AllHipHop Reports
“Brutal” pressure to deliver a guilty verdict for No Limit rapper Corey “C-Murder” Miller could possibly work in favor of the recently imprisoned entertainer.
Despite casting the deciding vote twice in Miller’s much publicized murder trial, Mary Jacob now admits that she was not entirely convinced the 38-year rapper was guilty of killing Steve Thomas in the now-closed Platinum Club on Jan. 12, 2002.
According to reports, Thomas, 16, was shot through his heart while being stomped by a group of men during an event at the nightspot. A 10-2 verdict, the minimum required by state law for a second-degree murder conviction, was delivered on August 12 to seal Miller’s fate.
The rapper was sentenced to serve a mandatory life sentence in prison on August 14. Jacob’s decision to change her vote from innocent to guilty came after witnessing the emotional breakdown of a young juror who she felt was pressured by other jurors to side with those who believed Miller was at fault.
"This thing had to come to an end for this girl's health, her sanity," Jacob told The Times-Picayune about the 20-year-old Xavier University student who voted for the rapper's innocence. "I believe what happened to Steve Thomas on the floor of the Platinum Club happened to her verbally. "I was more worried about this little girl than I was about Corey Miller," added Jacobs, who still believes that prosecutors did not prove their case "beyond a reasonable doubt."
Steve Thomas
"Corey Miller will survive whatever happens to him," she said.
As jurors deliberated over the case, Jacobs noticed the physical toll the situation took on the student. The group was firmly split 9-3 in favor of conviction on their second day of deliberation.
However, the student’s condition ultimately swayed Jacob’s opinion as she chose the quickest way to end the young woman’s ordeal.
"They literally made this 20-year-old girl so violently ill," Jacob said. "She was shaking so bad. She ran into the bathroom. She was throwing her guts up. She couldn't function anymore. That's when I decided, the judge don't want to listen to me, doesn't want to listen to us? I told them, 'You want him to be guilty? He's guilty, now let's get the hell out of here.'''
At this time, no comment was made by Miller's family, his former attorney, Ron Rakosky or the Jefferson Parish district attorney's office on Monday (Aug. 24) regarding the latest on the Miller/Thomas murder case.
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AllHipHop Reports
New York DJ Kay Slay has announced plans to release a brand new album titled More Than Just A DJ.
The popular Hot 97 DJ has enlisted an all-star cast for More Than Just A DJ, which features cameos by Busta Rhymes, Bun B., Ghostface, Raekwon, 50 Cent, Jim Jones, Drake, Juelz Santana, Joell Ortiz, OJ Da Juiceman and others.
“There is a lot of talk about bringing New York Hip-Hop back,” Kay Slay said in a statement. “I was a part of the birth of our culture, and my new album does not disappoint. More Than Just a DJ is bringing real Hip-Hop back!"
More Than Just a DJ is Kay Slay’s fifth official independent release, following his albums DJ Kay Slay & Greg Street presents: The Champions - North Meets South (2006) and The Soul Controller (2007).
The first single from Kay Slay’s new album is titled “Blockstars” and features Plies, Jim Jones, Busta Rhymes & Ray J.
A second single titled “Thug Luv” featuring Maino, Papoose, Red Café and Ray J. is currently being planned as well.
DJ Kay Slay’s More Than Just a DJ is due in stores October 13 on E1 Music.
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AllHipHop Reports
Police in Baton Rogue have accused rapper Lil Boosie of offering a bribe to an officer who arrested him on marijuana and gun charges.
During a pre-trial hearing yesterday (August 24), State District Judge Chip Moore refused to suppress statements Boosie made, which could effect the outcome of his trial on the charges, which takes place September 28.
Deputy Nicholas Locicero testified that he and another officer in an unmarked unit stopped Boosie’s 2007 Dodge Challenger, after they noticed the rapper submerged in a could of smoke.
They found the rapper smoking a cigar filled with marijuana and he was also in possession of a large amount of cash.
Once Boosie was stopped he allegedly said to the officer “This is Boosie. How much do you want?”
The officer found a gun in Boosie’s vehicle, in addition to a bag of marijuana, which fell off of his lap as he exited the Challenger.
Boosie’s lawyers have argued that since he was not given a field test, he may have been intoxicated when he made the statements to arresting officer.
Lil Boosie, born Torrence Hatch, is charged with his third charge of possession of marijuana which could land him up to 20 years in prison, while he faces a mandatory minimum of five years for the gun charge.
Lil Boosie is scheduled to stand trial September 28.
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MTVNEWS Reports
Bill O'Reilly is back at it again. The conservative talk-show host criticized Jay-Z on Monday, a day after the leak of the rapper's new song, "Off That," which takes aim at "The O'Reilly Factor" host, among others.
"This ain't black versus white, my n---a, we off that/ Please tell Bill O'Reilly to fall back," Jay-Z raps over electro synths courtesy of Timbaland. On the track, which also features Drake, the Brooklyn MC also fires off a salvo at right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh. Jay-Z charges both men with stirring up racist sentiments before closing his verse saying, "It's 2010, not 1864."
In a segment on his show titled "Reality Check," O'Reilly played the song, highlighting the lyrics in question, before quickly dismissing the barb and moving on.
"A regular Otis Redding, isn't he," O'Reilly responded, sighing.
This isn't the first time the two have tangled. O'Reilly, a noted hip-hop hater, lashed out at Jay-Z and Young Jeezy earlier this year during the presidential inauguration, when Jay premiered his verse to Jeezy's hit, "My President," at Washington D.C.'s club Love.
O'Reilly and comedian Dennis Miller alleged that the song was harmful to America. The dustup lasted a few days but ultimately subsided.
O'Reilly has a long history of going after rappers. In the past, he has been in feuds with Nas, Ludacris, and Eminem. Cam'ron is the only rapper to have appeared on the show, for a segment involving hip-hop's influence on education. He and Dame Dash disagreed with O'Reilly before the host cut them off and ended the segment.
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NY Daily News Reports
Some were shocked. Others disgusted. But for some, it was the breast day ever!
Dozens of semi-nude women gave the city a Double-D eyeful Sunday when they bared their boobs in Central Park and then marched through the streets.
The daring display was part of "National Go-Topless Day" - indeed, there is such a thing - and stunned jaded New Yorkers and wide-eyed tourists alike.
"This is unbelievable - and super," said Dalvin Jan, 21, who rents bicycles for a living on Central Park South. "I'm going to tell my wife to join in."
With Chaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman" blaring from speakers and chants of "free your breasts, free your mind," the troupe of bare-breasted women - and their enthusiastic male supporters - paraded their way along Central Park South.
"We're all here for the same reason - to allow women to be free in the park like men," organizer Sylvie Chabot, 54, of Montreal, told the crowd at a midday rally at Columbus Circle.
Motorists honked their horns in support while bemused tourists took photos from passing tour buses.
"I'm pretty surprised," said Carolyn Meierjurgen, 49, of New Jersey, who was taking a horse carriage ride in the park. "If they want to do it, let them do it. I couldn't," she admitted.
Several unhappy onlookers complained to cops who were powerless to intervene.
New York is the only state in the country where women can be topless legally, after a 1992 ruling in the state's highest court. That means any woman can walk around the city at any time with no shirt on.
Among the speakers was Ramona Santorelli, of upstate Rochester, who was the plaintiff in the 1992 case.
"It's not about baring your breasts," she said. "But the true meaning is to normalize women's bodies."
Yesterday's protesters noted that is not always the case.
Artist Jill Coccaro, who goes by the name Phoenix Feeley, tested the New York law in 2005 after cops arrested her for exposing her breasts on Delancey St. She cited the 1992 ruling when cops grabbed her, but was held for 12 hours. She sued. The city later settled for $29,000.
Topless events took place across the country, from Los Angeles to Columbus, Ohio.
Organizers gathered signatures for a petition asking Congress to relax nudity laws, which they plan to hand over on Go-Topless Day next year.
Most passersby were amused by the sight of scores of half-naked people.
"It's nice for them," said unfazed Swedish tourist Birgitta Asplin, 58. "It's the human body - nothing more!"
But others said it was all a very bad idea.
"This is extreme liberalism and why America's in decline," shouted one woman, who said she was a doctor but declined to give her name. "It's degrading to women to tell them to expose their breasts publicly."
"I'm not shocked - we're in New York City," said Lindsay Hall, 28, of Maryland. "But speaking from a woman's perspective, I disagree with them. There's something to be said for modesty," she added.
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MSNBC Reports
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County coroner has ruled Michael Jackson’s death a homicide, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press, a finding that makes it more likely criminal charges will be filed against the doctor who was with the pop star when he died on June 25.
The coroner determined a fatal combination of drugs was given to Jackson hours before he died in his rented Los Angeles mansion, according to the official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the findings have not been publicly released. Forensic tests found the powerful anesthetic propofol acted together with at least two sedatives to cause Jackson’s death, the official said.
Dr. Conrad Murray, a Las Vegas cardiologist who became Jackson’s personal physician weeks before his death, is the target of a manslaughter investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department. Dateline NBC's Josh Mankiewicz confirmed that Murray is the target of a manslaughter probe. According to a search warrant affidavit unsealed Monday in Houston, Murray told investigators he administered a 25 milligram dose of propofol around 10:40 a.m. after spending the night injecting Jackson with two sedatives in an unsuccessful attempt to get him to sleep.
The warrant, dated July 23, states that lethal levels of propofol were found in Jackson’s system. Besides the propofol and two sedatives, the coroner’s toxicology report found other substances in Jackson’s system but they were not believed to have been a factor in the singer’s death, the official said.
Murray has spoken to police and last week released a video saying he “told the truth and I have faith the truth will prevail.” His attorney, Edward Chernoff, had no immediate comment but has previously said Murray never administered anything that “should have” killed Jackson.
A call to the coroner’s office was not returned Monday.
Murray has spoken to police and last week released a video saying he “told the truth and I have faith the truth will prevail.” His attorney, Edward Chernoff, had no immediate comment but has previously said Murray never administered anything that “should have” killed Jackson.
A call to the coroner’s office was not returned Monday.
According to the warrant, Murray had been treating the singer for insomnia with the sedative for six weeks. Murray said he had been trying to wean Jackson off the powerful sedative by using smaller doses in combination with the sedatives lorazepam and midazolam.
On the morning Jackson died, Murray said he tried to induce sleep without using propofol, starting first with valium at 1:30 a.m. When Jackson was still awake at 2 a.m., Murray injected Jackson with lorazepam, then injected him with midazolam at 3 a.m. Murray told police he administered several other drugs over the next few hours.
By 10:40 a.m., Jackson, still unable to sleep, urged Murray to give him propofol. Murray said in court documents that he administered 25 milligrams of the drug at that time, then left Jackson alone under the influence of the drug to make phone calls to his Houston office. When he returned, Jackson was not breathing. He performed CPR while a member of Jackson's staff called 911. The singer was rushed to UCLA Medical Center where he was declared dead sometime later.
The affidavit says, while Murray acknowledged to police that he administered propofol, authorities find no evidence that he had purchased, ordered or obtained the medication under his medical license or Drug Enforcement Administration tracking number. Police detectives found about eight bottles of the anesthetic in Jackson's house along with other vials and pills that had been prescribed to Jackson by Dr. Murray, Dr. Arnold Klein and Dr. Allan Metzger.
Dr Conrad Murray
Valium, lorazepam, clonazepam, tamsulosin and other drugs also were confiscated in the search, and propofol was found in Murray's medical bag. According to the warrant, Murray told police he was not the first doctor to administer propofol to the singer.
Authorities subpoenaed medical records from Klein, Metzger and Dr. David Adams, in addition to Murray, the affidavit states. They also asked for medical records from Dr. David Slavitt, who conducted the independent medical examination of Jackson for Anschuntz Entertainment Group, Dr. Randy Rosen and nurse practitioner Cherilyn Lee.
The affidavit also states that Jackson told Murray that two doctors in Germany had given him propofol. Murray said he repeatedly asked Jackson what other physicians were treating him and what drugs they were prescribing. Murray said Jackson refused to give the information.
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HipHopWired Reports
Raekwon The Chef has unveiled the track list and artwork for his highly anticipated fourth album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Part 2. Scheduled to drop September 8th, Rae spoke exclusively with Hip-Hop Wired about the project.
“This album right here my dude is more street. I just really took off the glamour and the glitter and basically just went back to being that MC from the projects. I didn't really drop too many jewels because I knew that everyone wanted what they wanted right now. Because if started getting too optimistic and too gem dropping, it may be too far over people's head to really understand. So I just really wanted to kind of keep this album on some street shit, talking about my days of bagging up. Bagging up crack. This is going on, that's going on, stories from the hood. Typical real shit that happen in the hood. I just wanted to make sure that I capitalize on that world because that's what this album is about. When I made the first one, we were fresh off the block . Straight drug dealing niggas trying to come up with a solution to get the fuck out the streets one way or another. And I kind of took that blueprint with me on this one. I never really tried to out do it but make sure I was on the same pattern as I was back then. You know what I mean?”
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Pt II will include collaborations with Ghostface, Method Man, Styles P, Beanie Sigel and Lyfe Jennings as well as production from Erick Sermon. Speaking more about the album, Rae also added that he was running his own lane and not trying to compete with the Auto-tune and dance crazes running Hip-Hop today.
“I'm not really sitting here trying to bust my brain to get into the new world or what it is today. All I can do is just create like I been creating and however it comes out, it's gonna come out. I feel like I paid a lot of dues. I am one of the dudes that a lot of people look at as being creative as it comes to his album or whatever. I'm just gonna keep it the way I keep it. I don't sit there and try to deal with the consequences of today's Hip-Hop. My thing is, I'm an artist so I'ma always go in there and give it my best shot. And that's what I always do. Overall, Chef don't come with nothing but whatever it's gonna be. Right now I know the capacity of where people want me to be at with this album, but like I said I'm just gonna put it on the table and its back to the hoodie action again. Just throwing on the good hoodie and the Timbs and just basically going in the studio gettin it in. My key thing that I love to do is to come in the studio and forget that I'm a big artist and go back to that grind factor and that's what I did. I'm one of them real Champion gear rappers so I'm coming in with the streets on my back.”
Here is the track listing below for Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Pt II.
1. Return of the North Star (feat. Papu Wu)
2. House of Flying Daggers (feat. Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah and Method Man)
3. Sonny's Missing (Produced by Pete Rock)
4. Pyrex Vision (Produced by Marley Marl)
5. Cold Outside (feat. Ghostface Killah and Sugar Bang)
6. Black Mozart (feat. Inspectah Deck)
7. New Wu (feat. Method Man and Ghostface Killah)
8. Penitentiary (feat. Ghostface Killah)
9. Surgical Gloves
10. Broken Safety (feat. Jadakiss and Styles P)
11. Canal Street
12. Ason Jones
13. Have Mercy (feat. Beanie Sigel and Blue Raspberry)
14. 10 Bricks (feat. Cappadonna and Ghostface Killah)
15. Fat Lady Sings
16. Catalina (feat. Lyfe Jennings)
17. We Will Rob You (feat. Slick Rick, GZA and Masta Killa)
18. About Me
19. Mean Streets (feat. Inspectah Deck and Ghostface Killah)
20. Kiss The Ring (feat. Inspectah Deck and Masta Killa)
21. South Star (feat. Papa Wu)
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NewsDay Reports
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Police in Las Vegas say they're searching boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s Rolls-Royce at his home after witnesses reported it was involved in a shooting outside an ice skating rink.
Lt. Patrick Charoen said Monday that police obtained a warrant to search the vehicle at one of Mayweather's Las Vegas-area homes after the shooting late Sunday night outside the Crystal Palace Skating Center.
Charoen (shar OHN') says no one was hurt in the shooting, but a vehicle was hit with several bullets between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Mayweather isn't named as a suspect. Charoen says witnesses only identified his vehicle, which drove away.
The 32-year-old Mayweather is scheduled to fight a welterweight bout Sept. 19 against Juan Manuel Marquez.
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NY Daily News Reports
Sorry Heidi, you're no Britney Spears.
Heidi Montag's first "live" performance of her single, "Body Language," on Sunday's Miss Universe competition was nothing short of embarrassing and entertaining.
Though the "Hills" star assured the show's host Billy Bush on Twitter that her performance would "be as live as can be," Montag took a page straight out of Spear's lip-synching routines and delivered a sorry show.
According to TMZ, pageant staffers were concerned the reality star turned singer wouldn't be able to deliver the show because she "can't remember the lyrics" to her own song.
The source added that Montag, who appeared to have used the same costumer who created Spears' 2000 MTV Video Music Awards outfit, looked "like a train wreck" and "can't dance."
Despite endless hours of rehearsing in the dance studio, this is where the buxom blonde's comparison with Spears ends.
Montag's lack of rhythm couldn't even pull off the weak choreography in the performance, which thanks to NBC, was edited out to introduce the 15 finalists.
But at least she has her family to count on as fans! Montag's sister-in-law, Stephanie Pratt, wrote on Twitter, "U embodied my hero Britney Spears... You are an unbeliveable performer!!! Wow!! U looked so hot too :)"
While it is unknown how many more performances Montag will force audiences to watch, she remains hopeful about her new foray into singing.
"I think people don't know what to expect, and how can they? It's my first performance live and it's in front of a billion eyes," Montag told the Associated Press before performing. "So I'm very excited to show everyone what I'm coming with."
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AllHipHop Reports
Lauren Raysor, the attorney responsible for prosecuting rapper Remy Ma, has called a press conference today (August 24) New York challenging record labels to curb the violence in Hip-Hop culture.
Raysor will use the press conference to request that all labels create a morality clause in their contracts, which means an artist’s deal would be terminated for any acts seen as objectionable to society.
Two years ago, Raysor represented Makeda Barnes-Joseph against her former close friend Remy Ma (Reminisce Smith).
Remy was sentenced to 8 years in prison on assault, illegal weapon possession, and attempted coercion after shooting Joseph in the abdomen.
According to a representative for Raysor, the “morality clause” concept would not be a device to target Hip-Hop artists, but a contract item to ensure all musicians consider the career ramifications for any violent acts.
"Lauren P. Raysor is asking all record companies to insert a 'morality clause' in their contracts with all artists, not just rap and Hip-Hop artists, as a way to show them there are consequences for their actions,” the spokesman said.
Accompanying Raysor will be Nicole Bailey, principal of the Learning Tree Multi-Cultural School.
At press time, attorney Raysor also plans to present an extensive timeline displaying all the major violent confrontations pertaining to Hip-Hop artists
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Right near the high school where he became a phenomenon, the NBA's reigning MVP hosted a screening of the documentary, "More Than A Game," a film about James' ascent to superstardom and the four childhood friends who helped him get there.
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BallerStatus Reports
Rapper Common and his "friends" have signed on to headline the second annual "Common & Friends" concert at the Hollywood Palladium in September 26.
In addition to Common, the "friends" on deck include The Roots, De La Soul, Ludacris, Nas, plus "huge special guests," reads the event's flyer.
The show is being put together to raise funds for the Common Ground Foundation, created by actor and hip-hop artist Lonnie Rashid Lynn, also known as Common.
"For the second year in a row, Common and the biggest artists in hip-hop will come out and lend their support for the Common Ground Foundation," said Executive Director, Jodie Blum. "With proceeds from this amazing event, we are able to raise much needed funds to empower youth in the United States."
Tickets for the event are already on sale through LiveNation.com. Tickets are $100 for general admission and $200 for VIP Balcony seating.
According to the organization's press release: the Common Ground Foundation is "committed to the empowerment and development of urban youth in the United States. The Foundation's vision serves as an inspiration for equality, opportunity and hope among youth in underserved communities."
For more information, visit CommonGroundFoundation.org.
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}