Ballerstatus Reports
The line between musical genres have become blurred over the years. With Lil Wayne crossing over to with his Rebirth album and guys like Kid Cudi and Kanye singing instead of rapping, hip-hop has become open to change.
As rappers cross over, so do rockers. Kid Rock has always had a strong hip-hop background, and is aiming to show it on his next album, collaborating with the likes of both Lil Wayne and T.I.
The Detroit rocker was gearing up to drop a new album this fall, but opted to take his project to veteran producer Rick Rubin, to go over what he's created, including the rap collabos.
Rock will head back into the studio after he wraps up his current summer tour.
In addition to Weezy working on his rock album, producer Timbaland is also working outside the hip-hop genre. He recently signed on to executive Seattle Rock veteran Chris Cornell's new album Scream. He joined formers with Cornell to tap his more soulful side.
No word on when this project is slated for release though.
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Ballerstatus Reports
It's been months since anybody has heard from former Grand Hustle artist Alfamega, after he was ousted as an informant by TheSmokingGun.com back in May. But, he's finally surfaced and says he's no snitch.
Despite documents being leaked by TSG, the rapper (real name: Cedric Zellars) denied informant accusations via an interview with GyantUnplugged.com, and maintained that the criminal past he raps about is real
"There wasn't no informant situation. He talking to dude who did time with me. Your uncle was in jail with me," Alfamega said, speaking to Gyant. "If I went to jail with your peoples, your peoples would know that.
"I don't work for no motherf***in' DEA. I've never worked for the DEA. I had a gun charge, that's an ATF charge," he continued.
Shortly after the damaging reports hit the net, Grand Hustle head T.I. officially booted Alfamega from the label claiming he was stunned by the news and couldn't associate with individuals who were dishonest about their past.
In TSG's leak, documents showed that Alfamega served as an informant for the DEA, as well as a government witness during the mid-90s.
Court records indicated that the rapper began working with law enforcement in 1995 after he was sentenced to just over nine years, thanks to a federal gun case (a prior felony robbery conviction, the rapper was busted for selling weapons to an undercover federal agent).
The report stated that Alfamega helped in the conviction of a known drug trafficker named Ali Baaqar, and got his sentence reduced by 18 months. After being released, he eventually went on to sign with T.I.'s Grand Hustle imprint.
According to the rapper, he's never met or dealt with Ali, but is sorry for his name getting brought up in the media.
"I don't know who put that out there. The dude Ali, we ain't ever had no business together, ever. Me and that dude Ali never been in the streets together," he said.
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New York Daily News Reports
Another gubernatorial sex scandal may be looming. Even as South Carolina's Mark Sanford waits to see whether his wife, Jenny, forgives his romp in the pampas, a New York call girl could plunge one of America's most prominent governors into a fresh hell.
In March, we told you about a high-end escort who claimed that former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer had gotten overly aggressive during some kinky role-play (a charge Spitzer's lawyer called "outrageous and defamatory").
Now the elegant blond courtesan, whom we'll continue to call "Annie," is talking about three "dates" she allegedly had with another state's chief executive, who we'll call Gov. X.
Though Annie's former boss, ex-madam Kristin Davis, corroborates that Gov. X was a client, his spokesman flatly denies that the married politician has ever hired hookers.
Still, it's hard not to be intrigued by Annie's detailed story. She contends that, in the spring of 2006, Davis' agency booked her for an out-of-state date with a man identified as "Michael."
"He picked me up in an Italian sports car," says Annie. "He was in his 30s, handsome enough to be an actor, an impeccable dresser. I wouldn't think he'd have a problem getting girls.
"We went to a restaurant where the governor was dining at another table with two or three other men. Michael said the governor was a client of his. He introduced me to him. I thought it was odd that he'd introduce someone he'd hired, but the governor was very gracious. It was a brief meeting. Later, Michael and I went to an apartment our agency kept. We had sex.
"A couple of days later, Michael booked another appointment. He was supposed to come to the same apartment. I buzzed him in. When I opened the door, it wasn't Michael. It was the governor. He was smiling. I knew what was happening. I was okay with it.
"He was a very standard client. He didn't take the full hour. There was no exchange of money. Michael handled the payment.
"I had two more dates with the governor. Never in public. Always for just an hour, around dinner time. He'd arrive at the apartment in a suit. I never had a problem with him, like I did with Spitzer. He was always nice. There wasn't a lot of conversation. It wasn't a girlfriend experience, but he was relaxed. He was very appreciative, like I was giving him a sort of affection he wasn't getting elsewhere. Later I found out he was married. His wife is quite prominent in her own right." (Annie and Davis say Gov. X is free to say he didn't pay for sex, since "Michael" took care of the bills.)
P.S. Among Davis' other alleged clients: Bernie Madoff. An assistant to the jailed Ponzi scammer has already told of his fondess for noontime massages. ABC News has now found the number for Davis' closed New York Body Miracle, once located near Madoff's offices, in his leather-bound phone book.
Davis, who writes in August's Penthouse about servicing the financial industry, also just found Madoff's unlisted number in her records. "He'd pay about $220 for a body rub," she'd tell us. "He wasn't an escort client."
In other words, unlike his victims, Madoff didn't lay out a lot of money to get screwed.
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On August 15th, in the match-up that everyone's been waiting for, Gina Carano and Cris Cyborg will make history as the first women to headline a televised MMA event.
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AllHipHop Reports
Hip-Hop star Busta Rhymes has taken a step towards independence via a new worldwide deal with independent publisher Kobalt Music Group.
According to the terms of the deal, Kobalt will administer 27 of Busta Rhymes’ tracks, including all songs on Back on My B.S., which contained the hit single “Arab Money.”
In July of 2010, Kobalt will begin administering over 150 of Rhymes tracks, which are currently being handled by Warner Chappell.
"We are thrilled to conclude this deal with Busta Rhymes which also includes synch licensing and creative services for film, TV, games, ringtones and other media,” said Willard Ahdritz, CEO and Founder of Kobalt. “He is truly one of the most influential artists in Hip-Hop history and we look forward to working closely with him.”
Busta Rhymes, born Trevor Smith, started his career as a member of the pioneering Hip-Hop group Leaders of the New School in 1989.
In 1996 Busta Rhymes began a successful solo career on the strength of his breakout single “Woo Hah!! Got You In All In Check,” taken from the album The Coming.
He has enjoyed numerous hit singles like “It‘s A Party” featuring Zhane, “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See,” “Gimme Some More,” “Break Ya Neck,” “What’s It Gonna Be” featuring Janet Jackson, “Make It Clap,” “Touch It,” “I Love My B**ch” and numerous others.
"We chose Kobalt not only for their competitive deal structure and fully transparent, online accounting system, but also because the team at Kobalt is knowledgeable, experienced and extremely involved and aggressive -- all the key elements we were looking for in our publisher. We're very happy to be here," added Mona Scott-Young, manager of Busta Rhymes.
Busta Rhymes’ latest album Back On My B.S. debuted at #5 on Billboard’s Top 200 Chart upon its release in May of 2009.
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FoxNews Reports
A federal civil rights lawsuit alleges a southern Illinois sheriff's deputy used a stun gun on three children at an emergency shelter while a fellow deputy mistreated a fourth child.
The children's guardian is suing the Jefferson County deputies, the county and Sheriff Roger Mulch.
According to the lawsuit filed July 1, the deputies responded to the shelter near Mount Vernon last summer to help control two 12-year-olds and an 11-year-old. But the three children who were allegedly shocked with the stun gun and another child who was forced into a closet after trying to intervene weren't the youths who prompted the call.
No criminal charges have been filed. And Mulch says investigations, including one by Illinois State Police, found that the deputies acted appropriately.
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Bossip Reports
Sooo Breezy’s Security, Big Dave is tweeting it up on Twitter on his day off about C. Breezy and RiRi’s relationship. He says that RiRi was insecure and they fought all the time and that they really didn’t know what love is… BUT then on the flip side he is selling autographed Chris Brown’s Sneaks to the Highest Bidder… WTH???
As you see if you want to know about Chris Brown and Rihanna… Big Dave is an open book. Especially if your trying to get some of C Breezy’s Original Gear… SMH!!! Big Dave also added that if Chris got a problem with what he’s doing… He can confront him like a grown azz man should…LOL!!! Let’s see how long Big Dave is employed…
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MTV Reports
Sorry, hip-hop fans — it doesn't look like the Jay-Z/ 50 Cent chart showdown will be happening after all.
The rappers won't go head-to-head when The Blueprint 3 and Before I Self Destruct debut in September. Jay has settled on September 11, while 50 Cent told MTV News last week that his album is coming on the last Tuesday of the month.
50 said that if by any chance he and Jay did drop on the same day, he would welcome the challenge.
"I wouldn't mind [that], either," Fif said via phone. "But it's just, the scheduling is different. Maybe he'll move back. ... Yeah, it'd be good."
50 came out on September 11 a couple of years ago, releasing Curtis at the same time Kanye West's Graduation hit stores. Graduation sold more the first week, but Curtis sold well too.
"People, you know, they love conflict," Fif said. "They love competition like that. And this is why it built so much energy for me and Kanye West when we came out on the same day, and in reality, we created the largest-selling week for hip-hop music. And at the end of the day, who loses?
"I tell you who wins: the Universal Music Group," 50 continued. "The both of us are on Universal Music Group. So as long as you create the largest-selling [day] from there, it hasn't done anything to strain any of my business in any other way."
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XXL Reports
The price tag on 50 Cent’s Connecticut mansion has taken another slash, this time by nearly 25 percent.
According to the Associated Press, the rap mogul has dropped $3.6 million from the $14.5 million asking price of his 50,000-square-foot home of five years. The estate—originally owned by former boxing titleholder Mike Tyson—is now on selling for $10.9 million.
As XXLMag.com previously reported, the 19-bedroom property originally hit the market for $18.5 million in May 2007. In December, 50 cut $4 million from the initial valuation.
The AP says Fif is tired of frequent two-hour commutes to New York City. His fourth solo LP, Before I Self Destruct, is slated for a September 29 release.
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AllHipHop Reports
The Beastie Boys have announced that their upcoming tour and album Hot Sauce Committee Part 1 have been postponed indefinitely, after a cancerous tumor was found in group member Adam “MCA” Yauch.
Representatives for the group told AllHipHop.com that a cancerous tumor was found in Yauch’s left parotid (salivary) gland.
Luckily, the tumor was caught early and is localized to one area, but the treatable tumor will require surgery and several weeks of treatment.
Also, reps said the tumor was in an area that would not impact Yauch’s vocal cords.
“Our thoughts, love and prayers are with Adam Yauch, his family and the Beastie Boys,” representatives for the group’s label, EMI told AllHipHop.com in statement. “The most important thing is to allow Adam to focus on staying healthy. We wish him all the best and a speedy recovery.”
The news comes as the group also prepares to launch a limited pressing of the track “Too Many Rappers” (featuring Nas), from the Hot Sauce Committee Part 1 album.
The single was recorded live at Bonnaroo in 2009. Only 5,000 vinyl pressings of the single are being distributed.
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Washington Post Reports
Michael Vick was released from federal custody Monday, with the sentence for his role in a dogfighting operation in Virginia expiring after he was imprisoned in Leavenworth, Kan., then on home confinement in Hampton, Va.
There still is no indication, however, about whether he'll be reinstated by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Goodell suspended Vick indefinitely prior to the 2007 season, and has not given a timetable for ruling on Vick's possible reinstatement. Goodell has said in recent months that he would not begin the decision-making process until after Vick's legal case concluded. He has said that Vick must demonstrate genuine remorse to be reinstated.
There is likely to be a face-to-face meeting between Goodell and Vick before Goodell makes a ruling. Goodell has not indicated whether he will make a decision before the upcoming season.
It also is not clear whether any NFL teams are interested in signing Vick, who is a free agent after being released by the Atlanta Falcons. He once was among the league's most dynamic players. But he's been out of the sport for two seasons, and any club that considers signing him will have to weigh the public relations implications of doing so.
Attorney Lawrence Woodward, who represents Vick, told the Associated Press that Vick was released from federal custody as scheduled. Vick had spent the past two months on home confinement, wearing an electronic monitoring device. The AP reported that two men in a car with a federal Bureau of Prisons folder on its dashboard visited Vick's home Monday morning, carrying a case similar to the one in which Vick's monitoring device was delivered when his home confinement began in May.
The period of home confinement was the completion of Vick's 23-month federal sentence. He had to serve at least 85 percent of that sentence under federal law, the AP reported. Vick worked a construction job, then switched to a job with programs for a boys and girls club, during his home confinement.
Vick remains on probation.
He also is without an NFL team and is ineligible for play in the league because of the suspension imposed by Goodell.
"The review of his status is ongoing," Greg Aiello, the NFL's senior vice president of public relations, said in a written statement Monday.
Goodell said at an NFL owners' meeting in May in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.: "Michael is going to have to demonstrate to myself and to the general public and to a lot of people: Did he learn anything from this experience? Does he regret what happened? Does he feel that he can be a positive influence going forward? Those are the questions that I would like to see [answered] when I sit with him."
Falcons owner Arthur Blank said at the same May owners' meeting: "There's no question Michael has paid his debt to society, obviously. But beyond that, the commissioner has to decide whether or not Michael, based on his view, has not only the personal remorse but has conducted himself, not only personally but in who he's associating with, in a way that is going to allow him to be a player in the NFL and represent our league well. That's the decision that the commissioner will make.
"... I believe in second chances," Blank said. "I believe in redemption. But the commissioner needs to satisfy himself that Michael has not only gone through his own journey but he's prepared to make other decisions than he's made in the past, both personally and in who he associates himself with. [That's] a very big part of that. He's, from what I've read, committed to getting his life back in order, his family and his own personal life and at the same time looking to the future in the National Football League. That was pretty clear going through [Vick's] bankruptcy proceedings."
Vick's representatives have made a return to the NFL by Vick a key component of his plan to emerge from the bankruptcy proceedings in which he's been involved. But any team that weighs the possibility of signing Vick will have to consider the PR implications.
"I think an owner would have to go through the same process that the commissioner would and satisfy himself or herself that Michael is--it goes beyond paying the price because clearly he's done that," Blank said in May. It's "whether or not he's a different person than he was... the last time he played a game in the NFL, and whether or not he's surrounding himself in an environment that's going to allow him to be a productive person and a productive player and a productive team member in the league."
Former Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy visited Vick in prison and has said he believes that Vick deserves another chance in the NFL. Some former teammates also have lobbied publicly for Vick's reinstatement. But the public debate has continued, with some commentators contending that Vick doesn't deserve another chance to play in the NFL.
Some talent evaluators within the league wonder privately what the prolonged absence from the sport has done to Vick's on-field skills. Vick turned 29 in June and, while NFL quarterbacks regularly remain productive well into their 30s, Vick's six-season tenure as the Falcons' quarterback often included more success when he ran the ball than when he threw it. He ran for more than 1,000 yards in the 2006 season.
One development in the NFL that could aid Vick's potential return is the widespread use of the "Wildcat" offense around the league last season, in which the ball is snapped on some plays to an offensive player who is as skilled at running the ball as at throwing it. That offensive formation became increasingly popular after the Miami Dolphins used it to beat the New England Patriots in a game, and Vick perhaps could be a major on-field asset to a team wanting to use that approach.
ESPN reported Monday that Vick plans to hire speed and performance trainer Tom Shaw to aid his preparations for a prospective return to the league. Still, there's no way for NFL talent evaluators to know for certain what sort of player they'd be getting.
"You really don't know about the two years off because there's basically never been anyone who's been in that position," former NFL coach Dan Reeves, who coached Vick with the Falcons, said in a telephone interview Monday. "That's going to be a difficult thing. The other difficult thing for him will be finding someone to give him a chance. My hopes are that somebody will. I hope he does get that opportunity because he was such an exciting player. Two years away is a long time but hopefully the commissioner will reinstate him and he can get with a team for training camp so we can see what he can do."
Reeves said there's "no question" that he would sign Vick if he were running an NFL team.
"The guy's got three years probation," Reeves said. "That's a difficult thing. If he makes one mistake, he's back in prison. Michael needs to realize that. I know what type of person he is. He's a good person who made a huge, huge mistake. I'm not defending what he did. You can't defend what he did. But he's a guy who has a big heart. He's a great competitor. I'd like to see him given a second chance."
William Moran, an attorney who advised the New York Giants in connection with the Plaxico Burress shooting investigation, said that what Vick says in his face-to-face meeting with Goodell could be a significant factor in Goodell's reinstatement decision, and Vick will have to be similarly persuasive when meeting with any potential NFL employers.
"As far as what he needs to do to satisfy the commissioner that he is deserving of reinstatement and a chance to play, he needs to sit down and demonstrate he is accepting of the wrongful nature of what he's done and outline what he's going to do to avoid anything of this nature ever happening again," Moran, a partner in the New York office of the firm McCarter & English, said by phone Monday. "As far as dealing with teams, I think it's along the same lines.... I think it [Vick's crime] is of such a nature that teams are going to have to consider it and what implications it will have with the public going forward. On the other hand, the balance to that will be the obvious raw talent of the player."
Moran said he doesn't believe that Vick would be harmed by doing a high-profile media interview in which he expressed regret for his actions. The public generally is willing to forgive those who are contrite, Moran said, although this case seemingly continues to provoke raw emotions in the reactions of observers with views on both sides of the Vick reinstatement debate.
"The press has had enough high-profile cases lately that it's not unreasonable to expect another case to come along to take the attention away from this one," Moran said. "It's in the public's nature to forgive and move on. I guess that will remain to be seen. It will be a balancing act here between the notoriety of the acts and the skill of the player."
Vick also could draw interest from the upstart United Football League, which is scheduled to begin play in the fall and has hired former NFL coaches Dennis Green, Jim Fassel, Jim Haslett and Ted Cottrell to coach its four franchises.
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AllHipHop Reports
Police in the United Kingdom have launched an investigation into Compton, California native The Game, after a fan was assaulted by a member of his entourage during a concert.
The incident, which occurred at Liverpool’s O2 Academy, occurred after a 21-year-old man jumped on the stage to take a picture with the rapper.
A member of The Game’s entourage allegedly stuck the man, leaving him with lacerations and a broken cheek bone.
Police are currently investigating the incident, which took place on July 15.
The Game’s tour across Europe has drawn headlines at various stops, mainly because of his attacks on Roc-A-Fella/Roc Nation CEO Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter.
Police in Rotorua, New Zealand have stated that they have organized a “special operation” when the rapper and his entourage plays at the Sportsdrome on August 15.
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New York Daily News Reports
Christina Milian has something to sing about!
The 27-year-old singer is engaged to music producer boyfriend The-Dream, Usmagazine.com reports.
"We don't have plans yet -- but it hasn't [already] happened, that I can confirm," Milian said of her upcoming nuptials.
"We just want to have our closest friends and family there; it's not going to be too big."
The bride-to-be was reportedly proposed to with a six-carat engagement ring from Ivanka Trump's jewelry line.
Even though the big day hasn’t arrived, the couple already have kids on their minds.
"I love kids, and [Christina] loves kids probably more than I do," the producer said of his fiancee, who will soon be busy working on her upcoming album, “Elope.”
"I think when you're a female in this business, it's kinda hard to do the natural thing that you want to do," he said.
"You have to do your work -- then whenever she makes that time for herself -- she'll make that time [to have a baby]. In the next couple of years, there'll be something around."
This will be the first marriage for Milian, who previously dated “America's Got Talent” host and Mariah Carey’s hubby,
Nick Cannon. The-Dream's marriage to singer Nivea ended in late 2007.
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