DJ Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith perform with special guests plus Will talks new Kanye West album
Heavy D's brother filling court papers to seize control of Heavy's estate
Will Smith is one of the world's biggest movie stars, but before he became an A lister, he was an emcee. He and his partner DJ Jazzy Jeff linked up on the Graham Norton Show to remind us just why they were an 80's hip-hop household name. They took to the stage to perform the theme song from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air accompanied by show co-star Alfonso Ribeiro doing his famous dance. Jayden Smith joined in on the assist after showing his rhyme skills with a quick freestyle. Smith also sat down with Hip Hollywood to talk about a possible new Kanye West produced album: 'I been messing around with Kanye,' said Smith. 'We went into the studio a couple times, so I might get the bug. I'm not going to do it unless I'm truly inspired, but Kanye's been pushing me a little bit.'
The brother of late rapper Heavy D has filled court papers to seize control of Heavy's estate according to TMZ, but it's not what you think. Floyd, Heavy's brother, isn't making this move to line his own pockets, but to make sure that Heavy D's 13 year old daughter gets every penny of Heavy's estate. The entire Myers family is behind the move and in an interview, Floyd said "All of Heavy's assets are going to his 13-year-old Daughter Xea, including his Social Security, Pension, and future Royalties. All of Heavy's personal belongings are in storage for his Daughter until she gets a bit older."
Photo: Myers Family
USC's 2013 graduating class was treated to words of wisdom from music industry legend and Interscope records co-founder Jimmy Iovine and Jimmy took it to the next level and brought out legendary producer Dr. Dre to address the graduates. Dre and Jimmy are not only partnering in a new music delivery business called Daisy, but they have started The Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation. It will provide a special four-year program for undergraduates whose interests span several fields from marketing to computer science to visual design and other arts. The academy will accept its first class of 25 students fall 2014.
Hip-Hop has always been the voice of the marginalize and downtrodden. The voice of dissent is rooted in its struggling beginning back in the torn and despised South Bronx neighborhood. Fast forward to over 35 years later, hip-hop is one of the most dominated forces in America and Dr. Dre is credit for spearheading that movement.
So the question is being asked by Dillard University president, Walter M. Kimbrough as to why Andre Young aka Dr. Dre "would donate $35 million - about 10% of his wealth, according to a Forbes estimate - to an institution that enrolls the very people who supported his career from the beginning? An institution where the majority of students are low-income? A place where $35 million would represent a truly transformational gift?"
I understood their need to build a pool of skilled talent. But why at USC? Iovine's daughter is an alum, sure. And he just gave its commencement address. Andre Young - before he was Dr. Dre - grew up in nearby Compton, where he rose to fame as part of the rap group N.W.A. The Beats headquarters are on L.A.'s Westside.
Why didn't Dr. Dre give it to a black college?
Make no mistake: This donation is historic. It appears to be the largest gift by a black man to any college or university, comparable to the gift Bill Cosby and his wife, Camille, gave toSpelman College in 1988. Some 25 years later, their $20-million gift (about $39 million in inflation-adjusted dollars) is still the largest-ever private gift to a historically black college. Dre gave USC almost triple the amount Oprah Winfrey has given Morehouse College over the years. Sean "Diddy" Combs gave $500,000 to Howard University in 1999, which he attended before launching a successful career.
A hip-hop icon is now the new black higher-ed philanthropy king. We've never seen a donation to rival this from any black celebrity - musician, athlete or actor - and that fact must be celebrated.
But as the president of a black college, it pains me as well. I can't help but wish that Dre's wealth, generated as it was by his largely black hip-hop fans, was coming back to support that community.
USC is a great institution, no question. But it has a $3.5-billion endowment, the 21st largest in the nation and much more than every black college - combined. Less than 20% of USC's student body qualifies for federal Pell Grants, given to students from low-income families, compared with two-thirds of those enrolled at black colleges. USC has also seen a steady decrease in black student enrollment, which is now below 5%.
After donating $70 Million to USC's graduating class of 2013 the good Doctor and Jimmy Iovine shows up at the commencement ceremony to motivate the students.
Nicki Minaj teams up with Beats By Dre for the official launch of her 'Pink Pill'. Expect her to be on the Forbes list next year. Until them, check out the behind the scene footage.
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.
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.
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
"Elzhi shares his J Dilla memories including Dr Dre wanting to work with Dilla and him. The interview continues as Elzhi talks to Nick Huff Barili about his critically acclaimed mixtape Elmatic, what inspired him to remake Illmatic and how he hasn't met Nas yet. Elzhi is performing at this years Paid Dues hip hop festival so he shared with us what his dream line up for Paid Dues would be. We couldn't let Elzhi go without asking him when whats the latest with his new album and what can we expect from it. Elzhi wraps up part 2 of this interview by sharing his thoughts on the current state of Hip Hop." - Hardknock TV
Lebron James & Dr. Dre will cover the latest edition of ESPN Magazine that officially hits newsstands on February 8th. The upcoming issue will focus on music so having Lebron & Dr. Dre were two good choices for cover subjects. Check out some behind-the-scenes footage from the photoshoot below....
Dr. Dre is doing what most millionaires do to avoid paying a hefty tax penalty for making millions of dollars, he is moving his business off-shore to Ireland.
According to Forbes, Dr. Dre was named the highest earning rapper of 2012, due to his 51% stake in headphone line Beats by Dre. It is reported that the Compton mogul made well over $110 Million in 2012 alone. Reports Rhymes With Snitch:
"Dre earned a whopping $110 million last year, thanks to Beats by Dre, and now the shrewd business man has moved three subsidiaries of Beats by Dre to West Cork Ireland to take advantage of their low corporate tax rate.
The new structure allows Dre to channel money between the separate companies to legally reduce profits and his tax burden."
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
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. -- 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. -- 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.
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.'
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