Debaters question if hip-hop hates women

A panel discussion titled "Does Hip-Hop Hate Women?" drew more than 400 people Saturday — a sign that the furor that erupted over Don Imus' comments isn't over yet.

As Imus struggled in vain to keep his radio-host job earlier this month, he claimed that rappers routinely "defame and demean black women" and call them "worse names than I ever did." That led to some music-industry navel-gazing, but too little action, some panelists at the University of Chicago said.

Some criticized music executives failing to make a strong statement against violent and demeaning language in mainstream rap music when they met earlier this month in New York.

Others blasted hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons for not doing enough when he called this week for the recording and broadcast industries to ban three words — "bitch," "ho" and "nigger" — from all so-called clean versions of rap songs.

"How is no one saying to Russell, 'Yo, we already bleep out those words'?" said Joan Morgan, an author and commentator on hip-hop and feminism.

Others at the event said hip-hop shouldn't be made a scapegoat for what's wrong in America.

"We allow this language to go on," said Amina Norman-Hawkins, a Chicago hip-hop emcee and executive director of the Chicago Hip-Hop Initiative. "As a community, we aren't responsible for our children. So we don't teach our little boys how to grow up to be men and respect women. We allow them to learn from the street what's acceptable."

Some said Imus' April 12 firing by CBS Radio over a slur he used to describe Rutgers University's women's basketball team has provided a new opportunity to galvanize public opinion on the issue.

"Sexism is too convenient within the black community for black men," said David Ikard, an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee. "This issue of Imus came up and I asked the black men in my hip-hop course what were their stakes in it. They were like, 'Well, we don't really have any stakes in it. It seems trivial.'"

He called on black men to do more to speak up for black women.

Is R. Kells Going To Far With The B and N Word

I'm a true R. Kelly fan, but he is going to far with the b's, ho's and the N word in his most recent songs. Most of his songs has been club songs, but that's no excuse. What happen to Mr. Trapped In The Closet. Check out his newest song Blow It Up. Copy the link http://www.zshare.net/audio/blow-it-up-feat-young-dro-y-mp3.html

Beyonce: Innovator or Gimmick?

By Das Rios

Are we currently experiencing a Beyonce overload? Is she merely soaking up her star power, or are we all witnessing a true innovator in action? The world knows Beyonce as the stand out from Destiny’s Child who took the opportunity to go solo and completely dissolved her competition. Her debut album, Dangerously In Love, topped the Billboard charts in 2003 and featured two consecutive number one singles, “Crazy In Love” and “Baby Boy.” She took home 5 Grammy awards in 2004 including one for best Contemporary R&B album. After reuniting with Destiny’s Child in 2004 for their last album, Destiny Fulfilled, Beyonce fulfilled her own destiny by starring in the film adaptation of Dreamgirls. The film, released in 2007 was a dream come true for Beyonce. Although she didn’t win an Oscar for her role, Beyonce took the opportunity during the promotion of Dreamgirls to promote her second album, B’day.

The album, released September 4, 2006 debuted at number one, selling over 500,000 copies its first week in stores. It spawned two hits for Beyonce, “Déjà Vu” and “Ring the Alarm.” They topped out at 4 and 11 respectively. The album was a bit different from her first. It featured production by Swizz Beatz, Rodney Jerkins, the Neptunes and Rich Harrison. Harrison is the only producer that worked on her debut. It wasn’t until the release of the third irresistible single “Irreplaceable,” (co-written by Ne-Yo), that Beyonce seemed to be wearing her crown again. The single reached the top of the charts and stayed for 10 weeks. It was such a success that Beyonce re-recorded the single in Spanish and it cracked the top twenty on the Latin charts.

Just this past week, Beyonce re-released B’day adding 11 new tracks, one with Latin star Shakira, and four songs completely sung in Spanish. She also released a video anthology with 12 new music videos of tracks off of her latest album. One may say the re-release of the album is Beyonce basking in the momentum of her current status. However, B looks at this as an opportunity to bring to life her latest album by making videos for all of the tracks. Upon watching the videos, one for almost every track on the album, you have to respect Beyonce for doing something different and really being creative. Although the videos are very simple (all paid for by Beyonce), they seem to tell a story or at least give the songs a new life. One of the highlights of the anthology as well as Beyonce’s favorite is “Green Light.” The track, produced by the Neptunes, has a loud funky horn driven beat that really comes alive with the video. Beyonce took direction from Robert Palmer and his “Addicted to Love” video. She along with two back up dancers mimic the moves of the female trio in Palmer’s successful video. The video anthology also includes Beyonce’s sexy duet with Shakira, “Beautiful Liar.” The song is about a man playing two women who happen to be Shakira and Beyonce. The video plays off of the fact that the two look very much alike and shows Beyonce trying her hand at what Shakira is famously known for, belly dancing. Although Beyonce puts forth a good effort, she is no match for Shakira’s natural moves.

What is next for Beyonce? She currently has a world tour in the works and a plethora of videos to release as her next single. Some may be skeptical of Beyonce, but I think we are witnessing an innovator taking control of her destiny

'Idol' departure: No one loses this week

NEW YORK - Charity was the "American Idol" theme Wednesday night, and the generosity flowed to the contestants, too — no one was voted off the show. After a parade of pop stars, including Kelly Clarkson and Celine Dion, Ryan Seacrest announced the non-result: "All your favorites are still in the competition. How could we let anyone go on a charity night?"

Seacrest said the more than 70 million calls and text messages counted this week will be added to next week's tallies. That means two contestants will be shown the door next Wednesday.

And the six finalists are (still) Melinda Doolittle, Blake Lewis, Phil Stacey, LaKisha Jones, Chris Richardson and Jordin Sparks. The winner will be chosen in May.

The hit Fox show departed from its usual format this week with "Idol Gives Back," a star-filled fundraising effort. The goal was to raise awareness and money for the newly formed Charity Projects Entertainment Fund and other organizations that fund relief programs for children and young people in extreme poverty in America and Africa.

Wednesday's two-hour show — broadcast from the "American Idol" stage and Walt Disney Concert Hall, where Ellen DeGeneres was host — featured performances by Clarkson, Dion, Earth, Wind & Fire, Il Divo, Josh Groban with the African Children's Choir and Annie Lennox.

Jack Black took the stage to croon some verses from Seal's "Kiss From A Rose." That performance was panned by Paula Abdul, who said "the School of Rock called, they want their diploma back." Stars including Ben Stiller and Madonna appeared in taped segments

Tough Love from Britney's Dad

Los Angeles (E! Online) - Britney Spears has been to rehab. Now it looks like she may be headed for family therapy.

The pop princess received a public tongue lashing from her father, Jamie Spears, on Friday in the form of an email sent to the New York Post calling her out for bad behavior.

The Spears patriarch spoke up in defense of Larry Rudolph, his daughter's manager, whom, according to the Post, she fired last week after relations between the two grew increasingly strained. (However, sources tell E! News and E! Online columnist Bruce Bibby that Spears and Rudolph still have a valid contract.)

Rudolph was allegedly the force behind ushering the "Oops" singer into Malibu's Promises treatment center, thereby incurring much of Spears' wrath over what she considered to be an unnecessary step.

In a recent on-camera interview with x17online.com, Spears, 25, alluded to her irritation at Rudolph and her stint in rehab.

"My management totally knew what they were doing when they sent me to rehab," she said in a voice dripping with sarcasm, while giving a double thumbs up. "They were so right."

The sarcastic attitude was not appreciated by her father, who countered with his belief that Rudolph's intervention may have saved her life at a time when she was in a hard-partying, non-panties-wearing downward spiral.

"When Larry Rudolph talked Britney into going into rehab, he was doing what her mother, father and team of professionals with over 100 years of experience knew needed to be done," Jamie Spears wrote in his email to the Post. "She was out of control. Larry was the one chosen by the team to roll up his sleeves and deliver the message, to help save her life.

"The Spears family would like to publicly apologize to Larry for our daughter's statements about him over the past few weeks. Unfortunately, she blames him and her family for where she is at today with her kids and career. Larry has always been there for Britney. For this, we will forever be grateful to him."

The younger Spears was quick to talk back, dismissing her father's words as the product of a shaky paternal bond.

"I am praying for my father. We have never had a good relationship," she told the Post through her rep. "It's sad that all the men that have been in my life do not know how to accept a real woman's love. I am concentrating on my work and my life right now."

Since exiting Promises last month, the singer has reportedly been working hard to get her body back in shape by taking frequent dance classes and watching what she eats.

Published reports have suggested that Spears' slimdown efforts may have been aided by LipoDissolve injections—fat-melting shots administered over a 24-week period at $1,500 a pop. The singer was said to have visited Las Vegas' Advanced Lipo Dissolve Center recently seeking the nonsurgical procedure.

Meanwhile, according to Star magazine, Spears still plans to do some serious nip-and-tucking in the coming months. The tabloid reported that the mother-of-two will spend $8,000 on a breast lift, $12,000 on a lower-body lift, $16,000 on liposuction for her back, stomach, and love handles and $6,000 on brachioplasty to tighten up her upper arms.

In all, Spears was said to be shelling out somewhere in the neighborhood of $130,000 in the quest to get her body back to pre-baby form.

No confirmation from the singer's publicist, but if true, it's still less than it reportedly cost her to get rid of Kevin Federline.

Al Sharpton Plans Next Move Against Rap

Via AllHipHop: The Rev. Al Sharpton announced the next steps in his battle against rap music and will take his fight into various corporations' boardrooms, by buying stock in companies that promote the music.

Sharpton and his National Action Network are planning on purchasing stock in various companies, including Time Warner and Universal Music Group, and will then use his right to attend shareholder meetings, where he will voice his opinion on lyrics deemed raunchy and sexist.

"Some of these stockholders have no idea that they own stock in a parent company that owns companies calling them b**ches and ho's," Sharpton told The New York Post.

The tactic is the same strategy that C. Delores Tucker used in 1995.

Tucker was an outspoken criticism of "gangsta rap."

She bought stock in Time Warner and attended shareholder meetings, where she read the lyrics to various albums marketed and sold by Interscope, which was eventually dropped from Time Warner's distribution system, because of releases by Death Row Records.

Sharpton will also lead a group of women who will boycott the offices of Sony, Time Warner and Universal Music Group.

The announcement was made during the National Action Network's four-day conference, which took place from Apr. 18-21.

Various politicians supported the conference, including Senators John Edwards, Hillary Clinton, Howard Dean (DNC), NBC Nightly News Anchor Brian Williams, Governor Eliot Spitzer, filmmaker Spike Lee, Governor Bill Richardson, Fox News’s Bill O’Reilly and Presidential hopeful Barack Obama, who addressed the current fervor around Hip-Hop music.

"We are all complicit...let's not just single out the rappers," Obama said, noting that he had heard offensive words in many places other than rap songs.

Universal Music Group withdrew it's $15,000 contribution to Sharpton's National Action Network, after Sharpton decided it was inappropriate to honor Universal Music Group executive and Island Def Jam CEO, Antonio "L.A." Reid.

Sharpton, who had planned on honoring Reid with the James Brown Freedom Award prior to the Don Imus controversy, changed his mind and felt it was inappropriate to bestow the award upon Reid.

Congressman Charles Rangel, who recently introduced a bill in Congress to reinstate the military draft, is also among Sharpton's supporters.

"I heard that someone in the music industry threatened to take back $15,000 they'd paid for a table at this convention," told The New York Post. "I said to Al, 'You'll have $15,000 from me tomorrow."

Check Out OprahTown Hall Meeting On Hip Hop

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Universal, Amazon beef up MP3 sales space

NEW YORK (Billboard) - While EMI will boldly go where no major has gone before and sell its catalog as unprotected digital files, other forces are coming into play that should bolster the potential for a commercial MP3 marketplace.

Amazon, which is considered the best bet to challenge iTunes' supremacy in the digital world, is shooting to launch its MP3 digital download store in May, a target date it has yet to publicly acknowledge. (Amazon declines comment.) Meanwhile, sources familiar with the situation say Universal Music Group plans to test the sale of unprotected digital music files, including some of its classical music catalog conceivably including titles by Andrea Bocelli, at the new Amazon store and other outlets.

Universal has previously tested the sale of some isolated digital rights management-free music, from Jesse McCartney in the United States and French acts Superbus and Emilie Simon in Europe. But now the company plans to expand that initiative significantly by selling classical selections through download stores and subscription services, in the DRM-free format of the retailers' choice. Universal is planning tests in other genres as well, sources say.

It's unclear so far whether iTunes is included among stores slated to sell unprotected Universal music, and the label could not be reached to comment.

Until recently, eMusic, which served up its 1 millionth download in December, has been the dominant player selling MP3s. A month ago, Universal's plans would have been big news. But the label's move was upstaged by EMI chairman Eric Nicoli's joint announcement with Apple CEO Steve Jobs that in May the major would release its catalog in unprotected digital files.

Meanwhile, executives within Sony BMG Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group say senior management teams at both companies are unwilling to embrace selling their catalogs in the MP3 format.

But whether or not the majors will be involved with Amazon or iTunes unprotected plays, they all say they are waiting to find out if the MP3 model will expand digital sales -- and conversely, if it will fuel unauthorized file-sharing or cannibalization of other digital formats such as ringtones.

Amazon last year abandoned its initial plans to launch a digital music subscription service and its own branded MP3 player (based on Microsoft's Window Media Audio software technology) when Microsoft undermined its DRM by using a closed digital music system for its Zune device.

At the time, executives at two of the four majors privately told Billboard they were disappointed that Amazon had switched to an MP3 model, because they felt the giant online merchant could successfully mount a challenge to iTunes, and were hoping that it would do so under the banner of DRM.

In December, a senior executive at a major label told Billboard, "Amazon underestimates the power of their brand" with consumers who shop by computer.

In moving to an MP3 a la carte download model, Amazon initially was pushing for lower wholesale pricing than the current marketplace provides -- 70 cents per track or 70% of retail price -- but pushback from indie labels has merchants talking about what those labels consider more realistic models, if not yet at that pricing level.

One indie player says his company is close to signing a deal, but is hung up on what kind of pricing should be applied to what kind of file. That company is willing to sell Amazon 128 byte-rate files at its conventional digital price points, but wants a higher price for better-quality 256 byte-rate files. Another says that, in fear of being shortchanged, his label has decided to sit on the sidelines until a major sets the wholesale floor price for a hit song in the MP3 format. Still other independent labels say that since Amazon changed its mind last time, they are waiting to see if the May date sticks and for Amazon to launch the store before beginning negotiations.

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HSAN Chairman Russell Simmons Calls For Closed Door Meeting To Discuss The Status Of Hip-Hop

According to allhiphop, Russell Simmons will be holding a ‘closed door’ meeting with artists and executives from the Hip-Hop/urban community for a discussion on the future of Hip-Hop and how the genre can be moved forward in a positive direction.

Sources told AllHipHop.com that the invitation only meeting takes place on Wednesday (Apr.18) at Lyor Cohen's Manhattan residence.

The meeting comes shortly after the ousting of talk show host Don Imus and the heightened criticism of Hip-Hop’s representation of women.

Imus was fired after making sexist and racist remarks about the Rutgers University basketball team.

A number of activists are now shifting their focus to Hip-Hop, including Reverend Al Sharpton, who has received a number of death threats over the past few days due to his involvement in the Imus controversy.

On Friday (Apr. 13), Sharpton announced that he would turn his attention to the music industry, specifically Hip-Hop music.

Sharpton said his National Action Network wants to also meet with performers in the industry about lyrics that he claims are racist and demeaning to women.

Sharpton may have many followers on his side, but some activists aren’t quite receptive of Sharpton’s stance on Hip-Hop.

“Language can be a powerful tool. That is why one's intention, when using the power of language, should be made clear,” said Dr. Benjamin Chavis, president of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network and Russell Simmons in a joint statement released on Friday (Apr. 13). “Comparing Don Imus' language with Hip-Hop artists' poetic expression is misguided and inaccurate and feeds into a mindset that can be a catalyst for unwarranted, rampant censorship."

Russell Simmons is also scheduled to appear on Good Morning America and an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show later this week.

More News On Don Imus

According to the Associated Press, the firing comes only a day after MSNBC, the cable network that simulcasts Imus' radio show, decided to discontinue broadcasting the popular show, which aired on 61 stations across the nation. Initially, Imus only received a two-week suspension from both MSNBC as well as CBS after referring to the women's team as "nappy-headed hos," but in the midst of continued pressure from various social and civic organizations, as well as presidential hopeful Sen. Barak Obama and Rev. Al Sharpton calling for his removal, CBS also announced that it would be ending it's relationship with Imus. CBS announced that Imus' wife, author Deirdre Imus, and his longtime newsman, Charles McCord, will host Friday's show.

"There has been much discussion of the affect language like this has on our young people, particularly young women of color, trying to make their way in this society," said CBS President and Chief Executive Officer Leslie Moonves. "That consideration has weighed most heavily on our minds as we made our decision."

Several major sponsors also pulled their ads on the show in light of Imus' comments, including companies like American Express Co., Sprint Nextel Corp., Staples Inc., Procter & Gamble Co. and General Motors Corp. Guests who were scheduled to appear on the show, including former baseball player Cal Ripken, Jr. also cancelled their appearances.

Imus, who has long been a controversial figure even before this latest incident, appeared on Rev. Al Sharpton's radio show earlier in the week where he continued to apologize for his inflammatory comments, but many, including Rev. Sharpton, did not feel that an apology was sufficient.

"He says he wants to be forgiven. I hope he continues in that process," Sharpton said in a statement. "But we cannot afford a precedent established that the airways can commercialize and mainstream sexism and racism."

Russell Simmons and Dr. Benjamin Chavis, of The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, also issued statements. Their focus, however was on the connection Imus has made between his own controversial remarks and the language used in hip-hop music.

"Hip-Hop is a worldwide cultural phenomena that transcends race and doesn't engage in racial slurs. Don Imus' racially-motivated diatribe toward the Rutgers' women's basketball team was in no way connected to hip-hop culture. As Chairman and President of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN), respectively, we are concerned by the false comparisons some in the media are making between Don Imus and hip-hop. We want to clarify what we feel very strongly is an obvious difference between the two.

"HSAN believes in freedom of artistic expression. We also believe, with that freedom, comes responsibility. Don Imus is not a hip-hop artist or a poet. Hip-hop artists rap about what they see, hear and feel around them, their experience of the world. Like the artists throughout history, their messages are a mirror of what is right and wrong with society. Sometimes their observations or the way in which they choose to express their art may be uncomfortable for some to hear, but our job is not to silence or censor that expression. Our job is to be an inclusive voice for the hip-hop community and to help create an environment that encourages the positive growth of hip-hop. Language can be a powerful tool. That is why one's intention, when using the power of language, should be made clear. Comparing Don Imus' language with hip-hop artists' poetic expression is misguided and inaccurate and feeds into a mindset that can be a catalyst for unwarranted, rampant censorship."

Janet Jackson sued over choking incident

courtesy of NME.com

Janet Jackson is being sued for $120 million for an alleged choking incident.

Leonard Salati alleges that two of Jackson's bodyguards grabbed him and choked him when he attempted to pass the singer a note at Club Marquee in February 2004.

Lawyers for the singer were hoping to overturn the case, but Justice Rolando Acosta decided against it. He said that despite saying she only had one bodyguard with her and boyfriend producer Jermaine Dupri, representatives for Club Marquee say she had three.

The judge said: "Not withstanding [the] counsel's valiant effort to shield Ms Jackson [the law grants] no exemptions based on celebrity status," reports SOHH.

Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson Criticized by Christian Defense Coalition

Efforts by Revs. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson may have led to the firing of radio personality Don Imus, but the activists are drawing criticism from those who accuse them of selective morality.

The backslash comes a day after Imus was fired by NBC Universal after calling members of the Rutgers squad "nappy-headed hoes" and "jiggaboos," following the team's loss to the University of Tennessee during the NCAA women's basketball tournament championship game.

As a result of the controversy, NBC Universal cancelled the simulcast of the shock jock's nationally-syndicated show on MSNBC.

Although it condemned Imus' negative remarks toward the Rutgers University women's basketball team, the Christian Defense Coalition is questioning why Sharpton and Jackson crusaded against Imus and not against rap record labels and rap radio stations that promote sexism and racism as well as degrading and demeaning statements against women.

"The comments of Don Imus regarding the Rutgers women's basketball team are repugnant, hateful and demeaning, not only to women, but to all of society," said Christian Defense Coalition director Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney. "The outpouring of criticism and condemnation against his vile words are both warranted and justified. However, one wonders why Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton are showing selective moral outrage in the matter."

Sharpton and Jackson have been among the most vocal critics of Imus, who apologized for his statements and appeared on Sharpton's radio show to address the situation.

Rap music has been targeted by critics who see a link between Imus' comments and the misogyny of the genre.

"Why aren't they leading protests outside of rap record labels or radio stations where rap performers portray women in the most vile of terms every day?," asked Mahoney.

Mahoney also asked why Sharpton and Jackson haven't called "for record label executives and DJ's to be fired, who spew forth degrading remarks about African-American women in a far worse manner than Don Imus?

"I simply ask Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton, where have you been when women are being violated like this every day by rap and hip-hop artists?

Despite Mahoney's views, Sharpton has taken steps to address the negativity in rap music.

The activist was among those who met with rappers and attended a peace rally last week following an alleged assault on the 14-year-old son of Czar Entertainment founder Jimmy "Henchmen" Rosemond.

No matter what, Mahoney believes Sharpton and Jackson should expand their crusade to include everyone responsible for the negative treatment of women and other individuals.

"My hope and prayer is that both clergymen are not basing their selective response on the fact that Don Imus is white and most rap artists are African-American," Mahoney continued. "The demeaning and degrading of women must be condemned continually on every level. It shouldn't matter if those hateful comments are being made by ignorant, thoughtless white talk show hosts or by ignorant, thoughtless black rap performers."

Musiq Shuns Harsh Critics, Pharrell Helps Pepsi With New Look

Musiq Soulchild disagrees with critics who say that he plays it safe and doesn't take chances with his soulful sound. "Music is a subjective thing," he says. "There's no right or wrong way to do it. When it comes to critics, I take what I can use to better myself as an artist." Meanwhile, the Philly crooner recently finished shooting a video for his newest single, "Teachme."

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Pharrell Williams is among the celebrities who have been tapped to create a new look for Pepsi, as part of the Design Our Pepsi Can campaign. "I was intrigued by this opportunity because it allowed me to be creative and innovative," Pharrell says. The campaign will be capped off by a public design contest.

Chamillionaire Not Stressing Over New Disc

Rambunctious rapper Chamillionaire is taking a relaxed approach to the release of his new disc, Ultimate Victory, which is due out on June 5. "This time it's [gonna be] more about enjoying life and worrying about what's more important than the nonsense," he says. Cham is certainly enjoying good company; the disc's first two singles, "Not a Criminal" parts one and two, feature guest turns from Kelis, Snoop Dogg and Busta Rhymes.

THE WEEKEND GUIDE

FOR ALL MY PEOPLE IN THE WASHINGTON DC AREA


SOMETHING TO HEAR, EAT, SEE AND DO


HEAR

On Saturday April 7th @ 9pm. at the great hang out BLACK CAT located 1811 14 St. NW at Swann St.,

Local bands are rocking out accompanied by old film projects by Benjy Ferre and the Cassettes. For

more information pls call 202-667-7960


EAT

- For just $25 at PERRY’S HAPPY HOUR you get two cocktails and two small plates of food. You could try the delicious crab cakes and checkerboard tuna or something else in their exotic menu. Happy Hour is daily from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm so get there early…..1811 Colombia Rd. NW., at 18th St. For more information pls call 202-234-6218

SEE

- If you guys are into art, a solo exhibit of carvings and drawings by Chilean artist Tomas Rivas is being shown later this month. Thursday April 30th is the opening reception 6:30 pm - 8:30pm, then Tuesday – Sunday 12 noon –6pm. Location is 625-27 E St. NW, btw 6th & 7th St. For more information pls call 301-980-9574


DO

- The third annual dance party to raise money for the AVON FOUNDATION & YOUNG SURVIVORS COALITION is being held Saturday April 7th 10pm – 5 am at FIVE 14 B 18TH .NW at Connecticut Ave. For more information to join in the dance-a-thon pls call 202-331-7123. If anyone decides to go have fun and good luck.





Have a great weekend everybody…till we meet again,

Faye

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50Cent Pushes A Model Chick In The Pool

For those of you that didn't see it on America's Next Top model, check out the clip below. The dude told her to chill out.

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The Game Diss 50Cent & G-Unit On New Track

According to Allhiphop, the Compton, CA rapper The Game has broken his silence regarding an incident in Manhattan, NY, in which the 14-year-old son of Jimmy "Henchmen" Rosemond was allegedly assaulted by rival G-Unit rapper Tony Yayo.

On "Body Bags," a new track released to the Internet yesterday, The Game, who is managed by Rosemond, addressed the altercation between Yayo and the 14-year-old boy.

"Body Bags" makes it clear that despite a protest against G-Unit and a press conference that was attended by Al Sharpton, Councilman Charles Barron and others yesterday (Apr. 2), both sides may be far from a sit-down to resolve the issue.

The Game raps: Potato on the muzzle, black tape on the grip/We in the A-Team van with black tape on your b***h/She gonna tell us where you at, we gonna twist that dro/And just wait until the rat climbs out that hole/Know the streets aint safe, when we see him we gonna eat that face/No body we gonna beat that case/It's on again, two shots of patron, I'm in....

The four-minute song, which was released on The Game's official Myspace page, samples a portion of Damien Marley's song "Welcome to Jamrock" and continues to berate G-Unit and Tony Yayo for allegedly assaulting the 14-year-old boy.

One line in the song dashed hopes for a reconciliation between The Game and Young Buck, who met before the altercation involving Yayo and Rosemond's son, with hopes of putting their heated rivalry on ice.

For those of you that didn't know about the peace rally, you can check out the clip below. The guy in the clip was really doing it up.

Mannie Fresh inks a deal with Def Jam

Former Cash Money Records producer Mannie Fresh has inked a deal with Def Jam that will allow him to sign and produce new artists for the label. Mannie Fresh appeared on New Orleans' Q 93 during The Wild Wayne Show and revealed that in addition to finding talent, he will produce for Southern acts on the Def Jam label. The platinum-plus producer also has the freedom to continue to produce for artists outside of the Def Jam label as well.

"Dude [Jay-Z] reached out, flew me up, we talked about it," Mannie Fresh said. "It was a nice little proposal and that's where I'm at now. He gets this era of Hip-Hop...What made me take the deal was they didn't want me to do this exclusive thing with them, they was like you can do what ever it is you do." During the interview, incarcerated former Hot Boy member Turk called in and revealed he has written seven albums worth of material since being sentenced to 10 years in prison, after being convicted of three weapons charges stemming from a Jan. 2004 shoot-out with Memphis, TN SWAT Team members. "I'm working on my appeal. I should be home this year," Turk said. "They not expecting the last Hot Boy to be coming the way I'm coming."

Fresh also disclosed a conversation he had with Lil Wayne a month ago. “We had some words. I asked him if he had a problem with me, because in all honesty, I never had a problem with him,” Fresh said. “So I stepped to him like a man, like, ‘Dude, the problem is not with you, so don’t take sides that don’t got nothing to do with you. I got a problem with another man, it has nothing to do with you.’” Fresh went on to say, “[But] he [Lil Wayne] said, at the time, he was trippin’ and he took sides. But he reached out for his new album, so hopefully we gonna put something together and do business.”

In addition, Mannie says he’s going to produce on T.I.’s next album and is planning to get in the studio with Nas in the next two weeks. He’s also producing most of Juvenile’s next album. “I did the whole Juve album,” he said. “I executive produced the whole album and I did about 13 tracks on it. It’s that Juve y’all wanted.”



Russell Simmons' "Get Your Money Right" tour

Russell Simmons' "Get Your Money Right" tour will hit the Max M. Fisher Music Center on Apr. 14 in Detroit MI. The free event will feature Mike Jones, Layzie and Krayzie Bone, Trick Trick, Congresswoman Carolyn Kilpatrick Remy Ma and others. The "Get Your Money Right" tour is presented by Simmons' Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) and is sponsored by Chrysler Financial and Anheuser-Busch, Inc. The tour, now in its third year, educates students and community members about the importance of financial literacy. "One of the most urgent issues facing young adults today is the issue of having a firm financial foundation," emphasized Russell Simmons. "Hip-Hop is about transformation. The theme 'Get Your Money Right,' is not some rhetorical gesture. This is a real issue and we are talking about providing real solutions that attendees at the Hip-Hop Summit can use for the rest of their lives." For more information log on: http://www.hsan.org.

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Federline’s Worth 1 Million Bucks to Britney

Britney’s separation from Kevin Federline is finally official. She gets the kids; he reportedly gets a measly $1 million.

It seems that now that she’s out of rehab, Britney’s ready to deal with what need to be dealt with in her life. Like the impending divorce settlement with K-fed.

The pair has reportedly reached an agreement after a five-hour meeting in Los Angeles on Thursday. The agreement is said to be based upon a prenuptial agreement signed before they married in September 2004.

Of the estimated $100 million fortune Brit-Brit is supposed to have, her wannabe rapper ex-husband will only receive 1 %.< br>
The couple is also said to have reached an agreement over custody of their two sons, 18-month-old Sean Preston and six-month-old Jayden James. Mom has custody while dad has been granted full visiting rights.

A spokesman for Kevin's attorney said: “The parties signed a global agreement on all issues of their marriage and custody of their children.” He offered no further details but revealed they had reached an agreement on financial matters.

The meeting took place in Britney's attorney Laura Wasser's office in California's Century City. The couple’s current agreement must be approved by a Los Angeles judge before the divorce is finalized.

The 25-year-old singer married dancer Kevin Federline in 2004. They quickly had two kids, and then Britney filed for divorce in November 2006. This was just two months after giving birth to their youngest child Jayden James. She cited “irreconcilable differences.

In the divorce papers, Britney was seeking legal and physical custody of Jayden James and Sean Preston, while Kevin, 29, also asked for custody of the children, as well as requesting spousal support.

The divorce agreement comes nine days after Spears checked out of Promises Rehab Center in Malibu, Calif., for a month-long treatment for unspecified problems. The singer ignited a media frenzy with an over-the-top bizarre week in which she shaved her head and got a tattoo.

Her stay at the Promises clinic was no quieter, as there were reports of a rehab romance with another resident, rumors of a suicide attempt on her part and talk of bulimia, post-partum depression and giving a hard time to the personnel.

It was especially interesting where ‘friends’ of Britney’s reportedly shared their perspective on her situation, saying that she missed Kevin and that she wanted to be with him once more and have another child.

It doesn’t look like they’ll be having any more children now together.

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