Singer D'Angelo has been trying to get his career back on track, but he's not going to do it by trying to pick up hookers at 2 in the morning.
D'Angelo, real name Michael Archer was rolling solo in West Village when he spotted a woman he thought was a prostitute. He stopped and offered her $40 for oral sex. Turns out the woman was an undercover New York cop.
The R&B star was arrested and charged with solicitation of prostitution according to the New York Post.
The Grammy Award winner reportedly had $12,000 dollars in his brand new Range Rover at the time.
D'Angelo was once thought to be an up and coming Neo-Soul superstar after the release of his 1st two albums 'Brown Sugar' in 1995 and 'Voodoo' in 2000. But he hasn't put out another album since.
Trouble with the law and alleged drug use have robbed the music world of a great talent.
Jermaine Jackson has apparently gathered an all-star cast, including Prince, Justin Timberlake and Santana to pay tribute to his late brother Michael Jackson at a show in June in London.
The Tribute By Jermaine show is expected to take place on June 8, 2010 at Wembley Arena in London.
Other participants include Shakira, Earth Wind and Fire, Usher, Nelson Mandela, Jennifer Hudson, Whitney Houston, Jabbawockeez, Seal, Neyo and a performance by the Jackson 5 with Janet Jackson.
'The best way and most suitable way is to assemble the world's largest tribute in history that is only fitting to a man who moved the hearts and souls of an unimaginable amount,' Jermaine said in a statement.
The show will be filmed with 12 HD cameras and air globally on June 25, 2010.
Officials are warning that tens of thousands of sex workers could enter South Africa during this year’s World Cup, and that children are at risk of being targeted by the sex trade.
World Cup organizers say up to 40,000 prostitutes were recruited for this year’s event, which takes place in a country where 16 percent of the population is believed to be living with HIV.
Officials also raised the possibility that local children would be recruited into the prostitution business partly due to the fact that World Cup takes place during a four week national school holiday.
The concerns were raised at a meeting of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Davis Bayever, South Africa’s deputy chair of the country’s Central Drug Authority, said his government feared the large influx of sex workers and pledged an attempt to stem the tide.
"It's horrific and very concerning," Bayever said. "Money talks, and if you're a sex worker then there is going to be money in South Africa in 2010."
Bayever said that passport checks, screening, and profiling will take place at the borders to try and prevent illegal arrivals. He believes the women will be traveling from all over the world, especially Eastern Europe.
Especially troubling was the prospect that impoverished children would be lured into sex work by the country’s sordid drug and prostitution underworld.
"There is no doubt that they will be targeted to become prostitutes," Bayever said. "Children from poor rural families will be given a carrot by criminals who tell them they will have a job if they come to the big city."
Around 450,000 fans are expected to travel to South Africa to attend this year’s World Cup.
After several back and forth statements from Solar and the Elam family, DJ Premier recently revealed his feelings regarding his old partner Guru and the controversy surrounding him.
On his HeadQCourterz radio show last night (March 5), Premier advised that he had previously made no official statements on Guru’s situation, despite numerous quotes over the past week carrying his name.
“First of all anyone that’s been seeing any statements from me, it’s all false,” Premier explained. “If it wasn’t told to someone directly, it’s not coming from me. I have never made a statement until today, and I will not make a statement until all the facts are given from the proper people. And the proper people are not giving the facts, so there’s nothing to say until we get that.”
Producer Solar broke the news on Tuesday (March 2) that his rhyme partner Guru (Keith Elam) had successful surgery, and was expected to make a complete recovery from a massive heart attack.
A statement purported to be from Guru himself soon followed, stating that Solar is “the only person who has accurate info on my situation.”
On Thursday (March 4), Guru’s nephew Justin Nicholas-Elam Ruff accused Solar of lying about Guru’s present condition, and using legal means to prevent the rapper’s family from seeing him.
That allegation was flatly denied by Solar the following day, who told AllHipHop.com that Guru’s brother, sister, and niece have been visiting him regularly.
“Guru's family dynamic and who he wants to look out for his interests is Guru's business and best left to Guru to discuss. I will state that Guru wanted this matter to be kept private to protect his loved ones and fans from this ordeal and from it becoming a circus, which it is becoming.”
DJ Premier did not address any of Solar’s statements directly, but made it clear his allegiance was with Guru’s nephew, whom he praised for speaking out about the situation.
“Shout out to Justin Ruff, a true soldier and a warrior that took on his own initiative to truly let motherfuckers know evil lurks in Guru’s life still, and that s**t will cease eventually. ‘Cause God don’t like ugly like they say, and love always conquers the devil.”
The legendary producer also added that his only concern is seeing his former collaborator back on his feet and healthy.
“It’s not about me it’s him, and the Gangstarr legacy,” he said. “Without him there’s no me, and without me there’s no him. Again, Guru we love you my G, stay strong my dude.”
At press time, Guru has released no further personal statements since Wednesday.
Bow Wow, the newly reformed Cash Money affiliate and former pre-teen rap sensation, is preparing to release his eighth studio album.
Making the announcement official young Shad took to his “Who Is Shad Moss” blog to give fans an update.
Bow Wow says that his Cash Money debut will be a double disc and while he still doesn't have a name for the finished product, he wants make sure to give fans what they've asked for.
“I am here to announce that I will have a double disc album, 2 CDs in 1 album. With every album I try to be creative when it comes to a theme for my CD's. I have no name yet…but I chose 2 discs in 1 because every album I always say “Man I wish the whole album was like my Greenlight mixtapes because everybody loves the Greenlight series or I wish I wish I had an album full of just hot rap shit like “Fresh Azimiz” and my “Oh I Think They Like Me” verse.”
Bow continues on to say that he wants to make sure he “caters to all demographics” of his fan base and make his album more personal. He says that wants to give listeners an introduction to someone they think they know but actually do not.
“I want to cater to all my demographics. I want every 1 to be pleased as I'm gearing up to make my Cash Money debut. So this album is a more of a me thing, but u all will love it because this album is a reflection of who I am. Maybe we all might have something in common once y'all listen to it. Maybe 1 side will be your favorite, hell maybe even both of them. So get to know someone y'all think y'all know but have no idea. This should be fun.”
No word on the official release date for Bow's new album.
MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. -- For the second time in a year, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is being accused of sexual misconduct, with police investigating him Saturday for an alleged assault at a nightclub in a Georgia college town.
Police in Milledgeville were examining the claim of a 20-year-old student, who told an officer that Roethlisberger sexually assaulted her early Friday.
Tom Davis, the special agent in charge of the regional Georgia Bureau of Investigation in Milledgeville, told ESPN on Saturday that Milledgeville police and the GBI will be working the case throughout the weekend and into next week. Authorities had no plans to comment further until Monday at the earliest.
The GBI has not spoken with Roethlisberger or any of the men who were with him on the night in question, but are trying to arrange that, Davis said. When Davis does speak with them, he told ESPN he wants to conduct the interviews in person. It was his understanding that Roethlisberger and his group left the state on Friday.
Investigators are awaiting lab results, but Davis would not say if anything was taken from Roethlisberger. When the investigation is complete, Davis said the findings will be turned over to the Baldwin County district attorney.
The case comes as Roethlisberger faces a lawsuit filed last July by a woman who says he raped her in 2008 at a Lake Tahoe hotel and casino, an allegation he strongly denies. Roethlisberger, who was not in custody, has not been criminally charged in either case and has claimed counter-damages in the lawsuit.
Still, to hear it on the airwaves in Pittsburgh, this latest situation seems to have shaken fans of the star quarterback, a man who has never hidden the fact he enjoys the nightlife. He has been spotted gambling in Las Vegas and is sometimes seen in public with small groups of friends and bodyguards.
The latest accusation came early Friday in downtown Milledgeville, about 85 miles southeast of Atlanta and about 30 miles south of the lake home the player owns. Roethlisberger, who turned 28 on Tuesday, and two or three friends went to Buffington's bar earlier Thursday night to watch the University of Pittsburgh men's college basketball game, said Paul Kurcikevicus, a 24-year-old college student.
He said the group was friendly, at first joking that Roethlisberger was not the NFL player. Kurcikevicus said Roethlisberger bought shots for him and some other people in the bar. The shots were "O-Bombs," a mixture of energy drink and flavored rum.
The group later went to The Brick restaurant nearby, owner Frank Pendergrast said.
"He was very polite with everybody," Pendergrast told The Associated Press. "He was down here from about 11:30 until about 1:30 having a good time, talking to a lot of people. Looked like he was signing autographs and letting people take pictures. Other than that, it was really uneventful."
Roethlisberger was later seen at Capital City, a popular nightclub for students at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville.
One patron at the bar on Friday night, 21-year-old college student Brandon Harris, said he saw Roethlisberger come in the night before with two or three big men who were keeping other club goers away. Harris said the group went into a curtained VIP area in the back of the club, and some women were let inside.
Amber Hanley, a 21-year-old college student, said she and a few friends were also in the VIP area with Roethlisberger. She said she asked the quarterback to take a photo with her friend, who was a fan, but he seemed disappointed that's all she wanted. Hanley said she rolled her eyes, and Roethlisberger called her an expletive and walked away. Later, Roethlisberger was aggressively hitting on another girl, Hanley said.
Deputy Police Chief Richard Malone said Friday that Roethlisberger had been with three other people who were mingling with another group that included the alleged victim. Malone said the woman and her party contacted a nearby police officer following the alleged assault.
"He's been identified as being at the scene and there are allegations naming him as the perpetrator," Malone said. The nature of the assault was not described, but Malone did say it was being termed a sexual assault, not a rape.
Roethlisberger and the alleged victim were interviewed and the woman was taken to a hospital, where she was treated and released, Malone said. The woman was not identified by police; ESPN and the AP do not generally identify possible victims of sexual abuse.
Police said Roethlisberger and his attorney were cooperating with investigators.
The player's agent, Ryan Tollner, said in a statement he was skeptical of the motive of the alleged victim in Milledgeville because of the previous Lake Tahoe allegations. Steelers spokesman Dave Lockett said the team was gathering information and had no comment.
As Pittsburgh's first-round draft pick out of Miami of Ohio in 2004, Roethlisberger led the Steelers to Super Bowl victories in 2006 and 2009. He has frequently donated time and money to charities, and his charitable foundation awards a police dog to a department near every Steelers road opponent.
However, with his championships and $102 million contract have come several off-the-field problems. In 2006, he defied his coach's orders and rode his motorcycle without a helmet -- and wound up with a concussion, broken jaw and other injuries after a wreck.
And while Roethlisberger has a reputation for patiently signing autographs and posing for pictures while out in public, he also is known for occasionally inelegant behavior in Pittsburgh. Early in his career, he was photographed wearing a T-shirt reading "Drink Like a Champion." Restaurant owners in Pittsburgh have complained he has tried to skip out on bills.
The public largely supported him when he was accused of sexual assault in Nevada. But radio shows in Pittsburgh have been flooded with calls since Friday's allegation -- few of them sympathetic, with many wondering if the new case indicates a troubling pattern of behavior.
Nicki Minaj can't possibly get any hotter than she is at the moment. From song features to magazine covers and photo shoots, the Queen of the Young Money Empire is doing it all.
She covers the premier issue of Right On! Magazine's Black Entertainment Diaries which hits stores March 9.
On Friday (March 5), Beyoncé spoke in downtown Brooklyn, New York, at the Phoenix House, a nonprofit recovery center for drug and alcohol addiction, to unveil a project she and her mother, Tina, have dreamed of and worked on for years: the Beyoncé Cosmetology Center.
According to the press release, the program is "a seven-month cosmetology training course for adult men and women." L'Oréal has donated all the products to be used at the center, and their spokeswoman Beyoncé, along with her mother, have pledged to donate $100,000 annually.
(AllHipHop News) After years of delay as an artist on Aftermath/Interscope Records, Atlanta rapper Stat Quo is finally on the verge of releasing his highly anticipated album Statlanta.
The album, which is slated for May 4th, will be released on Sha Money XL’s Dream Big Ventures, through digital distributor, The Orchard.
Stat Quo remained tight lipped on the details about the album, but he did disclose the release will feature 12 tracks.
“For this album I’m not telling anyone anything or anything about who is on it because I feel a lot of artists always tell who is going to be on a record and then it takes some of the mystery away,” Stat Quo told AllHipHop.com. “So I would rather just wait and have you get the album and then you can see what’s going on with it.“
Stat has released the first single off the album titled “Success (Back To You),” which also has an accompanying video.
“Yea it is the first single off the album. A lot of people would say that it is not a traditional single, because its not targeted towards radio,” Stat Quo told AllHipHop.com. “I just want to make good music and not worry about BDS [radio spin tracking service].”
The video “Success (Back To You)” features Stat going through various situations that he has been through, in an attempt to become successful.
“When I heard the beat and chorus, when you hear it, you may think that I am talking about a woman, but it really I am talking about my relationship with success,” he told AllHipHop.com. “The video takes three aspects of my life, like working a corporate job. You got another situation, me selling CDs, what I believe in. And another situation is me graduating from school and being successful.”
While many people may not know, Stat is one of many rappers that has earned his college degree.
In the early 2000’s Stat finished received his degree from the University of Florida with a double major in business and economics.
“Graduating in business and economics, it allows me to step outside of me just being an artist. I had to look at the business side of things. Hundreds thousands of people at those companies depend on Dr. Dre and Eminem’s album sales, so I can understand why it was so pertinent to get those albums out when they did. I didn’t understand at the time, but now I understand”
Finally Stat Quo gave an update on working with Dr. Dre on Detox and his relationship with Eminem.
With respect to working with Eminem and Dre, Stat said, “I enjoyed working with them, and I enjoy working with them. I learned so much from both of them on how to be a better MC and person, and I continue to learn from them. I’m not going to say me and Em talk on the phone, or that we have had contact, it’s been a while, but at the end of the day I still got love for him and that’s never going to change. When it comes down to Dre, what can I say? Dude is the end all and be all as my mentor, he held me down and continues to.”
Stat confirmed that he will be a part of Detox, although the album has no set release date as of press time.
“On his record I feel so important, his album is just so important to Hip-Hop. I am blessed to have an opportunity to be in the situation to work on it. S**t is going to be a classic from beginning to end,” Stat Quo told AllHipHop.com. Stat Quo will next be performing at SXSW in Austin, Texas later this month.
TOMS RIVER, N.J. -- There is clearly no resemblance, but police in Toms River, New Jersey say that didn't stop 54-year-old Patrick Lynch from telling patients for months that he was Doctor Andrew Nelson.
"The guy's bold," Dr. Nelson said. "How do you pretend to be a doctor and pretend to be a person you don't even look like, at all."
Authorities say Lynch, who is not a physician, began impersonating Nelson and treating patients in late July, soon after the real doctor stopped working for Visiting Doctors of New Jersey, the company Lynch owns.
Visiting Doctors provides house calls, primarily for elderly patients.
Investigators say Lynch continued to treat new patients until he was caught and charged a couple weeks ago.
Police say they're not aware of anyone being harmed.
His lawyer had no comment, except to say his client is not guilty.
"We've identified anywhere between 25 and 40 patients who have come forward and advised us that they were treated by Mr. Lynch, believing that he was in fact a licensed physician named Dr. Nelson," Lt. Doring Dunton of the Toms River Police force said Thursday.
Police say Lynch was even writing prescriptions, using Nelson's name, and that's ultimately what led to his arrest on Feb. 19.
Investigators want to hear from anyone else who was treated by the phony doctor, and urge them to seek legitimate medical care
Ne-Yo promises that he's doing something different this time around in terms of the music on his new album, so what does he want to do when it comes to his Hollywood career? Well, the singer and hitmaker has his eye on the prize — and that prize is a career that mirrors the great Tom Hanks'.
Fans can stop hitting Fabolous up on Twitter. It took a few more months than expected, but Fabo's Gangsta Grillz mixtape The Funeral Service: There Is No Competition 2 was uploaded to the Internet Thursday. The tape contains guest appearances from Nicki Minaj, Red Cafe, Paul Cain and others, with a slew of jacked beats and some original material. So now that the unofficial tape is out, when is Loso's Way 2 coming?
50 Cent has said he’d like to work with the UK’s very own Peter Andre.
The rapper has revealed he’s a big fan of the reality TV star’s classic track Mysterious Girl- which originally featured a verse from Bubbla Ranx.
According to The Sun Fiddy said: “It's like 'YMCA', one of those songs everybody knows. Girls like it and it gets them up dancing.
“Pete seems like a nice guy and maybe, with the right remix, we can get him a number one in the US as well as Europe this time.”
He added: “I would give my lyrics to it rather than use that guy he used last time.”
It’s not the first time the New York MC has floated the idea of a bizarre collaboration. Late last year Curtis claimed he wanted to work with Susan Boyle.
Shakira has received a medal from the United Nations for her work with impoverished children.
The pop star – who founded the Barefoot Foundation in her native country of Colombia, which aims to make education available to disadvantaged children – was presented with the Social Justice for Peace award at a small ceremony in Switzerland yesterday (03.03.10). Geneva's UN labour chief Juan Somavia described the 'She-Wolf' singer as a 'true ambassador for children and young people, for quality education and social justice'.
Upon receiving the accolade Shakira thanked the UN and dedicated it to all the children suffering from violence and extreme poverty in the world.
The 32-year-old star – who is a member of the ALAS foundation, whose goal is to provide education and health care to impoverished kids in Latin America, and has also worked as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador – said: "It's not too late to keep our promise to our children, but we must act now. Together, we can make education and decent work for all a reality."
The public truce brokered last December between Young Jeezy and Gucci Mane appears to be compromised following a violent altercation between their affiliates in downtown Atlanta yesterday (March 4).
The brawl began around 4PM outside of the Walter’s Clothing Store in downtown Atlanta, ironically the location where Jeezy and Gucci Mane first met several years ago.
According to Patrick Morrison, an eyewitness and Walter’s Clothing employee, the animosity was renewed when Flocka’s entourage entered the store and came face to face with Slick Pulla and other Young Jeezy affiliates.
“They just started going at it,” Morrison told the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
In the midst of the struggle, a security guard for Waka Flocka discharged his firearm, possibly as a warning to dispel the fighting.
Numerous sources allege that Flocka was attacked by Slick Pulla, an artist signed to Young Jeezy’s Corporate Thugz Entertainment label, and member of the group USDA (United Dope Boyz of America).
“Story has it that Waka Flocka and Slick Pulla have been beefing since an altercation that happened in Miami a few months ago,” explained celebrity photographer Freddy O. “Slick Pulla wanted to get it popping and that’s what he tried to do. After a tussle and fight throughout the entire Walter’s store, with customers, gunfire rang out. In the end Slick Pulla left the store while Waka was left with a bloody nose and eye.”
Patrick Morrison confirmed the assault as well, stating “whoever he (Waka Flocka) is he’s got a big swollen eye now.”
Slick Pulla was just released earlier this year from prison after serving a 2 year bid for parole violation. The terms of his release allowed him to leave the location on work release, which may now be violated if criminal charges are levied.
Thursday’s brawl marks the second Atlanta attack in three months on Waka Flocka Flame. In January, the young rapper was shot in the arm at a car wash on Old National Highway after refusing to give up his jewelry.
Flocka took his Twitter several hours ago, and offered a different version of earlier reports that he was left battered and bloody.
In his response, the Atlanta rapper made light of the conflict and boasted that he administered his own beating to his attacker.
"Shout out to shawty who ran up wit the lumps on his face that look like Martin Lawrence ...... lol," quipped Flocka, alluding to a memorable episode of the comedian's sitcom where Lawrence was humorously disfigured after a bout with boxer Tommy Hearns.
At press time, neither camps have released official statements.
Singer Chris Brown continues to rehabilitate his once stellar reputation.
Chris Breezy has accepted an invitation to read to school kids at a Harlem Charter School
According to the New York Daily News Chris will read at Sisulu-Walker Charter School's annual "Family Read Night."
"I extended an invitation to all celebrities and politicians, and we had an acceptance by him," said principal Dawn Cejas, who added the evening was geared to encourage students to read..
It's been hard for Chris gain acceptance in certain areas, He is trying to get his career back on track since pleading guilty to assualting then girlfriend Rihanna on Grammy night 2009.
Parent Olubunmi Sonubi, a mother of Sisulu-Walker fifth-grader Ishola, said she was okay with a "second chance" for Brown.
"He can come even though he was arrested," she said. "He's coming to read to the children. He apologized on TV. Sometimes in real life we make mistakes."
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