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Hip-Hop and Rap News
Snoop Dogg Settles Differences With Priority Records
Rapper Snoop Dogg has settled the lawsuit filed against his former label,
Priority Records.
Snoop, born Calvin Broadus, filed the lawsuit in 2006 accusing Priority of
failing to pay around $2 million in royalties. It was also claimed he was never
paid a $950,000 advance for his "Tha Last Meal" album released in
2000, which has sold over 1 million copies in the United States, and that the
label failed to consult him when they released the greatest hits album "The
Best of Snoop Dogg" in 2005.
Both parties have now settled the dispute, although exact details of the settlement
have not been released.
"I don't believe a settlement would have been reached unless both sides
were happy," said David Steinberg, a lawyer representing Priority Records.
The agreement comes less than a month after a judge ordered that both parties
must settle the dispute within three weeks or go to trial.
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50 Cent Confirms Young Buck Has Left G-Unit
G-Unit head honcho 50 Cent has confirmed what many have suspected for a while;
Young Buck is no longer a member of rap group G-Unit, although he is still
signed to G-Unit Records.
"You can look at it and see that’s Game [the ex-G-Unit rapper]
all the way. I was giving him a chance, giving him the benefit of the doubt
[to remain with the group]. You can take this as an official notice right here – pretty
much you can say: Young Buck is no longer in the group G-Unit, but signed to
G-Unit [Records] as a solo artist," 50 Cent told DJ Envy during the Hot
97 Morning Show with Miss Jones on Monday morning (April 7).
Earlier in the show 50 Cent also addressed the recent legal battle with his
ex-girlfriend which resulted in him evicting her and their child from his million
dollar home. After a grilling from Miss Jones about throwing out the woman
who looked after him when he got shot, which was shown in his semi-autobiographical
film "Get Rich Or Die Tryin'," the rapper replied:
"That's a movie, I tried to paint a more positive outlook on her. She's
not my shorty on the side, I haven't dealt with her since 2003... she's not
a nurse, [her new boyfriend] is a nurse. He's an RN... a regular n****. She
worked for three months in 2001... She ain't had a job, she ain't done nothing.
I was giving her $500,000 a year. She thinks she's entitled to 17%, because
these chicks she be having around her telling [her all this]. I was giving
her $25,000 a month, now she want $50,000."
In related news, Young Buck may not be appearing on the upcoming G-Unit album
- "Lock And Load" due out in June 2008 - but that isn't to say he
hasn't gone plans of his own. Buck is planning to release a documentary DVD
in June entitled "A Billion Bucks" chronicling the day-to-day life
of the rapper over the course of a year as he travels from the South Side Projects
in Tennessee to Cuba, tours the U.S. and even takes a backwoods fishing trip.
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LA Times Retracts Tupac Shooting Story
The Los Angeles Times officially retracted their story implicating Sean "Diddy" Combs
in the 1994 shooting of the late rapper Tupac Shakur in New York.
The newspaper retracted the story today (April 7) admitting that writer Chuck
Philips had based the story on faked FBI documents.
The original story was posted on the paper's website three weeks ago by Pulitzer
Prize-winning writer Chick Philips, who has a history of reporting on the murders
of both Shakur and Christopher "Notorious B.I.G." Wallace. In his
latest article Philips alleged that Combs' associates had masterminded the
shooting at Quad Recording Studios in New York after Shakur refused to sign
with Combs' Bad Boy Records.
Just a week after the article was posted online, TheSmokingGun.com declared
that the documents used in Philips report appeared to have been faked by convicted
forger James Sabatino, who is currently in prison on wire fraud and racketeering
charges.
“The Times has since concluded that the FBI reports were fabricated
and that some of the other sources relied on -- including the person Philips
previously believed to be the "confidential source" cited in the
FBI reports -- do not support major elements of the story,” The Los Angeles
Times said in a statement today (April 7).
Both Combs and the other implicated man, Hip-Hop manager Jimmy "Henchmen" Rosemond,
denied all claims made in the article within days of it being posted.
As of today the Times has retracted the story because it "relied heavily
on information that the Times no longer believes to be credible."
As well as retracting the story The Los Angeles Times have also retracted
statements made by Philips during two online chats on March 18 and 25 and comments
made on their blog following the articles publication.
“The Times now believes that Sabatino fabricated the FBI reports and
concocted his role in the assault as well as his supposed relationships with
Combs, Rosemond and Agnant,” the statement said. "Consequently,
The Times specifically retracts all statements in the article, and in its related
publications, that state or suggest in any way that Rosemond, Agnant and Sabatino
orchestrated or played any role in the assault on Shakur or that they lured
him into an ambush at the Quad studios.”
Apologies were also made to Combs and Rosemond:
“Any statements or implications suggesting that Combs was given advance
knowledge of the assault on Shakur, or played any role in it, are specifically
retracted. In addition, The Times was mistaken in reporting that Rosemond has
served prison time for drug dealing and was convicted in 1996 of drug offenses.
The Times specifically retracts those statements.”
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Jay-Z and Beyonce Get Married
It is being reported that after years of speculation and rumour Hip-Hop's
power couple Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z have tied the knot during a private
ceremony at Jay-Z's New York apartment today (April 5).
The reported wedding comes just three days after the couple applied for a
marriage license in Scarsdale, New York – a move many assumed was part
of an April Fool.
Any doubts about the supposed wedding were gone when a tent was erected on
top of Jay-Z’s apartment building on Friday morning followed by a large
delivery of flowers and candelabras.
According to UsMagazine.com, a reverend and his wife were spotted outside
the apartment at 8 p.m. ET Friday. A whole host of celebrities also arrived
that evening including Coldplay's Chris Martin and wife Gwyneth Paltrow, Beyonce's
former Destiny's Child bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, as well
as Jay-Z’s mother, Gloria Carter, and Beyonce's father and manager Matthew
Knowles.
Various reports indicate that all guests were made to hand over the cell phones
before entering the venue.
A reported camped out on a building opposite Jay-Z's apartment claims to have
spotted the rapper in a tuxedo, smoking a cigar and talking animatedly with
friends, however, he was then spotted resulting in security placing black garbage
bags on the windows.
At press time neither Beyonce’s or Jay-Z's representatives have confirmed
or denied the marriage.
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Government Fight Decision To Allow Snoop Into The UK
The British government is appealing a courts decision to allow rapper Snoop
Dogg into the country.
Snoop, born Calvin Broadus, was banned from entering the United Kingdom in
March 2007 after his entourage were involved in a 30-man brawl with police
officers in Heathrow Airport's business lounge in April 2006.
In May 2006, Broadus was cautioned for the incident which left several officers
with minor injuries, one of which left with a broken hand.
Snoop was forced to cancel the British leg of his tour with Sean "Diddy" Combs
in March 2007 after authorities denied his visa application.
In April 2007, the rapper was also refused entry to Australia after then-Immigration
Minister Kevin Andrews said he "doesn't seem the sort of bloke we want
in this country."
The rapper has appealed his UK ban several times and was finally successful
at an asylum and immigration tribunal in January.
"We were disappointed with the judge's decision in this case and have
challenged his decision. This hearing is due to take place on the 7th of April.
It would not be appropriate to comment further while these proceedings are
ongoing," a spokesman for the Border Agency said.
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Jay-Z Set To Make $150 Million In Live Nation Deal
The New York Times is reporting that Jay-Z is likely to net around $150 million
if a deal with concert promoter Live Nation goes through next week.
According to the newspaper the deal with Live Nation will finance Jay-Z's
entertainment ventures as well as recordings and tours for the next decade.
The deal comes just a week after Live Nation announced a similar 12-year agreement
with Irish rock band U2 to handle merchandising, digital and branding rights
and touring. They also signed a $120 million deal with Madonna five months
ago.
Jay-Z, like most artists, has suffered from the recent decline in CD sales,
however, his business ventures outside of music - Rocawear clothing line and
40/40 nightclubs - have been very successful.
According to The New York Times the deal would include funding for a venture
called Roc Nation, an endeavor consisting of his own label, music publishing,
and talent consulting and managing companies.
The rapper is expected to receive an upfront payment of $25 million, a general
advance of $25 million, an advance payment of $10 million per album for at
least three albums and $25 million towards concerts. Live Nation would also
pay $20 million for publishing, licensing and other rights.
Live Nation are also expected to put up $50 million to finance Jay-Z's investments
and acquisitions under Roc Nation.
"I've turned into the Rolling Stones of hip-hop," Jay-Z told the
Times.
Live Nation are currently promoting Jay-Z massive "Heart of the City" tour
with Mary J. Blige in the United State.
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Nelly Set To Drop New Album This June
After months of delays Nelly is finally set to release his new album "Brass
Knuckles" on June 24 via Universal.
The latest single "Party People" featuring Fergie is already getting
spins on US radio despite it not officially coming out until May 15.
Another single from the album has already made an appearance on the Billboard
Hot 100. "Wadsyaname" entered the chart at No. 43 last September
before the album was delayed until this year.
"Brass Knuckles" is the follow-up to 2004's "Sweat" and "Suit" albums,
which have sold 4.4 million copies combined since their release in the United
States.
The new album is set to feature guest appearances from Ciara, Lil Wayne, Snoop
Dogg, Akon and LL Cool J.
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Diddy Settles Hollywood Assault Lawsuit
Sean "Diddy" Combs has settled the civil lawsuit filed against him
for allegedly punching and pushing a man during an altercation at an Oscar
party in February in Los Angeles.
In the suit filed by Gerard Rechnitzer it was claimed that Combs "intentionally,
wilfully, knowingly and unlawfully attacked assaulted and battered" Rechnitzer
at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel causing him to fall backwards into a parked
vehicle. Rechnitzer also claimed the music mogul made advances to his girlfriend
and "yelled at him in a threatening and ominous manner."
Combs had originally stated that the allegations were "completely baseless" and
had claimed in court that Rechnitzer "continued moving toward me and,
without warning, lunged at me. Instinctively, I outstretched one of my hands,
which hand was not closed-fisted, to shield myself ... any contact between
Mr. Rechnitzer and myself was caused by his forward motion against my open
hand."
According to reports papers were filed to settle the dispute on Monday (March
24) and while the value of the settlement was not made public, it is estimated
that the payment could have been over $25,000