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