Arizona Prosecutor Files Charges Against Lil Wayne

At a Wellton, Arizona justice court, the Yuma County Attorney’s Office formally filed felony drug and weapons charges against Lil Wayne. According to a report from local ABC affiliate KNXV-TV, Wayne was present at the court session, where he was charged with one count each of possession of a narcotic drug for sale, possession of dangerous drugs, misconduct involving weapons and possession of drug paraphernalia. A judge also lifted a restriction that has been preventing Wayne from leaving the state. The rapper is now scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing on February 12.

As XXLMag.com previously reported, Wayne’s bus was stopped at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint outside Dateland, AZ at 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday (Jan 22). After the Border Patrol’s canine unit alerted agents to the presence of illegal drugs, agents from the Drug Enforcement Agency searched the bus, finding 105 grams of marijuana, 29 grams of cocaine and 41 grams of ecstacy. They also found a .40-caliber pistol that was registered to Wayne, who also has a concealed weapons permit from Florida. The rapper was then arrested by the DEA along with two other men, one of whom was charged today with possession of marijuana. The second associate is expected to be formally charged later today.

Flavor Flav Returns To VH1 For Third Season Of Dating Show

After two successful seasons of his reality dating show aired in 2006, Public Enemy rapper Flavor Flav is returning to VH1 next month for the third and final season of Flavor Of Love. The new season, which will present 20 female contestants with various challenges aimed at proving their devotion to Flav, will culminate with a final showdown in Paris. The previous two winners of the show, Nicole “Hoopz” Alexander and London “Deelishis” Charles, broke up with Flav shortly after their respective seasons ended. The third season premieres at 9 p.m. on Monday, February 11

Joe Budden Preps Sophomore Album For Spring Release

With his latest mixtape Mood Muzik 3 still scheduled for a retail release on February 26, New Jersey rapper Joe Budden has announced that he is partnering up with Boston-based indie label Amalgam Digital to release his official sophomore album Padded Room. Billboard.com has confirmed that Padded Room, Budden’s first album since his 2003 self-titled debut, will be released some time this spring. “It’s complete,” Budden told Billboard. “It basically will be in the same vein as Mood Muzik, just a little more structure and the mood will probably be a little lighter. I’m definitely pleased with the direction that it’s going.”

Uncle Murda Grazed By Bullet In Brooklyn Shooting

After rumors circulated on the internet over the last few days, the New York Daily News has finally confirmed that Brooklyn rapper Uncle Murda was shot in the head on Tuesday night (Jan 22) while sitting in a parked car. The 27-year-old rapper, whose real name is Leonard Grant, was grazed by a bullet around 10:30 p.m. during a shooting on Linden Blvd. in East New York. Sources told the Daily News that Murda was not seriously injured.

Reports have also surfaced claiming that Murda called Wendy Williams’ show on NY radio station WBLS following the shooting to announce that he was recovering nicely, using “Hennessey and Newports” to ease his pain. After a pair of successful mixtapes with DJ Green Lantern, the rapper signed to Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam in 2007, where he plans to release his official debut.

Trillville Leaves BME, Preps New Album As A Duo

In a recent press release, Atlanta rap group Trillville announced that they will be releasing their official sophomore album Trillville Presents: Access Granted this May on Mann Up Muzik/SMC Recordings. This will be the group’s first release since their 2004 debut The King of Crunk & BME Present: Trillville established them as leading voices in the crunk movement with their singles “Neva Eva,” “Get Some Crunk In Yo System” and “Some Cut.” Their follow-up on BME/Warner Bros., Trillville Reloaded, was originally slated for a 2005 release, but was shelved for undisclosed reasons. “We didn’t want to be away this long,” says rapper LA. “We know it’s been a minute so we’re just excited to come back strong with this new album for our fans.”

While the group was originally a trio consisting of rapper Dirty Mouth, LA (a.k.a. Lil’ Atlanta) and rapper/producer Don P., Dirty Mouth left the group in 2007 to pursue his own independent label and career as a solo artist. Access Granted will feature collaborations with T-Pain, Three 6 Mafia, Mannie Fresh and Nottz, but the group’s focus is on reinventing the group as a duo, with LA’s rhymes and Don P.’s beats. Don P. also recently produced “Bottle Poppin’,” the second single from Yung Joc’s Hustlenomics.

Nate Dogg Paralyzed Following Stroke, Recovery Chances Are Good

We learned last week that Nate Dogg was rushed to the hospital fllowing a stroke, now MTV News reports that he is paralyzed on the left side of his body.The prognosis for a full recovery, however, is good, Nate's rep, Rod McGrew, told MTV News on Thursday night; the singer did not suffer any brain damage nor has his voice been affected, he said.

"Time will tell everything, obviously. The doctor can only guess what the outcome will be," McGrew said. "But based on situations with similar people his age, and based on his health, the prognosis is good right now."

"On behalf of Nate, he would like to thank all of the well wishers, both friends and fans," McGrew said. "He appreciates it deeply, and he plans on fully recuperating and getting back in the studio."

Soulja Boy Invites Fans to Join His Entourage

Soulja Boy, Interscope Records and SendMe Mobile are teaming up to offer two fans the chance to join the rapper’s entourage for a trip to London. The winners of the contest will receive an all expenses paid trip to London and accompany Soulja Boy to press interviews, radio stops, and other exclusive events. “Interscope prides itself on partnering with the world’s leading artists to create exceptional fan experiences. With SoLow.com, we are giving music fans another way to engage with their favorite artists,” said David Spingarn, Head of New Ventures and Strategic Investments for Interscope. “SendMe’s creative marketing approach enables us to roll out innovative promotions that build demand and excitement for our artists’ offerings–and the Soulja Boy Tellem Sweepstakes is just the beginning.” The contest starts today (January 16) and is hosted on SendMe’s sweepstakes website, SoLow.com. To enter, contestants can visit the website or send a text SBTE to 23687. A fee applies to the entry and participants must be 13 years of age or older. The winners will be announced in February.

Foxy Brown Requests Early Prison Release for Hearing Treatment

Incarcerated rapper Foxy Brown has asked a New York judge for an early release from the Rikers Island correctional facility so that she can travel to Hollywood to receive treatment for her hearing problems. According to the New York Daily News, Fox attached a handwritten note to a motion filed by her lawyer requesting that sent Judge Melissa Jackson grant the release in time for a January 30 appointment. “I am terrified of not hearing a fire alarm go off, or being locked in a cell, and someone not being kind enough to let me out, since not everyone understands the severity of my condition,” she explained in the letter. Foxy underwent special surgery in 2006 to treat her sudden and sever hearing loss. Now, the battery on a hearing device she uses has malfunctioned. Her attorney, Laura Dilimetin, noted in her motion that there may be “one or two places” in New York that can fix the cochlear implant, but the Los Angeles based House Clinic is the only place that can properly repair the device. The Daily News reports that the troubled Brooklyn MC insisted in her letter to Judge Jackson that she has a “good heart” and asked the court to consider the good things she has done that don’t get any press. “’Foxy Brown gets into an altercation with a neighbor’ would be great front-page headlines, whereas ‘Foxy Brown brings Christmas toys to 30 disabled children’ would hardly be mentioned,” she reasoned.

Scott Storch Accused of Failing to Pay Child Support

The mother of Scott Storch’s two year-old daughter Jalen has filed a motion in Miami-Dade civil court claiming that the millionaire producer has failed to make his required child support payments in a timely manner. According to court documents obtained by TMZ.com, Dalene Daniel, the child’s mother, claims Storch is yet to make payments for the months of December and January. The motion also asserts that the former Roots keyboardist is “habitually late” with the payments, and that some of the checks have even bounced. Daniel is asking the court to hold Storch in contempt for his lapses, and to enforce the child support order by any means, including “incarceration” or “any other coercive sanction or relief permitted by law.” The motion also seeks interest on the already late payments, plus attorney and court fees. Storch is considered one of the most well off producers in the game today. Last year, he ranked No. 10 on Forbes Magazine’s list of the 20 wealthiest personalities in Hip-Hop with an estimated income of $17 million in 2006.

Fat Joe Reveals New Album Details

Fat Joe recently sat down with Billboard.com and revealed some details about his upcoming LP, The Elephant in the Room, his eighth solo LP since his debut in 1993. According to Joe, he’s referring to himself and his legacy as a gangster rapper. “Elephant in the Room is a gangster rap album—rap being the room and the elephant being me. Fat Joe’s been doing it for 15 years and he still doesn’t get his just due,” he explains. The project will include production from heavyweights and longtime Joe collaborators such as Scott Storch, DJ Premier, Swizz Beatz and Cool & Dre. Joe has also tapped Plies, Pooh Bear and DJ Khaled for guest appearances. Notable tracks include the anti-snitching tune “Kill All Rats” and the recently leaked “300 Brolic.” Preemo contributed some of his trademark scratches to “Thank God For That White,” and “Preacher on a Sunday Morning” is described simply as “bass-heavy.” One track sure to raise eyebrows is the song “Fugitive,” on which Joe raps “Nigga, bitch, hoe/some chicks is bitches, some chicks is hoes…Now who gonna tell me I can’t say nigga?”

50 Cent, Timbaland & Wyclef Named In Steroid Probe

After the world of baseball was rocked by revelations that top athletes had been using performance-enhancing steroids, a new article in the Albany Times Union claims that various musicians may have also been the recipients of steroids and human growth hormones. The New York paper received documents from Congress’ ongoing steroid investigation that indicate that hip-hop stars like 50 Cent, Timbaland and Wyclef—along with other high profile celebrities like Mary J. Blige and Tyler Perry—may have been among tens of thousands of people who may have received the controversial substances.

The documents claim that the stars, who sometimes used fictitious names, were shipped prescribed human growth hormone or steroids at hotels, studios, homes, a Manhattan fitness club and the office of a Long Island chiropractor named Michael Diamond. The paper claims that the lure of such hormonal drugs is their supposed anti-aging effects, which have never been proven. Law enforcement officials say that they have no evidence that the customers of such drugs have broken any laws, and that they will be targeting the clinics, doctors and pharmacists who prescribed them instead.

DMX Ordered to Pay $1.5 Million in Defamation Case

A Maryland judge on Friday (January 11) ordered DMX to pay the mother of his illegitimate child $1.5 million in damages after the rapper failed to appear in court to defend himself against a defamation lawsuit. According to the New York Post, Prince George’s County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Smith made the ruling after hearing testimony from the plaintiff, Monique Wayne. In the October 2006 issue of Sister 2 Sister magazine, X claimed that Wayne raped him in 2003. Wayne denied the allegation and later filed the defamation lawsuit against the Yonkers native. When X skipped out on Friday’s hearing, Judge Smith awarded Wayne $518,400 in compensatory damages, plus another $1 million in punitive damages. “It’s not so much the price, it’s the point I wanted to get across,” Wayne explained to The Post. “Let him think about what he’s going to say before he says it.”

Rapper Blahz Sues Wyclef for Copyright Infringement

Brooklyn born rapper Blahz, of the group Blahzay Blahzay, has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Wyclef Jean for an unauthorized sample that appears on the former Fugees star’s new album, Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant. According to the suit, Clef allegedly used a sample from Blahzay’s 1996 hit single “Danger,” but failed to credit the group or properly clear the sample. The sample appears on the track “Welcome To The East,” which also features dancehall artist Sizzla and the Minister Louis Farrakhan on the violin. According to a press release announcing the suit, both Sizzla and Minister Farrakhan are credited, but Blahzay Blahzay’s name was omitted. According to a statement released by Blahz concerning the case, Wyclef’s people contacted him last June about using the sample. It is unclear what transpired after that initial discussion, but the suit was filed this past December in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Manhattan. “I was left with no choice but to move forward with my decision to take full legal action against Wyclef Jean, and Sony BMG, on behalf of myself and the all the artists around the world who have been the victim of blatant disrespect,” Blahz explained in a statement. “A message has to be delivered to the music industry that these unjust common business practices can’t be ignored or swept under the rug anymore.”

Tony Yayo’s Co-Defendant Admitted to Assaulting Henchmen’s Son Months Ago

Lowell “Lodi Mack” Fletcher, a G-Unit associate and Tony Yayo’s co-defendant in his pending assault case, reportedly admitted to striking Jimmy Henchmen’s 14-year old son several months ago. According to MTV News, this revelation came to light during a hearing in Manhattan Criminal Court yesterday (January 10). “The DA disclosed today that despite constitutional protections, members of New York’s infamous hip-hop squad interviewed [Fletcher] after his arrest, and he said that Yayo was not the person who hit the boy,” Yayo’s lawyer Scott Leemon said. “Fletcher said he was the one who slapped the boy, but the DA didn’t learn about it until last week.” Leemon believes the new information exonerates his client, particularly since Fletcher stated that Yayo pulled him off the boy and attempted to restrain him. Fletcher’s lawyer, Robert Macedonio, told the Associated Press that while the statement doesn’t help his client, it was obtained illegally. Macedonio contends that police questioned Fletcher without his attorney present, violating his constitutional rights. Leemon says that he will file a motion to dismiss the charges against Yayo. Judge Neil E. Ross has set a tentative trial date of March 31.

Soulja Boy Sets New Digital Download Record

Soulja Boy’s smash single “Crank Dat (Soulja Boy)” made digital music history this week when it exceeded 3 million downloads. The song, with its accompanying dance, became somewhat of a pop-culture phenomenon during 2006, spawning endless spinoff remixes and prompting thousands of fans to upload self made videos to Youtube. The official “Crank Dat” music video and an instructional video for the dance have together logged over 50 million views on the video sharing site alone. “Soulja Boy has set the bar for what’s possible in terms of breaking an artist online,” said Steve Berman, President of Sales and Marketing for Interscope Geffen A&M Records. “He’s been doing it since day one, before he was signed here, so I’m not surprised he’s setting a record today. Soulja Boy is out there on the frontier, showing everyone else what’s possible.” In December, the 17-year old Atlanta native received a Grammy nomination for the single in the Best Rap Song category. His debut album, Souljaboytellem.com, debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Top 200 chart back in October and has since moved over 658,000 units. “I can’t thank my fans enough, without them all of this wouldn’t have been possible,” the rapper said in a statement. “The support they give me is beyond incredible. I have so many Soulja Boy Tell’em projects ready and I will continue to givethem what they need in 2008. Yuuuuaaaa!!” The video for Soulja Boy’s new single, “Yahhh!,” debuted on BET and Yahoo! Music this week.

Sha Money XL Gears up for Producer Conference

On March 8 and 9, former G-Unit president Sha Money XL will present the second annual One Stop Shop producer conference in Phoenix, AZ. The Money Management Group founder, who is renowned for his ear for beats, attracted over 700 producers and music industry insiders to last year’s conference, which was widely hailed as a success. The conference serves as both a showcase for new production technology and an opportunity for aspiring beat makers to network with seasoned industry vets. In addition to a series of panels and workshops, the conference will also feature video game tournaments and the One Stop Shop Beat Battle. Among the informative discussions that attendees can take part in are the Microsoft Technology Panel, the Power Management Panel, the Tastemaker Panel and a New Producer Panel. A number of world-class producers are expected to be in attendance including DJ Toomp, Swizz Beats, DJ Premier, Hi-Tek, DJ Quik, 9th Wonder, No ID, Trackboyz, and Nottz. Swizz and DJ Toomp will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement and Producer of the Year awards respectively. “This is the conference for those that are serious about making real moves in the industry,” said legendary producer and mentor to Kanye West, No ID. “You gotta love it!” For more information, or to purchase tickets visit www.moneymanagementxl.com.

Ice Cube Teams with Microsoft for Online TV Network

Ice Cube and veteran West Coast producer DJ Pooh are teaming up with Microsoft to launch what they are describing as the world’s first real-time, online television network, UVNTV.com. The site will utilize Microsoft’s new Silverlight 1.0 technology, a browser and platform independent plugin that delivers multimedia content on the web in real time. UVNTV will provide full screen DVD quality resolution, Dolby surround sound and a channel guide with a video window. “We are thrilled to work with Ice Cube and DJ Pooh, both whom have proven track records and have been at the forefront in music, film and television,” said John Case, general manager of Microsoft’s Developer Division. “We see UNVTV as a leading example of the changing landscape of how consumers experience entertainment, and how the industry is seeking new interactive platforms to better reach their target audiences. By using Silverlight, UVNTV will have the capabilities needed to take the user experience to another level.” The site will also utilize social networking features such as profile pages and the ability to showcase their own talents on UViewTV, their user-generated content channel. Users will be encouraged to audition for productions, pitch show ideas and otherwise contribute to the network. Channels already lined up for the network include Snoop Dogg’s Snoopadelic TV, fashion designer Christian Audigier’s Live TV and Ice Cube’s own Hip Hop 24/7 TV.

Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine Unveil New High-End Headphones at CES

Dr. Dre and Interscope Chairman Jimmy Iovine teamed up with Monster Cable to unveil a new line of high-end headphones at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this past weekend. The headphones, called Beats by Dr. Dre, are said to use a new driver technology to provide “remarkably natural sound, incredible transient response and rich, deep bass.” The legendary producer and music executive have reportedly been developing the product for the past two years in an effort to allow listeners to experience the the full dynamic range, low bass punch and clarity intended by producers. “When I’m making a track I’m trying to capture the sound that makes me go ‘now THAT’s the shit! And I want that reaction from everybody who hears it,” said Dr. Dre. “I spend a lot of time in the studio listening to my music through headphones. With Beats, people are finally going to hear it the way they should: the way I do.” The Beats headphones come in a special carrying case with anti-microbial cleaning cloths, a special Monster headphone cable, a mini-stereo to 1/4-inch stereo cable adapter, as well as iSonitalk, a microphone/headphone adapter for
iPhones. “Dr. Dre is widely-known as the most critical ear in music today,” said Monster CEO Noel Lee. “This rare partnership with such an iconic artist is a testament to the both the need for high-performance headphones and the singular quality of ‘Beats.’” The Beats by Dr. Dre headphones will retail for $399.95.

Pharrell Teams with Louis Vuitton for New Jewelry Line

Pharrell Williams has teamed up with high-end design house Louis Vuitton and designer Camille Miceli for a new line of fine jewelry called Blason. According to Fashion Week Daily, the new line will be unveiled to the press on January 21 with a full launch following this spring. Miceli is a creative consultant and jewelry designer for Louis Vuitton and she handles public relations for designer Marc Jacobs. Blason is a French word that is synonymous with a coat-of-arms representing a dynasty and for centuries has conveyed aristocratic heritage from one generation to another. The Blason collection will feature various pieces inspired by the world of music and will include combinations of white and yellow gold with diamonds. The pieces will range in price from approximately $2,070 to $621,000. Pharrell and Miceli are expected to host a private party celebrating the launch at a private mansion on Avenue Foch in Paris. In 2005, the super-producer and Nigo of A Bathing Ape helped design and launch Louis Vuitton’s first line of Millionaire sunglasses.

Beanie Sigel and Freeway sound off on Def Jam to Whoo Kid

Beanie Sigel and Freeway both recently talked to Whoo Kid and discussed their feelings that Def Jam didn't push their albums and support them the way they should have. Both Beans and Free also add that they heard about Jay-Z's resignation second hand. Listen to the entire interviews here.


Click Here To Listen To Beanie Sigel Interview
www.zshare.net/audio/62230097f61c58


Click Here To Listen To Freeway Interview
www.zshare.net/audio/6223847517d7bd/

Wyclef Announces the “Carnival House Tour”

Wyclef Jean will embark on the nationwide “Carnival House Tour” later this month in support of his latest album Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant. Clef will launch the tour on January 14 in Providence, R.I. before hitting 23 more venues across the country. His Columbia Records labelmate Lyfe Jennings will be joining the former Fugees front man on the outing and unnamed surprise guests have been promised at various stops along the way. Carnival II debuted at No. 28 on the Billboard Top 200 chart following it’s December 4 release, and has moved 120,709 units to date according to Nielsen Soundscan.

Complete list of Carnival House Tour dates

Mon - Jan 14 Providence, RI Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel
Wed - Jan 16 New York, NY Nokia Theatre Times Square
Thu - Jan 17 Baltimore, MD Rams Head Live
Fri - Jan 18 Washington, DC Love Nightclub
Sun - Jan 19 Atlantic City, NJ House of Blues
Sun - Jan 20 Norfolk, VA The Norva
Tue - Jan 22 Cleveland, OH House of Blues
Wed - Jan 23 Chicago, IL House of Blues
Thu - Jan 24 Barbados
Fri - Jan 25 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle
Sun - Jan 27 Dallas, TX House of Blues
Tue - Jan 29 Denver, CO Gothic Theatre
Wed - Jan 30 Aspen, CO Belly Up
Fri - Feb 1 Phoenix, AZ Scottsdale
Mon - Feb 4 San Diego, CA House of Blues
Wed - Feb 6 Anaheim, CA House of Blues
Thu - Feb 7 Anaheim, CA House of Blues
Fri - Feb 8 Los Angeles, CA House of Blues
Tue - Feb 12 Seattle, WA Showbox
Wed - Feb 13 Burnaby, BC Canada The Firefighters Club
Wed - Feb 13 Vancouver, CAN Commodore Ballroom
Fri - Feb 15 San Francisco, CA University of San Francisco
Mon - Feb 25 Montreal, QC Club Soda
Tue - Feb 26 Kitchener, OH Club Elements

Flo-Rida Sets Digital Download Sales Record

Flo-Rida, a native of the same Carol City neighborhood that produced Rick Ross, has set a new record for digital sales with his smash single “Low” featuring T-Pain. According to Billboard.com, “Low” sold 470,000 copies, smashing the previous single week record of 294,000 set by Black Eyed Peas front woman Fergie with her single “Fergalicious.” Understandably, the track also managed to land atop the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart for the second week in a row, once again beating out powerhouse Alicia Keys’ “No One.” The Florida rapper’s achievement caps a week of staggering sales for digital music in which all but five songs on the Hot 100 chart posted triple digit increases. Notably, “Low” was also the No. 1 most downloaded song on the iTunes music store for a month straight. Flo-Rida’s debut album, Mail On Sunday is due out this February through Poe Boy/Atlantic Records.

Judge Postpones Evidence Suppression Hearing in T.I. Case

A judge on Thursday (January 3) postponed a suppression hearing in T.I.’s federal weapons trial for another six weeks. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, U.S. Magistrate Alan Baverman rescheduled the hearing, which was supposed to take place today, until February 19. On November 20, attorneys for the rapper filed motions seeking to suppress evidence seized during his October 13 arrest because of a lack of proper warrants or probable cause. They also contended that statements the rapper made to officers during his arrest were obtained illegally. Should Tip’s legal team succeed in getting this significant evidence tossed, the government’s case will be severely impeded.

Baby & Cash Money Records Sued for Copyright Infringement

Bryan “Baby” Williams, co-founder of Cash Money Records, is being sued by a number of music publishing firms for allegedly infringing on their copyrighted material. According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, the suit was filed on October 29 in U.S. District Court in New Orleans on behalf of WB Music Corp., Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., Cotillion Music Inc., Noontime Tunes and W.B.M. Music Corp. The complaint claims that albums from Baby, Lil Wayne, the Big Tymers and other Cash Money artists contained copyrighted material that was used without licensing agreements; and that Cash Money failed to pay royalties to the companies named. The suit does not list any of the actual song titles. The suit states that Cash Money made a single payment of $400,000, but failed to perform “appropriate accounting” to the companies in order for them to determine how much more money they were owed. Lawyers for the plaintiffs attempted to serve Baby with a copy of the lawsuit at the Cash Money offices in New Orleans on December 3, but the company no longer operates out of that location. The suit seeks an unspecified amount of damages, plus interest and attorney fees.

Christopher “Play” Martin of Duo Kid-N-Play Injured in Car Accident

Christopher “Play” Martin, one half of late ’80s/early ’90s duo Kid-N-Play, was injured in Durham, NC on Saturday (December 29) when his SUV was struck by a suspect fleeing the police. According to The News Observer, the accident happened as suspect Raul Riva Aldamo drove his Ford Taurus down Holloway St. in Durham. Aldamo and two accomplices had reportedly broken into a nearby home and were holding the family inside at bay when police arrived. As he tried to flee the scene, Aldamo nearly ran over an officer, and was subsequently shot. He drove about half a mile down Holloway St. before slamming into Play’s SUV at the intersection of Morgan and Mangum streets. The rapper’s SUV reportedly flipped over before striking a Honda Accord. Play and his passenger, Michelle Gonzales, were ejected from the vehicle. Aldamo died at the scene. His two accomplices were later apprehended and have been charged with burglary, robbery with a dangerous weapon and kidnapping. Martin and Gonzales were treated at a local hospital and had been released as of Wednesday (January 2). Kid-N-Play were a hugely popular act beginning in the late ’80s, culminating with a trio of successful House Party films. Play now lives in Durham and recently completed a documentary on gang life in the area.

Talib Kweli, Jean Grae to Appear on MTV’s Made

Talib Kweli and his Blacksmith Records artist Jean Grae are set to appear on an upcoming episode of MTV’s popular series Made. The show, now in its eight season, chronicles the journeys of young people as they undergo complete “life makeovers” by achieving a far-fetched goal or overcoming fears. The subject of each episode is usually paired up with an expert coach from whatever field they aspire to succeed in. On Made: Rapper, Kweli and Grae will help turn Colin, a history loving trombone player, into a rapper in time for his Junior/Senior dance. The episode will kick off a marathon of six new installments of Made beginning on January 12 at 11:00 a.m.

Lil Wayne’s The Leak EP Sells 2,401 Copies In First Week

With virtually no promotion and MP3-only digital distribution, Lil Wayne’s The Leak EP quietly sold 2,401 copies in its first week since being released on Christmas Day (December 25). While The Leak was originally intended to collect many of the outtakes from Tha Carter III’s studio sessions, along with four new songs, Wayne’s label, Universal, confirmed that the project would no longer be coming out in December. Still, on the final release date of 2007, a 5 song EP appeared on digital music retailers like Rhapsody and Amazon with no warning or explanation from Universal or Cash Money. The EP’s first week sales were not high enough to appear on the Billboard chart.

In other chart news, Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool is still the Billboard 200’s highest selling hip-hop album after moving an additional 54,398 copies last week to come in at #14 (one spot up from his #15 debut), bringing his two week total to 198,477.

Suge Knight’s Lawyer Claims Fraud In $130 Mil Suit

According to a report from the Los Angeles Times, a lawyer for Death Row CEO Suge Knight has filed a legal motion that alleges fraud in the $130 million judgement against the music mogul from 2005.

Suge’s attorney Dermot Givens, who also represented Knight in the original case, is seeking to have the $130 million judgment set aside because of new evidence of fraud perpetrated by the plaintiff, singer Lydia Harris, and her imprisoned husband, Michael Harris. The original suit, filed in 2002 by Lydia Harris, claimed that she co-founded Death Row Records with Suge and that he had cheated her out of millions of dollars over the years. While the suit did not make it to trial, a judge ordered Suge to pay $130 million because his attorneys violated various court rules and failed to make certain information available to the prosecution.

At the time of the original suit, Lydia Harris was married to Michael Harris, who is currently serving a 28-year sentence for selling crack and attempted murder. Back in 1996, Michael Harris threatened to sue Death Row and Interscope, claiming he had financed the label while behind bars. As a result, he signed an out-of-court settlement for $300,000, which released both companies from future claims.

The new motion, which is expected to be the focus of a hearing in a Los Angeles court today, alleges that Lydia Harris hid from the court the fact that she had filed for bankruptcy five years earlier, at which point she never claimed any ownership of Death Row. It also claims that, in reference to the Harris’ recent divorce proceedings, both Lydia and Michael testified that Michael was the true party of interest in her suit against Suge. “I was the one making all major client decisions on behalf of the marital estate, even though Lydia was technically named the plaintiff in the matter,” Michael Harris said. “Lydia simply accepted whatever decision [her lawyer] and I made jointly.”

Investigators Rule Out Foul Play In Pimp C’s Death

The LA coroner’s office should be able to determine the cause of Pimp C’s sudden death at a Hollywood hotel earlier this month within the next two weeks. According to Port Arthur’s KBTV Channel 4, investigators have ruled out foul play in the mysterious death of the 33 year-old veteran MC. Pimp’s body was discovered in his room at the Mondrian Hotel on Sunset Blvd. on December 4 after family members became worried when they hadn’t heard from him and notified the hotel’s staff. The next day, Capt. Ed Winter of the L.A. Coroner’s office told website TMZ.com that the rapper was found lying on his bed, fully clothed. Initial reports indicated that Pimp may have died from natural causes and no drugs or drug paraphernalia were found in the room.

Happy New Year 2008 !!!!