LL Cool J Talks Accidental Racist

Lauryn Hill Say She Didn't Pay Taxes Because Of 'Threats' To Family

In Hip-Hop, and life in general, there are no do-overs. But LL Cool J is nevertheless doing his best to explain and support his slander inspiring 'Accidental Racist' single with Country music artist Brad Paisley. Last night, Uncle L discussed the tune on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
From the 'I'm Bad' rapper's commentary, he has been listening to at least some of the criticism of the song, mainly that it makes light of racism.
'The song wasn't perfect,' admitted LL to Leno. 'You can't fit 300 or 400 years of history in a three or four-minute song.'
LL was clear in that he couldn't defend the song, but could explain some of his lyrics. One in particular was comparing a du-rag to the Confederate flag, which he adamantly said was not his intent.
'When you think about a kid like Trayvon Martin and you think about some of the things that happen in society based on clothing, when you put it in its proper context, it makes sense. I would never, ever, ever suggest to anyone that we should just forget slavery and act like that didn't happen. I understand the systemic racism that exists, I get that. But you know what, if the playing field is unlevel and if you feel it's unfair, then maybe putting down some of that baggage will help you make it up that hill a little easier.'
Watch the rest of the interview, where a very eloquent LL Cool J makes his case, here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?

Photo: YouTube/NBC

Lauryn Hill is going to have a tough time proving this one. After already pleading guilty to tax evasion last year, the enigmatic singer has filed paperwork that says she didn't pay Uncle Sam because she felt 'threatened.'
Reports TMZ:
Lauryn just filed legal docs asking for mercy before her sentencing later this month, claiming there was a good reason she failed to file tax returns for 2005, '06 and '07 ... when she earned a total of more than $1.8 million. She already pled guilty and faces several years in prison.

According to docs ... Lauryn stopped paying taxes 'when she withdrew from society at large due to what she perceived as manipulation and very real threats to herself and her family.'
She's not specific about the threats -- but it's a new explanation for her mysterious disappearance from the music scene after her rise to fame in the '90s.
Lauryn previously claimed she went underground to get back in touch with her musical roots.
Lauryn's asking the court to consider a bunch of other factors before her sentencing -- including her claim that she can pay off the debt much faster if she's not behind bars.
Hill's previous explanation to her tax struggle included a Tumblr rant where she claimed that she removed herself from society in order to keep her family 'safe, healthy, and free from danger.'
So it seems like L Boogie is basically saying her fame resulted in an inability to write a check to the United States Treasury. For the sake of her children-she has six-good luck with that.
Lauryn Hill will be sentenced on April 22 and hopes to receive probation instead of any jail time.
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Photo: Getty

Flavor Flav is in big trouble. A judge in Las Vegas has ruled that there is evidence that the Public Enemy rapper and OG reality show star threatened his girlfriend's son with a butcher knife. Thus, Flav must stand trial on a pair of felony charges.
Reports USA Today:
The cloc

Too $hort Will Not Be Charged With Felony Drug Possession

Mobb Deep Discuss Beef & The Group Moving Forward [VIDEO]

By now you have surely seen OG rapper Too $hort's suspect getaway skills after he was stopped by Los Angeles police for a DUI earlier this week. $hort Dog was charged with felony drug possession for allegedly trying to dispose of drugs in the back of a squad car, but those charges have been dismissed.

TMZ reports:
We broke the story...Too Short was arrested Wednesday for DUI. He made a failed attempt to escape (see video below) and was taken to jail, where cops say they found drugs in the back of the black and white. He was booked for felony drug possession.
We've learned...the L.A. County District Attorney has REJECTED the felony drug case, because cops only found a very small amount of drugs -- which they say is meth. Given that Short does not have a felony record, the D.A. decided not to prosecute and sent the case over to the L.A. City Attorney for misdemeanor review.

We're told the City Attorney will look at the case...probably next week.
FYI...Short insists he was not in possession of drugs, and whatever was found in the back of the cop car was left by the prior arrestee who involuntarily hitched a ride to the pokey.

Too $hort wins this round. Please get a proper weed carrier/designated driver and refrain from fleeing from the cops, sir.
Yes, we had to include the 'Blow The Whistle' rapper's struggle sprint below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CWsCZtFeUVQ

Photo: TMZ

Hip-Hop witnessed one of its legendary groups in Mobb Deep crumble last year, or so we thought. Thankfully, Havoc and Prodigy have since reconciled, but fans haven't forgotten about their brief spat. Knowing this, the Queensbridge duo sat down with MTV news to discuss their issues and Mobb Deep moving forward.

Havoc began with, 'Let me just start off by saying Mobb Deep is like brothers. Understand what I'm saying? And brothers, we go through things.'
The two admit that their issues were indeed real, to which Havoc referred to his infamous Twitter rant. 'The tweets definitely happened and I take my part in that. At the end of the day, like I said, we went through things. When family goes through things it's like, they shouldn't be handled in the streets,' said the 'Gone' rapper, who admits full responsibility for his actions.

Prodigy chimed in, saying 'Me and Hav got a different type of relationship man. It's different man. We been through a lot of stuff growing up, just personal stuff.'

'When you dealing with someone for that long everyday, you going to have your little squabbles or whatever. It's nothing,' explained P. 'The bottom line is we [sic] smarter than all the BS.'

Mobb Deep currently plans to embark on a 20th anniversary tour in May, so you know it's real or at least amicable. See the tour schedule below.

Check out the full interview here: http://www.mtv.com/videos/news/891372/exclusive-mobb-deep-fight-and-reunite-like-brothers.jhtml

Photos: MTV

Dr. Dre fans have wondered if the long-rumored Detox album will ever see the light of the day, and he hinted at the faint possibility of a release during an interview this morning. Dre called in to Power 106 program Big Boy's Neighborhood, announcing that co-host Fuzzy Fantabulous will leave the program

RZA Sued By Dutch Singer Thea Van Siejaen For Unpaid Royalties

Dr. Dre Opened Companies In Ireland To Escape Higher Tax Bracket

RZA is getting sued, and this time it isn't by one of his fellow Wu-Tang Clan group members. Dutch singer Thea Van Siejaen alleges that the music producer and movie director failed to pay her a significant amount of money.

TMZ reports that Van Siejaen has filed a lawsuit for not getting her fair share of money for co-writing songs and singing for work she did for Bobby Digital from 2004 to 2011. According to Van Siejaen, she didn't demand the money sooner for fear of being blackballed in the industry by RZA.

Now she is asking that the court order RZA to pay royalties she feels she is due. Van Siejaen's soulful vocal performances were featured on a number of song on the RZA's Digi Snacks solo album and The RZA Presents: Afro Samurai Resurrection soundtrack. She is suing over a total of of 11 songs, including RZA's 'Baby Boy' from the Jet Li film's Unleashed soundtrack.
RZA's reps told TMZ, 'Unfortunately this is a groundless lawsuit by someone RZA had helped get off the streets, lent a helping hand to, and now thinks he's an easy target to mark looking for money.'

Photos: TMZ

Dr. Dre doesn't want to end up on the ever-growing list of rap stars busted for not paying their taxes, so he's taken his business ventures to Ireland.
The Good Doctor, who was named Forbes' highest paid musician of the year thanks to his Beats By Dre empire, has launched a few business in the UK to avoid giving Uncle Sam too much of his ends.

Dre has reportedly opened three companies in an area known as Clonkailty, County Cork, in search of tax refuge.

From the Irish Examiner:
The three businesses each share their address with O'Mahony Donnelly accountants, run by husband and wife Michael O'Mahony and Ann Donnelly.
Mr O'Mahony said helping clients like Dr Dre had become one of their niche markets. 'Since I established O'Mahony Donnelly here in 2000 we've worked with a number of multinational corporations to get them set up in Ireland. This has become a great niche for our firm.'

According to O'Mahony several companies have high tailed it across the pond. 'We are active in a network of international business advisers that brings us clients looking to do business here. We like the challenges and diversity this niche brings to our firm.'

Although he would not mention Dre specifically, O'Mahony acknowledged doing the same work for similar companies. 'We set up limited companies, provide company secretarial services including providing a registered company address, as well as other accountancy and business advisory services. The low corporate tax rate is a big factor in attracting companies to set up in Ireland, but there are many other reasons. Ireland is the only country in the eurozone with English as a primary language and we are still known to have a great workforce, top quality of life and business environment.'
With a net worth well above$200 million, it's no wonder Dre's trying to hold onto as much of his money as possible.

Photos: rsvlts.com

Wu-Tang Clan has always been for the children, but at least one of its members is for the students, too. The Genius/GZA has teamed with Columbia University professor Christopher Emdin to create Science Genius BATTLES, a program that uses Hip-Hop to teach science in New York City schools.
Last night (December 12th), GZA spoke to a crowd of educators and students assembled at

Ice-T Blasts Coco Over Inappropriate Flicks With Male Fan

The bond that is Ice-T's relationship with his lady love, Coco, might have a few cracks in it. Ice is always vocal about his feelings for Coco, but pictures she took with a male fan has him questioning the relationship.
Ice took to Twitter Saturday (Dec. 8) to call his wife out.

In a classic tweet-and-delete move, the 54-year-old pegged his wife as being disrespectful for posing for photos with an aspiring rapper, AP-9. Ice explained that the guy pretended to be a friend of his, and called him a stalker, but after looking through the pics he changed his tone. 'She made me look and feel like sh-t,' he wrote.

The pics are from Coco's first weeks alone in Sin City.

Of course Coco is known to put her assets and implants on display just about anywhere, but apparently she went too far. She started out by writing 'relax' over the uproar, but realizing her wrongs, the 33-year-old also went on Twitter to apologize. 'I'm sorry baby & to everyone [sic].'
Before long Coco was littered with Twitter-hate, and allegations of infidelity. Do a few pictures mean she's cheating, or just looking for attention?

See pics below and at http://www.hiphopwired.com.

Photos: BET/Bossip/Twitter



It's been 15 years since the Notorious B.I.G. was murdered in Los Angeles, and fans still want to get all the details they can regarding the still officially unsolved murder. Now, the autopsy report revealing the exact nature the late Christopher Wallace's injuries and his specific cause of death has been revealed.

TMZ has obtained the autopsy report which confirms what we already knew, that Biggie was shot four times on Wilshire Blvd. while seated in the passenger seat of Chevy Suburban. But what the report details is exactly where the 24 year-old rapper was hit and how he died.

According to the report, 3 of the shots were NOT fatal.

-- Gunshot #1 struck Wallace in the left forearm and traveled down to his wrist.
-- Gunshot #2 struck Wallace in the back, missed all vital organs, and exited through his left shoulder.
-- Gunshot #3 struck Wallace on his outer left thigh and exited through his inner left thigh.
The reports says .. after Gunshot #3 exited the thigh, 'the projectile strikes the left side of the scrotum, causing a very shallow, 3/8 inch linear laceration.'

The fatal bullet was Gunshot #4 ... which entered Wallace's body through his right hip and ripped its way through several vital organs ... before coming to rest in his left shoulder area.

According to the report, the bullet perforated Wallace's colon, liver, heart and the upper lobe of his left lung.

After the shooting, B.I.G. was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 1:15am.

You can see an image of part of the report below.

A recent testament to B.I.G.'s is that he is on the latest cover of Rolling Stone magazine. Rest in power Christopher 'The Notorious B.I.G.' Wallace.
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Photo: The Notorious B.I.G.

Fugees Rapper Pras Sues Director Over Somali Pirate Documentary

50 Cent Executive Producing Hour long Drama For Starz Network

Considering Wyclef Jean's Yele Haiti issues and Lauren Hill's tax troubles, it was only a matter of time before Pras got in on the legal struggle, too. The third member of the Fugees is suing a director for $70,000+ in money the rapper/producer says he put down a few years ago out of his own pocket to create a documentary about being allegedly kidnapped Somali pirates.

TMZ reports:
According to legal docs filed Monday, Pras hired Marshall Tyler back in 2009 to direct a documentary film called 'Paper Dreams'-- about the rapper's real-life, death-defying incident with pirates off the East African coast.

In the suit, Pras claims he was 'taken captive' by Somali pirates sometime in 2009 -- however multiple reports say Pras, and his film crew, merely witnessed the famous capture of the Maersk Alabama in April 2009.
According to his lawsuit, Pras says he put up $70k of his own money to cover filming and travel expenses --but says after the footage was shot, Marshall failed to hand it over.

Pras claims he's repeatedly asked for the goods, but never heard a word back. Now he's suing to get the footage...or at least recover his 70 grand, plus damages.

Marshall Tyler reps say Pras is suing for material he doesn't even own.
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Photo: TMZ/Getty

50 Cent's new album isn't coming out until February 2013, allegedly, but he has plenty to keep him busy until then. The Queens rapper is developing a drama for the Starz network called Power.

Variety reports that the hourlong drama will be about a nightclub owner with a criminal past that is trying to go legit. 50, born Curtis Jackson, is one of the project's executive producers along with Mark Canton (300) and Randall Emmett (End Of Watch). The trio has worked previously on Freelancers and and upcoming film called The Tomb that is due out next year.

Courtney Kemp Agboh has been tabbed as the show's writer and is also an executive producer.

50's last television venture wasn't exactly a highlight in his extensive portfolio of endeavors. The 2008 reality television show on MTV titled 50 Cent: The Money and the Power lasted only one season.

Lately, besides promoting his SMS headphones and his latest single, 'My Life,' featuring Eminem, 50 has been detailing his falling out with Floyd Mayweather Jr. and revealing that it was French Montana that got him the footage of DJ Khaled's family when he was beefing heavy with Rick Ross. As for French Montana, he challenged Fif to release their albums on the same day to see who would sell more records.
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Photo: Getty

As if Dr. Dre needed any more incentive not to release the mythical Detox. The Beats By Dre co-founder and Hip-Hop super producer has secured the number one spot on Forbes magazine's World's Highest-Paid Musicians list after earning $110 million in 2012, before taxes.
Says Forbes:

With a whopping $110 million in pretax earnings, Dr. Dre is this year's top-earning musician-thanks largely to his Beats headphone line. He leads a pack of pop stars, rock icons, rap moguls and country crooners, many of whom bank the bulk of their bucks outside the recording studio. Totals are calculated from May 2011 through May 2012.

Other Hip-Hop friendly entertainers that made the list include Rihanna at #12 with $53 million earned, Diddy at #15 with $45 million earned and BeyoncÃÆ'© an

dead prez Further Denies Nas Ghostwriting Allegations [VIDEO]

Cee Lo Green Developing NBC Sitcom Inspired By His Life

Dream Hampton's recent allegations about Nas supposedly using Jay Electronica and dead prez as ghostwriters on his 2008 album Untitled caused pandemonium that went past the initial allegations throughout the internets for much of the latter half of August. Just as things began to simmer down, dead prez recently spoke their peace on the situation with the Sway In the Morning crew. The duo remained steadfast in their claims that their contributionsUntitled were limited to production, co-creating choruses, and bouncing around ideas. You know, the typical services of a producer.

Sway posed the question 'I would love for you guys to clear up the latest controversy about Nas and if someone wrote lyrics for Nas ever for a project,' to which stic.man wittily replied 'How that sound?'
'Nah. Ghostwriting as far as someone saying 'Come and write my verse for me?' That didn't happen,' said stic.man. 'But we did get to work with Nas extensively on the N-Word album, the Untitled album, collaborated, co-writing hooks and doing a lot of production is what I did. That rumor just jumped out of somewhere, but it was bigger than us and it had nothing to do with what we did. We were just thankful for the opportunity.'
M-1 chimed in, expressing his disdain for the whole situation, adding 'It's funny how something like this can discredit an artist, totally. Even just the rumor of this has this feel. I feel like it's funny.'

'Nas is a phenomenal artist. He's been the cornerstone for definitely a whole generation, and his movement is strong, he's amazing, he's as brilliant as he's ever been. No matter what, whether he collaborated with somebody, Nas is who he is because he is alive and doing what he's doing. That shouldn't even be questioned at all. I feel like the issue at all is trivial. I feel like in the face of people who doing real things and making real contributions, let's look at that.'

stic.man finished by spinning the question, asking 'How many rappers or just entertainers have books out that's written by somebody else?'
The full footage can be seen below.

http://hiphopwired.com/2012/09/06/dead-prez-further-denies-nas-ghostwriting-allegations-video/

Cee Lo Green is expanding his relationship with NBC, by developing a sitcom for the network. Green already works as a judge on NBC's The Voice, and has clocked more new ventures with the nework, including producing, and possibly starring in, a scripted series. Spearheaded by Sony Pictures Television, and Happy Madison, the project will be launched under Primary Wave TV, and Green's company, Emerald Productions.

Penned by Ali Leroi, of Everybody Hates Chris fame, the comedy will be loosely based on Green's life, and how he juggles his personal and professional commitments. 'Cee Lo is one of the most unique artists that the entertainment world has ever seen,' said co-executive producer, Andrew Jameson of Primary Wave. Jameson-a former president at Maloof Productions- is also a partner at Emerald Productions. 'I am excited to be his partner and look forward to extending his creative vision into the television world.'

Jameson is the man behind Cee Lo Takes the U.K.: Christmas With All the Goodies, a Christmas special which aired across the pond, produced by reality tv giant, Mark Burnett.

Still riding off the success of his 'F-ck You' single, Green has inked a be

Method Man ft. Freddie Gibbs & Streetlife - 'Built For This'

Afrika Bambaataa Plans To Create National Museum of Hip-Hop In the Bronx

It's been quite a while since we heard from new music from Method Man, but he is back with an assist from Freddie Gibbs of CTE and Streetlife for 'Built For This.' This song will appear on the soundtrack for the movie starring and produced by the mighty RZA, The Man With The Iron Fists. This record is produced by Frank Dukes.
The Man With The Iron Fists will hit theaters this fall on November 2nd. The M-E-T-H-O-D Man comes correct on 'Built For This' and the Gary, Indiana native, Gangsta Gibbs, talks that gritty street talk that's made him an underground favorite. The Baby Face Killa project is hitting the streets very soon and is hosted by DJ Drama. Hit the jump to get a listen to 'Built For This.'

According to Vintage Vinyl News, Afrika Bambaataa plans to create the National Museum of Hip-Hop at the Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx. With the legendary DJ and activist's history as a conduit of Hip-Hop culture, his plans to bring a museum to the very same Bronx streets from which the culture originated should come as no surprise.
While Bambaataa, a Bronx native himself, has already signed a letter of intent to create the museum, its future is predicated on a winning bid from the Youngwood and Associates developers, who happen to be just one of a long list of developers hoping to attain the property.
Bambaataa intends to hash out his plans with Bronx borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., with hopes of furthering the progress of the project. The Universal Zulu Nation member also cites the support of the Hip-Hop community as a potential X-factor in raising awareness for the museum.
Fans awaiting the outcome of the bidding war will have to be patient, as the winner will not be announced until the end of the year by the New York City Economic Development Corporation. With stiff competition like a potential ice center with nine skating rinks, hopefully Hip-Hop will come recognize the importance of supporting something that will preserve our rich culture

Dr. Dre Signs Development Deal With FX Channel To Create Crime Drama

Mystikal Released From Prison

Dr. Dre sells a gang of headphones and occasionally produces music (he's on the cover of the latest XXL), too. So the next logical progression in his stories career is...cable television. The world renowned producer has inked a deal with FX to develop a crime drama, reports The Hollywood Reporter. The cable channel has commissioned the 'Deep Cover' rapper/producer (who serve as an executive producer) and writer Sidney Quashi to write the script for a one-hour drama pilot that mingles the crime business and music business.

Quashi will be billed as both the creator and executive producer of the drama, with Dre serving as an EP. Daniel Schniderwill co-executive producer for Dre's Crucial TV, along with co-EP Brad Bertner.

Crucial Films was launched in 2007 with a first-look deal at New Line. Dre's label, Aftermath Entertainment, launched 11 years earlier and has showcased such talent as Eminem, 50 Cent, The Game and his newest discovery Kendrick Lamar. He began his career as a member of seminal gangsta rap group N.W.A and continued as a producer and solo artist. In 2008, Dre moved into the tech sector with the launch of popular headphones line Beats by Dr. Dre.

Dre surely has the music side covered and considering the shady dealings he went through at Ruthless Records while a member of N.W.A and then Death Row Records with Suge Knight, he should at least be familiar with the crime side. But who wants to bet whether or not we'll be watching this as yet unnamed crime drama before hearing Detox?

Mystikal is once again a free man after serving two months in prison for violating his probation. The YMCMB rapper was released from the East Baton Rouge Parish Jail in Louisiana early this morning where he had been incarcerated since May 14 according to TMZ.

Mystikal previously spent the past six years in prison and after being free for only a couple of months, he was slapped with a misdemeanor charge stemming from a domestic abuse case. 'Disappointed isn't the word for it -- ashamed,' Mystikal told Billboard.com shortly before he turned himself in for his 81 day sentence.

'Everything I was doing, the 81 days was right there riding with me -- in the SUV, come on, who's that? My 81 days. Everywhere I went, it was keeping me in check, and it's a fight. I can tell myself all kinds of things, I can sit there and mope, or I can get out and thank those fans the way I'm supposed to, the way they deserve to be thanked. So of course I am.'

Wu-Tang Clan's GZA Speaks On New Album Dark Matter, Upcoming Graphic Novel

G.O.O.D. Music Rapper Common's Chicago Condo Facing Foreclosure

Although Wu-Tang Clan's Ghostface Killa famously said on the classic track 'Criminology' that he 'revolve around sciences,' it would seem that his fellow swordsman the GZA has literally taken those bars to heart. The Brooklyn native has immersed himself in working alongside MIT professors for research and mixing his potent bars with scientifically-influenced facts. Just a month shy of his 46th birthday, the veteran wordsmith sat down with The Fader and their Captain Morgan Black-sponsored 'Step Into The Black' series, breaking down his interest in science, his new album Dark Matter and plans to work on a graphic novel.

'I was interested in science from a very early age but not to the point where I wanted to go to school and study and be a physicist,' said GZA. 'Just learning things about the stars and the planets, the workings of the atoms and molecules, knowing that we're part of this whole universal structure. It's all fascinating. It's something to write about.'

Along with Dark Matter, GZA hinted that he's working on three albums and also a graphic novel Chlorine - a coming-of-age tale of four youth during summer vacation set at a swimming pool; GZA said that the book will be 12-part anthology series. As if the GZA wasn't busy enough, he's also a travelling lecturer, having graced the halls of Harvard and the aforementioned MIT.

'It's pretty intimidating at times, and challenging,' shared GZA, comparing lecturing to his normal stage setting of Hip-Hop. 'It all relates back to music, my upbringing, my involvement with the Clan.'

The ambitious Dark Matter album, in where GZA uses rhymes inspired by the cosmos and the creation of the universe, is slated for a fall release.

Check the video: http://hiphopwired.com/2012/07/23/wu-tang-clans-gza-speaks-on-new-album-dark-matter-upcoming-graphic-novel/

It looks like G.O.O.D. Music's Common hasn't been checking his mail back in Chicago. TMZ reports that the rapper's Chi-Town condo is under threat of foreclosure after he allegedly fell months behind on his mortgage payments.
Com Sense, who keeps a crib in LA, and his longtime manager Derek Dudley purchased the pad in 2008. But according to Bank of America, they stopped making the $2,285 a month mortgage payments in March and the bank decided to begin foreclosure proceedings. It's not likely the Common is hard up for cash.

Besides a successful recording career (he dropped his latest album, The Dreamer The Believer, late last year, and its 'The Believer,' featuring John Legend, can be heard in a new Jeep ad campaign), the rapper born Lonnie Rashid Lynn is also a successful actor. The 'So Sweet' rapper is reprising his role of Elam, a recently freed slave, in the second season of AMC's Hell On Wheels, which returns August 12th

Young Buck To Serve 18 Months In Jail, Possessions Being Auctioned By IRS

Busta Rhymes Reunites With Leaders Of The New School At 2012 Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival

Back in May, Young Buck revealed that he would be heading back to jail for a couple of months. Unfortunately, he was off by about 16 months. On Friday (July 13th), Young Buck was sentenced to three years in prison for weapons charges.

Fortunately, the judged ruled that the sentences for the two counts against Buck, born David Darnell Brown, for possession of a weapon despite being a convicted felon was found guilty are to run concurrently, so the Nashville rapper will only have to serve a total of 18th months, reports MSNBC.
'With the judge not considering my history to subtract some time, I'm just thankful for what time I do have,' said the former G-Unit rapper.
Buck is also in the middle of a bankruptcy case, he was evicted from his Nashville, TN home, a number of his possessions, including the trademark of the 'Young Buck' name, are up for auction. Check out all the goods being auctioned off-including a Bentley watch, 50 Cent plaques and recording equipment-by Uncle Sam in the gallery, as well as a video of a local news report featuring Buck below.

There will be an open house to 460 Metroplex Drive, Suite 205, Nashville, TN 37211 to check out the available items on July 25th from 12:00pm - 5:00pm and July 26th from 8:00am - 10:00pm. It goes down July 26th at 10am.

Busta Rhymes is easily one of Hip-Hop music's greatest showman and his skills were on full display yesterday (July 14th) as he headlined the 2012 Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival. Bussa Buss can easily rock a stage by himself but nevertheless brought out an assortment of his rap superfriends to help him tear down the stage. But the most surprising was a long overdue reunion with the Leaders of the New School.

AllHipHop comes through with an efficient recap of the show in the video below. Slick Rick gets the award for the most audacious jewelry while some of the guest performers include Buckshot, Smif-N-Wessun and Lil Fame. But the highlight was clearly Busta on stage with LONS, with things getting really turnt up when A Tribe Called Quest joins in to perform 'Scenario.'

'You're definitely going to see us again, salute,' said Busta Rhymes.
Word. Also, Brooklyn Nets gears is clearly selling very, very well. Watch the footage below.

http://hiphopwired.com/2012/07/15/busta-rhymes-reunites-with-leaders-of-the-new-school-at-2012-brooklyn-hip-hop-festival-video

Method Man's New Crystal Meth LP Entirely Produced By RZA, Promises New Music

J Dilla Gets Vinyl Toy In His Likeness

The Wu-Tang Clan's 20-year existence is staggering. Even today, the multifaceted crew commands the attention of Hip-Hop fans the world over. Method Man, the first breakout star from the Staten Island and Brooklyn- based unit, still has one of the most potent flows on the planet and promises he'll keep delivering quality music, if the people want it.
Mr. Meth sat down with AllHipHop to talk about his upcoming fifth solo record Crystal Meth alongside The RZA, his work with Redman with the well-received Blackout series and showing a little edge towards rap critics who slept on his skills.

'Me and RZA are gonna work together on my next LP Crystal Meth,' said Method Man. 'I'm looking forward to getting back in the studio with the kid. We just came off a Wu tour and the camaraderie was still there so I know the chemistry is gonna be there when we go in the studio.' Method wasn't firm on a timeline for release but did say he's working hard on recording.

Method Man isn't chasing fame at this stage of his career, already proving he can make hits and rock stages. 'As far as mainstream goes, I'm not concerned too tough with that. I've been there, done that,' said Meth. 'If it's still fans out there listening, I'm definitely coming with some sh-t for you.'

Along with Crystal Meth, the Shaolin swordsman is linking back up with Redman for a third Blackout album and got a bit testy at the lack of support the record got from his fellow rap luminaries. 'A lot of people slept on Blackout 2. Blackout 2 was dope,' Meth stated plainly. 'I did my thing on that album.'

The late J Dilla died way too soon six years ago at the age of 32. Nevertheless, the storied producer's legacy lives on via his music, the adoration of an ever growing fanbase and now, a vinyl toy made in his likeness. The J Dilla Foundation is releasing the Phil Young Song designed figurine made to look like the indelible James Yancey.

The detailing on the figurine is pretty thorough. Dilla sports a Detroit Tigers fitted, a tee that says 'Dilla Changed My Life,' a chain with a donut charm, a pair of Nike Dunks and an MPC at his side. It better be an Akai MPC60, for those that know. The sure to be a collector's item will be available later this year. A posthumous album called Rebirth of Detroit, was released this past June.

The 'Pitbull In A Skirt,' Eve made her big return to the stage this past weekend at the 'SummerJam for old folks' also known as, the Essence Festival. The bombshell performed many of her Ruff Ryders hits including 'Love Is Blind,' and 'Who's That Girl.' She also performed her final hit single 'Tambourine,' which came out close to ten years ago.

Eve spoke with TIME last week and said that she blames Interscope Records for the hault in her career. The last time we heard from her was in 2002 with the release of EVE-olution, but she is getting ready to return in 2012 with LipLock. Hit the jump to see her return to the stage at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome

Rodney King's Family Asks For Donations To Cover His Funeral

Jimmy 'Henchman' Rosemond Admits To Setting Up 1994 Tupac Shakur Shooting

Even in death Rodney King may not be able to find the peace he was desperately searching for. The 47-year-old died of an apparent accidental drowning a week ago, but has yet to be laid to rest, as word comes that his family is having trouble paying for his funeral.

According to TMZ, the King family has come up short of the more than $22,000 funeral price tag.

The family released a public statement encouraging 'those who wish to contribute to the King family,' to make a donation via a newly started memorial fund. 'They need the money,' said their rep, Kali Bowyer.
Although King received a $3.8 million settlement, following the vicious beating handed down by LAPD officers 20 years ago, bad business deals and legal issues ate away at his net worth. As a result, his three daughter's are trying to come up with the money to pay for the ceremony.
King's funeral is expected to take place on June 30.

In all likelihood for Jimmy 'Henchman' Rosemond, the shit has been introduced to the fan. Not only was Henchman found guilty last month for operating a drug ring and indicted for murder on Friday, but he has finally come clean about his role in the infamous Quad Studios shooting of Tupac Shakur.

This shooting turned friends Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G. into bitter enemies and eventually led to demise of both of their lives. Per The Village Voice:

'Rosemond secretly admitted to involvement in Tupac's ambush during one of nine 'Queen For A Day' proffer sessions with the government last autumn, court transcripts show. (In such sessions, suspects under investigation choose to enter an agreement with the government to confess knowledge of certain crimes with the agreement that the information won't be used to prosecute them.) His confession unfolded as he was trying to carve out a cooperation deal that might lead to a reduced sentence, according to federal prosecutors.

'Rosemond apparently came clean about his involvement in Tupac's ambush shortly after his former best friend, Dexter Isaac, stepped forward last summer to publicly confess that he had led the attack on Shakur in 1994. Isaac released a statement on June 16, 2011 to allhiphop.com, saying it was Rosemond who had paid him to rob and pistol-whip Tupac.'

The statute of limitations on robbery is seven years, so although this confession brings minor closure to a huge chapter in Hip-Hop, the involved parties will see zero jail time for this.

The law is finally working in DMX's favor. According to TMZ, a booking agency dropped their $630,000 lawsuit against the rapper.

Heavy Rotation filed the suit against X after a comeback tour never came into fruition. The booking agency signed a one-year deal with the 42-year-old to perform different dates all over the country. Unfortunately both sides couldn't come to an agreement, the shows never happened, and HR claims to have lost $750,000 in the aftermath.

X's team claimed that they terminated the business deal, but failed to give details as to why. In May, he announced the kick-off of his Undisputed: Weigh In tour

George Zimmerman High On Pills During Trayvon Martin Shooting

Young Buck Evicted From His Mansion & Heading To Jail In 2 Months

Media reports have been focused on the news that traces of THC were found in Trayvon Martin's system, but the fact that George Zimmerman was on drugs on the night of the shooting seems to have slipped through the cracks. A paramedic report states that, the 28-year-old was under the influence of the prescription drug Temazepam, or Restoril, used to treat insomnia and anxiety. Side effects of the drug include hallucinations and aggressiveness, according to News One.

These new findings are among the extensive amounts of evidence that prosecutors are using to build their case against Zimmerman. More than 150 documents, combed through by special prosecutor Angela Corey, before bringing second-degree murder charges against him, have been made public in the last week. Zimmerman's attorney, Mike O'Mara was also given copies of the evidence to help in his defense case.

Perhaps most damning of the mounds of evidence is a police report faulting Zimmerman for Martin's death, calling the incident "avoidable," and stating that he should have been charged with manslaughter for the shooting.

Footage of Martin purchasing items from a nearby 7-eleven on the night of his death was also released.

While witness accounts offer conflicting stories as to who was the aggressor in the altercation, police also noted that the unarmed 17-year-old was simply on his way home. "Investigation reveals that Martin was in fact running generally in the direction of where he was staying as a guest in the neighborhood," said the report.

Following the shooting, Zimmerman was taken down to a local police station but let go after it was determined that he was not at fault for the shooting. One month later he was charged with second-degree murder, and will go to trial later this year.

Young Buck just stays losing. The former G-Unit rapper has been evicted from his Tennessee crib, reports TMZ. Not only has the Cashville, Ten-a-key MC been booted from his crib (he was ordered to clear out on May 16th), but he still owes Uncle Sam $300K in unpaid taxes. It turns out Buck losing his mansion is part of his ongoing bankruptcy proceedings.
But it's not like Buck would have been staying at his now ex-home much in the coming month. A couple of days ago (see video below), the "Let Me In" rapper revealed that he would be heading back to jail for about two months. Although he didn't explain why he was going to the bing, a safe bet it has to do with the gun the feds found in his house during a raid back in 2010.

Back in March 2012, a vehicle Young Back was traveling in was shot at 11 times during a suspected drive by.

Check out the video here: http://hiphopwired.com/2012/05/21/young-buck-evicted-from-his-mansion-heading-to-jail-in-2-months/

Will Smith on Dealing With Divorce Rumors: 'I'm Indestructible!'

Andre 3000 Will Play Jimi Hendrix In Upcoming Biopic All Is By My Side

Classic Cuts Hip-Hop News is a sneak peak into the lives of hip-hops founding fathers and mothers. Check it.

While Will Smith is prepping for the release of Men In Black 3, divorce rumors still dog the rapper turned actor. Every where the 'Gettin Jiggy Wit It' rappers goes, people are wondering if and when he is splitting with his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith.

'It's just a part of the game,' says Smith. Read the rest of what Willow Smith's pops had to say: http://theurbandaily.com/1921788/will-smith-on-divorce-rumors-im-indestructible-video/

The on-again, off-again rumors of suave part-time rapper and Gillette pitchman Andre 3000 playing iconic guitar god Jimi Hendrix in an upcoming film have been swirling about since 2011. It has been reported with certainty that the southern mainstay will get to flex his acting chops once again by taking on the role of the rock legend, according to an exclusive report from IFTN.

The script will be written by Hollywood scribe John Ridley, best known for drafting lines for the films Red Tails, U-Turn, Three Kings and other works. Ridley will also be manning the cameras in directing the film, which will be shot in Ireland with production starting sometime this month. The film, All Is By My Side, will take a look at Hendrix's time in England as he worked on his classic 1967 debut album Are You Experienced.

The film is said to follow Hendrix's humble beginnings and his discovery in New York by a girlfriend of Rolling Stone guitarist Keith Richards. From there, the tale follows Hendrix's trip across the pond where he worked on his debut album, and creating some of the most legendary guitar riffs ever heard. Andre 3000, born Andre Benjamin, has been in front of the camera in a variety of roles and his dashing good looks should serve him well.

However, playing a legendary and still-beloved Hendrix may be some big shoes for Three Stacks to fill. Anything should be better than the struggle musical that was Idlewild.