Kanye West, Lil Wayne, And D-Block To Headline Hot 97’s Summer Jam

Kanye West and Lil Wayne were among the many artists announced today (April 24) who will participate in Hot 97’s annual Summer Jam concert. The 2008 lineup was revealed during radio jock Angie Martinez’s afternoon show. D-Block, T-Pain, Ray J with Yung Berg, Rihanna, and the Dream are also set to perform. Hip-hop veterans Public Enemy will also reunite for the show. Last year, Chris Brown, Diddy, and Swizz Beatz brought the crowd to their feet. The “One Man Band” who recently separated from his wife, R&B singer Mashonda, delivered a show-stopping performance fresh from being hospitalized for exhaustion. Swizzie brought out Kanye West for a duel of multi-platinum hits. Fat Joe brought out the other headliner, Lil Wayne, for a guest spot.This year, however, West and Weezy will take top billing. Summer Jam will tentatively take place this June.

Mike Jones And Lil Mo To Perform At NFL Draft Party

Who? Mike Jones. The Houston rapper and R&B singer Lil Mo will take the stage tonight at Touch in Manhattan to perform at ESPN The Magazine’s annual NFL Pre-Draft Party. Director Spike Lee, and New York Giants stars Osi Umenyiora, Amani Toomer, and Brandon Jacobs are scheduled to attend the festivities as well. Jones recently announced his long-delayed sophomore LP, Voice of the Streets, will be released this July. The next single from the project will be “Cuddy Buddy,” featuring Lil Wayne, T-Pain, and Twista.

Tony Yayo: “I’m Looking Towards Movies Right Now.”

Tony Yayo refers to himself as G-Unit’s “bad guy” and in the upcoming Juice Crew movie, “The Vapors,” the rapper will fittingly play the legendary outfit’s nemesis, KRS-One. “They came to me about playing the part of KRS-One,” Yayo explained to XXLmag.com “So I was honored to even hear that.” In a recent interview the Blastmaster confirmed Yayo would be tackling the role of the Boogie Down Productions front man in the film. The lyrical icon went toe-to-to with the Juice Crew’s MC Shan throughout the late ’80s and said he was sure he’d be portrayed as a villain in the film. “Of course, and I hope they do,” he said. “I was a villain. It was no joke and that’s what it was.” Yayo said his foray into Hollywood is a part of his plans to grow as an entrepreneur. “I want to make my own [moves], ” he said. “I’m looking towards movies right now. I’m working with people you wouldn’t even believe.”

Jay-Z Joins LeBron/DeShawn Stevenson Feud

It’s getting personal now. First Deshawn Stevenson of the Washington Wizards called LeBron James “overrated.” Then ‘Bron ‘Bron responded by telling media his responding to Stevenson’s comment would be like “Jay-Z responding to Soulja Boy.” The two went at it during the first three games of their playoff series with James almost single handedly defeating the Wiz in games 1 and 2. Stevenson and company regrouped to take game 3, even inviting Soulja Boy, who was in attendance. But leading up to game 4, James brought in reinforcements. According to the Washington Post, Hov has recorded a track for LeBron aimed at Stevenson and the Wizards. The song premiered at D.C. night spot Love on Friday night; the same location Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas celebrated his 25th birthday last year with a million-dollar bash. James hosted the party and he and teammates had fun at Stevenson’s expense. Stevenson, however, didn’t take too kind to word of the song. “When I had Soulja Boy here, it was on the court. It was nothing disrespecting him or his family or even foul language,” he told the newspaper. “So I’m boycotting Love. Everybody on our team, we’re boycotting Love…. We’re not going no more. But I appreciate Jay-Z for giving me the shout out.”

Yung Berg: “50 Told Me To Move Bow Wow Out The Game, Period!”

Yung Berg recently threw shots at Bow Wow on his street single, “Do That There,” taunting the pint-size emcee in the opening lines: “It’s too late to start writing your rhymes, homie/ we’ve been doing this.” Now, the “Sexy Lady” rapper said he’s getting the co-sign from Mr. Beef himself, 50 Cent. “First and foremost, 50 told me some smart shit. 50 told me move him [Bow Wow] out the game, period. He told me to crush him. He told me demolish him,” Berg revealed to Phresh Juice. “He told me do the ‘Do That There’ remix with him on it and then come up with my diss record and totally move him out of music. “But, I don’t wanna do that,” Berg continued. “I can see me and Bow fucking a lot of bitches together. My whole thing is either you’re going to be an alliance on this [Snoop Dogg] tour this summer, or it’s, ‘Fuck you!’ Period. I don’t need you as a friend. I came in the game by myself.” Don’t expect the Fif assist just yet, though. Berg and Bow are cool for the time being. In fact, Bow may appear on “One Night,” a YB record that already features Trey Songz. Then again, Berg is offering Bow one of two choices. “If he gets on the record then we’re cool,” Berg explained. “If he doesn’t cause he doesn’t want to, that’s fine. If he doesn’t cause he doesn’t get cleared cause of his current situation, I’m on his head again.”

Usher Ft. Beyonce and Weezy F. Baby: “Love In This Club Part 2"

Here is another “Love in This Club” track from Usher with your girl Beyonce and Lil Wayne

Foxy Brown Loses Attorney in Florida Assault Case

Foxy Brown, who was released from New York’s Riker’s Island jail last Friday (April 18), appeared in a Florida courtroom this morning for a status hearing on her pending assault case in the state. The charges stem from a February 2007 incident in which the rapper stands accused of spitting and throwing hair glue at a beauty supply store owner in Pembroke Pines. According to the Sun-Sentinel, her attorney Fred Haddad officially withdrew from the case because of “irreconcilable differences” with his client. While it is unclear what exactly caused Haddad to leave the case, local news channel CBS 4 reports that she may have tried to broker a deal with prosecutors without the lawyer’s knowledge. Broward County Judge Joel Lazarus gave Foxy until May 8 to inform the court of her new attorney’s name.

Swizz Beatz And Wife To Separate

Swizz Beatz and his wife R&B singer Mashonda announced today the two will separate after nearly four years of married. The two wed in 2004 and have a son together.In a statement released by a representative for the multi-platinum producer, the pair revealed they’ve been moving toward a friendship for some time now.”For the last seven months, [Swizz and Mashonda] have been working on establishing a formidable friendship, being great parents to their son, and remaining great supporters of each other’s careers,” the statement read.Mashonda is currently signed to her husband’s record company, Full Surface, as a solo performer. There is no word whether the two will move forward with a divorce immediately or attempt to reconcile in the future.No reason was given for the separation, although the pair came to the decision under “amicable terms,” according to the rep.

50 Cent: “Young Buck Won’t Tour With G-Unit”

First Young Buck got the boot from G-Unit the crew, then 50 Cent said the Southern lyricist wouldn’t appear in the group’s first video, now Fif announced his one-time protégé also won’t join him, Lloyd Banks, and Tony Yayo when they make the rounds in support of their sophomore group effort, T.O.S. “[Young Buck] won’t be traveling with G-Unit as a group,” Fif told Angie Martinez on Hot 97 Wednesday afternoon. “He’ll be able to prepare for his solo project while we on the road touring.” Previously, the G-Unit general said Buck’s verses would remain on the album, but he wouldn’t appear in any videos.“They show us, and you hear his vocals,” Banks joked about the video. 50 also revealed he’s no longer going to tinker with the G-Unit lineup. As far as the group stands, it will be him, Banks and Yayo. The crew started as three and will end as three, he said.In addition, 50 also said he’ll be partnering with MTV in the future for a reality show touting his business acumen. Cameras will follow the rapper, who heads up several of his own enterprises, as he takes meetings and builds his businesses. Banks and Yayo will makes cameos in the series.

Remy Ma’s Sentencing Delayed Until May, Facing 25 Years in Prison

Remy Ma, who is currently incarcerated at New York City’s Riker’s Island correctional facility, will have to wait a few more weeks to learn just how much time she will be spending in prison. According to Billboard.com, the Bronx MC’s sentencing has been delayed until May 13 in order to allow her defense attorney Ivan Fisher more time to prepare a sentencing submission. Last month, Remy was found guilty of assault, weapons possession and attempted coercion in connection with the July 2007 shooting of Makeda Barnes-Joseph. Fisher shot down rumors that Remy will face a 3-5 year sentence, explaining that the sentence is entirely up to the judge. “I won’t presume to know what the judge has in mind or what she will have in mind after our presentation,” Fisher told Billboard. “It is a sentencing range between 5-25 years.”

Foxy Brown to be Released from Jail Next Week

Foxy Brown is expected to be released from the Rikers Island correctional facility in New York next Friday (April 18) Billboard.com has confirmed. The Brooklyn rapper has been incarcerated at the jail since August, when she was remanded into custody for violating her probation. Judge Melissa Jackson later sentenced her to one year. “She did every single minute of her bid in jail, and she did it under the most severe conditions,” her manager Chaz Williams told Billboard. “They had her on continuous lockdown just because she is a celebrity. They were trying to break her spirit.” Foxy will be released just in time to promote her new album, Brooklyn’s Don Diva, due out May 13 on KOCH Records. But her legal problems aren’t behind her yet. She will still have to face charges related to her alleged assault of her neighbor with her Blackberry cell phone, the case that landed her to the slammer in the first place. She is also facing a misdemeanor battery charge in Florida, where she was arrested for allegedly assaulting the owner of a beauty supply store.

Riot Breaks Out During DMX Show at Indiana University

A small riot broke out when a DMX performance at the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity house on the Indiana University campus was cut short on Wednesday night (April 9). According to the Indiana Daily Student, the show was originally scheduled to begin at 8:30 and run for just an hour. But when X arrived late and didn’t take the stage until 9:30, campus police moved in to shut the gathering down. When police removed the rapper from the stage, the crowd became agitated and started to yell profanities at the officers. Additional campus police were called and were eventually joined by nearby Bloomington Police and State officers. At some point, the entire front row of the audience was maced. According to junior Lauren Smith, X had alcohol on stage with him and promised to share it with the students. “All of sudden, cops came on the stage so I thought he might be getting in trouble for alcohol,” Smith told the Daily Student. The maced students ran out onto nearby Third Street, which authorities later shut down. It is unclear whether or not any arrests were made.

Snoop Dogg & Priority Records Settle Lawsuit

Snoop Dogg has agreed to settle a lawsuit he filed against his former record label Priority Records over an unpaid advance. According to the Associated Press, attorneys for Snoop and Priority announced the settlement on Wednesday, but would not disclose the terms. “The litigation has been amicably resolved,” Snoop’s attorney Joseph Scleimer said of the deal. Snoop filed the suit iin November of 2006 after, he claims, Priority failed to pay him a $950,000 advance for his 2000 album The Last Meal. The suit also claimed that the label released his greatest hits album without his blessing. Last month, Judge Helen Bendix gave both sides a three weekk deadline to resolve the matter.

T.I. Loses General Motors Endorsement Deal

With 1000 hours of community service to complete by next March, losing a lucrative endorsement deal may be the least of T.I.’s worries, but it’s a prime example of the shaky relationship between big business and artists with high profile legal problems. During a recent interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Tip revealed that Big Three automaker General Motors has ended its relationship with the rapper as a result of his federal weapons case. “Nah GM had to back up off of me,” the Grand Hustle CEO told reporter Sonia Murray when she asked about the deal. “There are films that I missed out on. Not speaking of, of course, shows. Tours. Tons of business. I’ve probably lost about $10 to $12 million dollars.” Despite the huge financial toll his legal problems have taken on his career, Tip remains surprisingly upbeat, explaining that he’s just happy to have the opportunity to earn money elsewhere. During a 2007 interview with MTV prior to his arrest, T.I. explained that he had no problem with corporations cutting ties with artists due to controversy. “If I hire you today based on what I knew about you prior to me hiring you and I learned something tomorrow about you that I feel like doesn’t represent this company in the light that I see fit, then I reserve the right to not have you represent me,” he told MTV’s Sucker Free Blog. “As long as I’m not being malicious and it’s not race, creed, gender or nothing like that, I think that anybody who holds the checkbook reserves that right.”

Lupe Fiasco feat. Nikki Jean - Hip-Hop Saved My Life

Foxy Brown to be Released from Jail Next Week

Foxy Brown is expected to be released from the Rikers Island correctional facility in New York next Friday (April 18) Billboard.com has confirmed. The Brooklyn rapper has been incarcerated at the jail since August, when she was remanded into custody for violating her probation. Judge Melissa Jackson later sentenced her to one year. “She did every single minute of her bid in jail, and she did it under the most severe conditions,” her manager Chaz Williams told Billboard. “They had her on continuous lockdown just because she is a celebrity. They were trying to break her spirit.” Foxy will be released just in time to promote her new album, Brooklyn’s Don Diva, due out May 13 on KOCH Records. But her legal problems aren’t behind her yet. She will still have to face charges related to her alleged assault of her neighbor with her Blackberry cell phone, the case that landed her to the slammer in the first place. She is also facing a misdemeanor battery charge in Florida, where she was arrested for allegedly assaulting the owner of a beauty supply store.

Jermaine Dupri & Proctor and Gamble Launch Tag Records

Jermaine Dupri, Island Def Jam and Proctor & Gamble have entered into a partnership to launch a new record label called TAG Records. The label carries the brand name of Proctor & Gamble’s TAG body spray and is part of the company’s initiative to reach a larger portion of the urban community. Dupri, who currently heads Island Urban Music, will serve as president of TAG Records. According to a press release announcing the venture, artists signed to TAG Records will enjoy an unprecedented marketing push that will include multi-million dollar television, print, radio, digital and event related campaigns. “Today, we make history in the music industry with TAG Records,” Dupri said of the partnership. “This label is going to provide new artists with a chance of a lifetime. New artists will receive ten times the typical marketing support—a first in the industry. I’m hand selecting and molding these artists to make history in hip hop.” The label is expected to announce their first artist in May.

50 Cent Sued by Son’s Mother Over Long Island Home

The mother of 50 Cent’s 10 year-old son Marquise filed a lawsuit against the rapper on Wednesday (April 2) in Manhattan Supreme Court that claims the G-Unit boss is trying to evict her and the boy from their home in Long Island. According to the Associated Press, the one page notice filed by Shaniqua Tompkins accuses Fif of breach of contract and unjust enrichment. Tompkins claims that the rapper promised her the $2.4 million home, and has now gone back on his promise. “This was a house that was promised to Shaniqua up until the closing,” said Paul Catsandonis, Tompkins’ attorney. “Then he decided not to put it in her name. Now he’s trying to put her out of the house. This would mean evicting his own son.” On Thursday (April 3), Radaronline.com reported that 50 was preparing to ask a judge to evict his son’s mother from the home because she had failed to find a new residence. According to their report, when a judge recently cut the amount of support that Tompkins receives from the rapper from $25,000 to $6,700 per month, it was under the condition that she would use a portion of the money to look for a new home. According to 50, she has not done so and is taking advantage of the situation. “This is somebody who was with him when he was shot and who nursed him back to health,” Catsandonis said. “I think what he’s doing is horrible.” Representatives for 50 did not return calls for comment from the AP.

Jay-Z to Ink $150 Million Deal with Live Nation

Later on this week, Jay-Z is expected to finalize a deal with concert production company Live Nation said to be worth an estimated $150 million. According to the New York Times, the deal will include financing for a new record label called Roc Nation, and will cover three albums and any tours Jay agrees to over the next 10 years. The company will provide Jay with $5 million per year over the next five years for his label and talent management business, with another $25 million available for further investments or acquisitions. Jay will also receive an upfront payment of $25 million, and another $25 million advance that will include payment for the Heart of the City Tour that Jay is currently on with Mary J. Blige. He will also reportedly get $10 million advances on each of three albums he has agreed to record with Live Nation over the next ten years, plus another $20 million in return for certain publishing and licensing rights. The partnership closely resembles similar agreements that Live Nation recently entered into with U2 and Madonna. With the music industry in disarray over illegal downloads and low record sales, the company has made an aggressive effort in recent years to offer artists a new model for earning money in the industry. “Everyone’s trying to figure it out,” Jay told the Times. “I want to be on the front lines in that fight.” Live Nation will split profits from the Roc Nation venture and also plans on merging marketing efforts from Jay’s albums, concerts and merchandising. Critics of the company’s model believe it will be hard for them to turn a profit on such an expensive deal. The company’s stock price actually fell after they announced their $120 millon deal with Madonna. But Michael Cohl, chairman of Live Nation, says the deal does not depend on increased record sales to be successful. “He could be doing more tours and doing great,” Cohl explained to the Times. “There could be endorsements and sponsorships.” He added, “The whole is what’s important.”

Kanye West Launches Branded Travel Website

Kanye West has launched a new travel service through his West Brands LLC. holding company called Kanye Travel Ventures. Based at www.kanyetravel.com, the program will offer high quality, cost effective business and leisure travel packages to Kanye’s fans and followers. According to a press release announcing the venture, Kanye and his management team have partnered with travel experts to negotiate high volume discounts on air, lodging and car rental providers in order to provide their customers with the best value for their dollar. Prospective travelers will also be able to create custom travel packages through the site and will have access to artist related products such as concert tickets and related merchandise. “While celebrity brand-driven travel programs have been attempted in the past, none have demonstrated long-term viability due to the lack of resources, commitment, and expertise deployed by the management company and the endorsing celebrity,” said Neil Abrams of Abrams Consulting Group, a travel consulting firm. “KTV, however, has been designed with Kanye and his executive team, and his energy and resources have been devoted to this innovative product offering.” Kanye Travel Ventures is the latest in rapper’s string of self-branded business initiatives outside the realm of the music industry. In February, he launched searchwithkanyewest.com, a branded internet search engine that allows users to earn digital “Swag Bucks” that can be exchanged for Kanye merchandise.

Wyclef Asks Haitians to Stop Criminal Activity

Wyclef Jean has recorded a radio ad denouncing crime and asking his fellow Haitians to work towards improving the country. According to Reuters, the ad, which was sponsored by the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti, has been airing on Haitian radio stations several times a day. “If you love Wyclef, that means you love Haiti. So you should not be raping women, kidnapping people and children, because there can be no excuse for doing so,” Jean tells the people of Haiti in their native Creole dialect. “I reject these evil practices.” Haiti, often called “the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere,” has been plagued with violence and crime for years, with a sharp rise in recent weeks. Reuters reports that 36 people were kidnapped for ransom in the nation’s capital of Port-Au-Prince in the month of March, and 30 in February. The former Fugees front man, who was appointed by Haitian president Rene Preval as a goodwill ambassador for the country, enjoys widespread respect and popularity in his homeland. “All kinds of Haitians, the good guys as well as the bad guys, have a lot of appreciation for Wyclef for what he represents as a Haitian,” U.N. Police spokesman Fred Blaise told Reuters. “So they would be more likely to be receptive to Wyclef’s message because they are all proud of him.”