Classic Cuts Hip Hop News 9/4/12

As the Hip-Hop community mourns the shocking death of mogul 'Baby' Chris Lighty, more details emerge regarding the circumstances of his passing. The Bronx native's death has officially been ruled a suicide by the New York City medical examiner, reports the New York Daily News. An autopsy has confirmed that the Violator Management founder died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Lighty's hometown paper has the most revealing details surrounding his final moments.

Cops found Lighty, 44, the founder and chief of Violator Management, lying faceup on the basement patio in a pool of blood with a 9-mm. pistol at his side, the sources said.

The shocking suicide followed a wild spat between Lighty and his 36-year-old wife, Veronica, who filed for divorce last year.

Moving trucks were at the home, as the veteran music manager prepared to move out of the three-story townhouse, sources said.

His 17-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son were in the W. 232nd St. home and left when the argument erupted. They were in a park nearby when Lighty, who has three other children, stepped outside and pulled the trigger, sources said.

Although it was reported that Lighty had owed close to $5 million in taxes, he had paid off most of the debt buy selling a Manhattan apartment late last year for $5.6 million.

While Lighty's death has been ruled a suicide, one of his brothers, Dave Lighty, spoke to Hot 97's Lisa Evers and was skeptical about the circumstances of his sibling's death.

Sporting a resume that included representing A Tribe Called Quest, Busta Rhymes and Diddy, among many others, Chris Lighty's biggest client can easily be 50 Cent. It was Lighty who was instrumental in brokering Fif's deal with Vitamin Water that allegedly earned the Queens rapper a pay out of around $100 million when Coca-Cola purchased the beverage company and he sold his 10% stake. 50 released a statement expressing support to the Lighty family during this rough time.

'Chris has been an important part of my business and personal growth for a decade,' 50 Cent said in a statement to Billboard. 'He was a good friend and advisor who helped me develop as an artist and businessman. My prayers are with his family. He will be greatly missed.'

Before his untimely death, Chris Lighty merged Violator with Primary Wave to create the Primary Violator management company and also launched the Brand Asset Group as a joint venture with Warner Bros. Records.



Yasiin Bey (f/k/a Mos Def) and Mannie Fresh jumped in the studio to create a song called 'OMFGOD' and have shared footage of how it all went down.

Most of these behind the scenes type of videos are usually pretty 'meh,' but this one is type interesting for at least a couple of reasons. First, there are the main characters; Yasiin Bey and Mannie Fresh, two of the best that ever did it in their lanes-MC'ing and producing, respectively. Second, in the studio, we get to see the architect of the OG Cash Money Records sound running through tracks, even hooking up joints on the fly via his iPad. There is also Bey going through rhymes in his head that he'll eventually lay down and flows off the top of his head. It's rare to catch real creativity going down in the studio, instead of the usual 'Yeah, we in here' posturing that isn't saying or revealing much at all.

But for the record, we would much rather have gotten a listen to the finished product. Just saying. Also, would be rappers, check out how Mr. Bey is using a notepad. No shame in that game.

Check out the creation of 'OMFGOD'-directed by BMIKE-Act I and Act II on the next page.

http://hiphopwired.com/2012/09/01/yasiin-bey-mos-def-mannie-fresh-create-new-song-called-omfgod-video/

http://hiphopwired.com/2012/09/01/yasiin-bey-mos-def-mannie-fresh-create-new-song-called-omfgod-video/2/




Back in March 2010, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon and Method Man joined forces as a formal trio to drop the Wu-Massacre project. Although the album was a bit rushed, it still had some fresh joints (see: 'Miranda') and was released with three collector's edition, comic inspired covers. There was also supposed to be a corresponding comic book/graphic novel that was never released, but Animal NY got their hands on its unpublished pages, minus any bubble dialogue.
The characters were created by Alex Haldi and the book was illustrated by the renowned Chris Bachalo. For those who may be confused, Meth is the guy in the red hoodie, Rae is the dude in the sunglasses who likes to use knives and Ghost Deini is the cat with the mask.
Check out all the panels, and try to figure out the story being told, in the gallery.