man to face this kind of bias. In a book entitled "A Promise to Ourselves: A Journey Through Divorce and Fatherhood," the actor Alec Baldwin describes the terrible custody battle he's had with his ex-wife. Unfortunately, vindictive mothers all too often use their children as pawns in a war against fathers. In the black community, we often refer to these disputes as "baby mama drama." It's a cute name for a problem that is no laughing matter. Moreover, I spend at least two (2) hours of every day that I am in Miami working with at risk kids in inner city neighborhoods. I not only work with them, but also, I work with their parents - mothers and fathers - who are having a hard time raising their children while dealing with the potholes in society today. Running from the responsibilities of taking care of my very own son is the last thing I would do." - Luther Campbell

NELLY PITCHING NEW VARIETY SHOW.
Hip-hop star Nelly is teaming up with "The Biggest Loser" producer 25/7 Prods. to take a stab at the variety TV genre. "Nelly's Night in Vegas" is currently being pitched to networks as a weekly series that would feature Nelly performing and interacting with celebs; 25/7's Dave Broome is set to exec produce along with Nelly and "The Daily Show" co-creator Madeleine Smithberg. "I was thinking about what was missing on TV, and when this idea came about, it made sense for me," said Nelly -- real name Cornell Iral Haynes Jr. "We do have talkshows, but no one's speaking from the pop culture perspective. Let's get a little more pop, a little more edge, a little bit younger, and not look like you're sitting in the principal's office. As a performer, that's the type of show you look forward to going on." Broome said the producers have already sealed a deal with Planet Hollywood to shoot the weekly show at its Las Vegas hotel; 25/7 is also in conversations with other sponsors about potential pacts. The show would look like a talkshow-variety hybrid, Broome said, with a sidekick and house band, as well as guests and performances. Because it will shoot in Vegas, there may also be an in-studio gaming element.

SOUNDSCAN CHART NUMBERS/STATS- Week Ending 02/16/09
India Arie's Volume 2: Testimony: Love & Politics debuts @ #3 with 75,368 copies sold. Bobby Valentino's Rebirth debuts @7 with 64,126 copies sold. Beyonce's I Am...Sasha Fierce locks up #12 with 53,937 copies sold ( 1,842,143 total). Jamie Foxx' Intuition grabs #14 with 40,069 units sold (618,101 total). Kanye's 808's takes #16 with 36,780 units sold (1,327,998 total). T.I.'s Paper Trail locks in #18 with 33,332 copies sold (1,694,521 total). Keyshia Cole's Different Me takes #19 with 32,055 units sold (698,182 total). Ne-Yo's Year of the Gentleman takes #25 with 29,101 copies sold (905,545 total). Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III takes #29 with 26,963 units sold (3,012,110 total). Rihanna's G.G.G.B. takes #31 with 24,520 copies sold (2,371,040 total). Ryan Leslie's self-titled album debuted @ #35 with 23,710 copies sold. Akon's Freedom takes #36 with 23,238 units sold ((489,767 total). Plies' Da Realist takes #53 with 14,326 copies sold (269,625 total). Luda's Theatre of the Mind locks up #59 with 12,298 copies sold (554,739 total). T-Pain's Thr33 Ringz grabs #77 with 10,144 copies sold (488,261 total). Young Jeezy's Recession takes #78 with 9,970 copies sold (775,473 total). Musiq's On My Radio takes #80 with 9,685 total (221,520 total). The Notorious Soundtrack locked up #83 with 9,388 coies sold (107,590 total).
Other Notables: Snoop's Ego Trippn (384,341 total). Gorilla Zoe's Welcome to the Zoo (165,767 total). Ice Cube's Raw Footage (190,827 total). Scarface's Emeritus (108,249 total). Q-Tip's Renaissance (114,749 total). Nelly's Brass Knuckes (195,719 total). G-Unit's TOS ( 245,864 Total). 50 Cent's Curtis (1,358,454 total). Game's LAX (675,969 total). Jay-Z's American Gangster (1,120,476 total). Bun B's II Trill (282,958 total). Lupe Fiasco's The Cool (567,083 total). Rick Ross' Trilla (718,550 total). OJ Da Juiceman (5,541 total).

E! CHANNEL PICKS UP CANDY GIRLS.
E! Entertainment Television has given an eight episode order to Candy Girls (working title), a docu-soap that will follow the lives of women trying to make it as “eye candy” in A-list hip hop music videos. “In order to reach the career pinnacle of appearing in “A-list” music videos and gain access to the world of superstars, private jets and exclusive parties, you need to be able to play the game as well as you look,” said the network, describing the series. “Musicians need to live their image and that includes surrounding themselves with the beautiful women who are so often featured in their videos at all times. However, like runway models, these women know they need to get in early and make their money fast before time takes away the looks that make them so successful.” Candy Girls will focus on talent agency founder Danielle and her staff, which cast women in the videos. The series will also highlight a number of Danielle’s clients trying to make it big, and others who have already found success in the field. E! is pairing the new series with Keeping Up with The Kardashians, which will have its third season premiere March 8. Candy Girls will air new episodes Sunday nights at 10:30 p.m., following Keeping Up. “This series introduces E!’s entertainment-obsessed viewers to an aspect of the industry that has not previously been revealed,” said Lisa Berger, Executive VP, Original Programming and Series Development, E! Entertainment Television. “While these women may be recognized for their sexy personas, viewers will find there is much more to them than meets the eye. With cut-throat attitudes, strong opinions and an unapologetic passion for luxury goods, these music industry divas are sure to create an exciting and dramatic series.” Candy Girls is being produced for E! by Good Clean Fun and Coalition Media. Jason Carbone, Leah Landon and Troy Carter are executive producers.

FLO RIDA MAKES HISTORY ONCE AGAIN.
Poe Boy/Atlantic recording artist Flo Rida has made history with his blockbuster new single, “Right Round,” shattering the all-time one-week digital single sales record previously held by his own game-changing debut, “Low (Feat. T-Pain),” not to mention marking the highest digital single debut ever. The track – featured on the Miami-based MC’s anticipated new album, “R.O.O.T.S.” – has sold over 636,000 downloads in the week since its February 10th release, far exceeding the record-setting 467,000 sales week of “Low” in January 2008. What’s more, “Right Round” has broken the record for most downloads sold in the first week of release, set just last week by Eminem’s current #1 hit, “Crack A Bottle (Feat. Dr. Dre and 50 Cent).” The track currently ranks at #1 on the SoundScan Digital Song Chart, iTunes, Amazon, and Rhapsody. “Right Round” is currently lighting it up at multi-format radio outlets nationwide, with Top 15 airplay at both CHR/Top 40 and Rhythmic. Combined with the week’s stunning sales success, the track’s fast-rising popularity ascends to the #1 spot on this coming week’s Billboard “Hot 100.” Billboard named Flo Rida its #1 digital artist of 2008, fueled in large part by the remarkable success of “Low.” With cumulative download sales now in excess of 4.6 million, “Low” is firmly established as the #1 best-selling digital single of all time. Among its many other achievements, the track held the #1 spot on the Billboard “Hot 100” for ten weeks, and Billboard’s “Hot Rap Tracks” chart for 11 weeks, marking the longest-running #1 since 2004 and the seventh longest-running #1 in the chart’s history. Flo Rida made further hip-hop history when “Low” became the first-ever debut single from a rap artist to top the CHR/Top 40 radio chart, where he became only the fourth rap artist to hit #1 since 2005. Flo Rida also became the first-ever debut artist to have two Top 10 digital singles prior to an album release, when “Elevator (Feat. Timbaland)” entered the top 10 only three weeks after its release. “Right Round” marks the fourth consecutive hit single from Flo Rida.

SEAN GARRETT SCORES ANOTHER #1 HIT
Sean Garrett, one of music’s most sought after songwriters has added another #1 hit to his already outstanding list of hits which includes Usher’s Yeah, Enrique Iglesias’ Do You Know, Destiny’s Child’s Lose My Breath & Soldier, Pussy Cat Doll’s Buttons and more. This week, Sean has the #1 Mainstream R&B song with Beyonce’s D.I.V.A. off her third album I AM…Sasha Fierce. The single has consistently climbed the charts since day one and marks Sean’s 14th number one hit of his career. The popularity on the single has spawned several remixes/covers, one which was done by Jive recording artist Ciara. “I’m so thankful that I am still able to give artists and fans music that make them feel good especially during these hard times,” states Sean Garrett. “As a songwriter my role is to inspire and help people dream. I want my music to have an impact on everyone…I want people to laugh, cry and dance.” Since making his mark with fans in 2004 with Usher’s mega hit Yeah! which spent 12 weeks in a row on Billboard’s Hot 100 pop charts, Sean has been the “Go to Guy” when it comes to looking for hit records. Most recently, Sean has worked with Ciara, Jesse McCartney, Whitney Houston and Trey Songz.

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