This is going up there with Dr. Dre’s Detox…I’ll believe it when I actually see it.
Lil Wayne Dodges A Bullet (Somewhat) And Gets Probation
Rapper Lil Wayne, already serving one year in a New York jail for a gun-related crime, was sentenced on Wednesday to three years probation in Arizona on a drug possession charge.
Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., was spared time in an Arizona jail under a plea deal stemming from his January 2008 arrest at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint in the state.
Under the deal, the 30-year-old Grammy winner pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a dangerous drug. Three other drug and weapons charges were dismissed.
Wayne appeared in court via a video hookup from New York, where he has been jailed since March after pleading guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon.
James Tilson, Carter’s Arizona attorney, said he was pleased with the court’s action.
“We’re quite glad that we were able to wrap everything up,” Tilson told Reuters. “It’s a favorable plea agreement that will allow Mr. Carter to pursue his career.”
Carter will begin his Arizona probation following his New York sentence, Tilson said.
The rapper’s tour bus, carrying 11 others, was stopped and searched by Border Patrol authorities after they said they were alerted by a drug-sniffing dog. Agents found nearly four ounces of marijuana, an ounce of cocaine, 41 grams of Ecstasy and a .40-caliber pistol registered to Carter.
Carter, whose album “Tha Carter III” was the biggest-selling U.S. release of 2008 and won him best rap album and three other prizes at the 2009 Grammy Awards. His album “Rebirth” was released on February 2 after delays and largely negative reviews.
Source: Reuters
Luther Campbell Issues Statement About His “Sperm Donator†Comments
Via press release:
I feel that I have to clarify an interview that was taken out of context and edited to stir up controversy involving my family issues.
I was in Atlanta at Hot 107.9’s Birthday Bash and I was doing interviews. One interview was conducted by a lady and man from the Mad Hatta Show in Houston. For the record, this interview was videotaped backstage after I got off stage. This interview was NOT conducted in a radio station; therefore it should be known that there is a VIDEOTAPED version. The audio version is the one that was released to all the media outlets and this audio version was EDITED.
First and foremost, I have not and do not do interviews regarding my children and/or family issues however, she continued to ask and speak about something that my daughter had put out on the Internet. When she asked me how I felt about my daughter speaking bad about me, my comment was “I have no comment, it’s Fathers Day tomorrow and I’m happy to be celebrating with all the Fathers out hereâ€. She then went on to address specific comments that my daughter made in terms of me not being her father and that her father was some other man. I then stated “If my kids feel like I’m not their father, then that means that I have only one kid who’s name is Blake and if they feel that way then they want to consider me a sperm donor then so be it. I then went on to say that I have paid millions of dollars in child support and why their mothers’ would allow them to go online and curse me is just wrong. I went on to quote a verse from the Bible regarding honor thy mother and father and the only person that could direct their kids to curse their parents is the devil. For the record, I have paid millions of dollars in support for my children. The amount of money I pay in child support is way more than necessary to care for a child each month, but at the end of the day it gets paid – what the parents choose to do with it is on them. I am in now way a deadbeat dad and have never been. As you can hear by the interview all these points were actually cut out and fashioned to mislead the listening audience and attack my character to make it appear that I’m an uncaring and hateful person.
I love my children very much. I do care about how my children feel about me. It hurts to know that my children feel the way that they do however; I can do nothing but ask for God’s help. Not the media and not any other human being. I don’t know what is going on with my children if they don’t come and talk openly with me about their thoughts and feelings. My Wife and I have and have always had an open door policy to my children as well as many other children. I am human and I do have feelings. For these people at the Mad Hatta Show to edit my comments and release them in such a way that makes me appear to be some angry black man who has no love for his children, was way out of line and in bad taste. I hope that they’ve achieved what they set out to do, at the expense of my private family life, all for some ratings and controversy.
Under no circumstances can anyone judge or question my love for children. I have worked with children all of my adult life. I founded the Liberty City Optimist Program. I mentor children regularly. I have a football league that has over 5,000 children participating. I work with kids regularly. As a matter of fact, the day before the Hot 107 b-day bash, I had just driven a vanload of kids to visit Florida State and University of Florida football camps. I currently coach at Miami Central and I mentor kids. The likes of Antonio Brown and Chad Johnson (current NFL players) came through my program. So NO ONE can question Luther Campbells’ love for kids. I love my children and all children, but if my children don’t want to have anything to do with me then that is something that I can do nothing about. Only God can heal their hearts and in the end only God can judge me. Not no man or woman, only God.
For the record, I will make NO further comments about my family life or issues involving my kids. This is a closed chapter and is not for the media, it’s a private matter to me.
If you haven’t heard the interview in question:
P.S. The woman who interviewed Luke needs to be fired IMMEDIATELY.
R.I.P. Rammellzee
I dropped the ball. I did this on my Twitter but failed to do this on here. Well respected graffiti/hip-hop icon Rammellzee passed away on 7/29. R.I.P.
Dr. Dre Talks About Detox
How about less talk, more action…
Hip-Hop Album Release Dates For July 2010*
Juvenile – Beast Mode
Paul Wall – Heart of a Champion
Stat Quo – Statlanta
Curren$y – Pilot Talk
M.I.A. – /\/\ /\ Y /\ (MAYA)
Jamie Foxx – Body
Rakaa – Crown Of Thorns
Esham – Suspended Animation
Fat Joe – The Darkside Vol. 1
Slum Village – Villa Manifesto
Madlib – Madlib Medicine Show No. 7: High Jazz
This Week In Urban Music For DC
Tonight:
- “Soul Parlour” mixes a D.C. staple, the happy hour, with good music. On the turntables will be DJ Jahsonic and, as an added bonus, folks are encouraged to bring their MP3 players to share their favorite tunes with everyone. Funxion will be the venue. Free, 6 p.m.
Thursday:
- Go-Go’s godfather, Chuck Brown, will bring his show to the confines of Blues Alley for two shows tonight. $35 (+$12.50 service charge!), 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Friday:
- The first Friday of the month brings “Moneytown” at Little Miss Whiskey’s Golden Dollar. DJ Nitekrawler plays host and will be joined by Pittsburgh’s J. Malls to spin funk, boogie and other joints meant to move your feet. Free, 10 p.m.
- J&K Productions hosts their weekly Park Fridays (920 14th Street NW). $5 Premium bar from 5-8 p.m. and complimentary hors d’ouevres from 6-8 p.m. Free before 11 p.m. with RSVP to guestlist@j-kproductions.com.
Saturday:
- “Big Bad City” features southern soul music galore to dance to at Velvet Lounge. DJ Soul Call Paul will be providing the sounds. Free, 10 p.m.
- DJs Stylus, Meistro and Jahsonic hold down “Sol Power” at Dahlak (1771 U Street NW) with sounds from Africa, Brazil and beyond. Free before 11 p.m./$5 after 11 p.m., spinning starts at 10 p.m.
Source: DCist
Eminem’s ‘Recovery’ Sales Are In
Slim Shady sells over 750,000 copies his first week. Move over Drake, he’s back!
Air Drake: I Guess He Does Know Pilots On A First Name Basis
Game In The Studio With…
I’m excited (I’d be even more excited in Queen Latifah was actually spittin’ a verse). The R.E.D. Album comes 8/24, assuming it doesn’t get pushed back again…
Lil’ Boosie Is Screwed Part 36: "Not Guilty"
“Lil Boosie’’ Hatch pleaded not guilty Monday to murder, drug and conspiracy charges.
A somber Hatch, under heavy security, told state District Judge Mike Erwin he was “not guilty’’ of one count of first-degree murder, two counts of conspiracy to introduce contraband into a penal institution, three counts of possession with intent to distribute narcotics, and three counts of conspiracy to commit possession with intent to distribute narcotics.
The 27-year-old nationally acclaimed rapper — surrounded by six law enforcement officials — was dressed in an orange Dixon Correctional Institution jumpsuit with his wrists and ankles shackled.
His next scheduled court appearance is Oct. 14.
Hatch’s girlfriend, Walnita Decuir, and several other co-defendants were brought into Erwin’s court and arraigned on various charges after Hatch had left the courtroom.
Hatch’s attorney, Marcus Allen, spoke with reporters afterward and said Hatch is “absolutely not guilty.’’
“He meant what he said,’’ Allen, a Lafayette city prosecutor who practices entertainment law, said.
“We’re going to be preparing our defense. We have no idea what the evidence is. There’s a lot of rumor and innuendo,’’ he added.
East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore III said his office has not decided whether to seek the death penalty against Hatch on the first-degree murder charge.
“Obviously it is an option,’’ Moore said.
Allen acknowledged he is not certified to handle death penalty cases, so he said other lawyers will be brought into the case.
Moore said the additional security was for the protection of Hatch and others in the courtroom.
Hatch is named in three separate indictments returned June 17 by an East Baton Rouge Parish grand jury.
In one of them, Hatch is accused of paying a man to kill 35-year-old Terry Boyd, who was shot to death through a window while inside his home at 16837 Vermillion Drive on Oct. 21.
Hatch had pleaded guilty Sept. 22 to a third-offense marijuana possession charge and was sentenced Nov. 9 to 10 years in prison with all but the first four years suspended — meaning he would likely serve about two years.
Two other Baton Rouge males — 17-year-old Michael “Marlo Mike’’ Louding and Adrian Pittman, 36 — were indicted earlier this month on first-degree murder charges in Boyd’s killing. Louding also was indicted in five other deaths.
Moore has said investigators are looking into whether Hatch and others are involved in at least five other killings since early last year, including the February 2009 slaying of local up-and-coming rapper Chris Lynell “Nussie’’ Jackson.
In a second indictment, Hatch, Decuir and former Dixon guard Joshua Wilson are charged with conspiracy to introduce contraband — namely illegal drugs — into Dixon.
Hatch and Decuir, 25, pleaded not guilty to those charges. Wilson, 27, will be arraigned July 12.
In a third indictment, Hatch, Decuir and Dixon inmate Stacey Riley are charged on drug and conspiracy counts.
Hatch and Decuir pleaded not guilty to those charges. Riley, 36, will be arraigned July 12.
Also Monday, 32-year-old Reginald Youngblood, of Baton Rouge, pleaded not guilty in Erwin’s court to two counts of attempted first-degree murder in shootings on Feb. 22 and March 6.
Youngblood also is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the April 1 slaying of Charles Matthews and Darryl “Bleek’’ Milton.
P.S. With a lawyer looking like this, I don’t see things lookin up…sorry:
Source: 2TheAdvocate
G.O.O.D. Day?
Soooo let me get this straight….Kanye West, Kid CuDi, Big Sean and now Consequence are ALL coming out on September 14th? I guess they apparently haven’t learned from Grand Hustle’s attempt at doing the same thing to a lesser extreme….but I’m definitely anxious to see. G.O.O.D. luck fellas.
Method Man Pleads Guilty To Evading State Taxes
Former Wu-Tang Clan member Method Man pleaded guilty on Monday to evading state taxes over a four-year period, costing the music star more than $100,000 in fines and fees…he ended up paying a total of $106,000 in back taxes, penalties, fines and interest. Pay attention to your financials, people.
Source: Yahoo! News
Non-Music News: Ford Officially Announces Death of Crown Vic and Town Car Next Year
We knew it was coming, but not when. Ford has announced that they will close the plant currently building the Ford Crown Victoria and Lincoln Town Car in a little more than a year. Currently the Crown Vic is only sold to fleets while the Town Car is available for public purchase. This will be the official end of body-on-frame car construction in North America as they are the only two models still assembled that way.
The most interesting perspective on the loss of this long running vehicle platform comes from the taxi industry in New York City. Police departments have other options to chose from in the form of police package Chevy Impala and Dodge Charger models. Taxi companies however are left in a lurch and by all accounts, having the “Panther†platform cars pulled away from them is akin to stealing a kid’s wubby.
The big rear-wheel-drive sedans really are decent people movers and although the Mercury Marauder was not a massive sales success, it was an interesting mild-performance car that looked good and spun the correct set of tires (the ones in the back).
Ford’s reasoning is a projected drop in sales due to stricter environmental standards that police and taxi vehicles will be held to over the coming years. In our feeble minds we’d guess that Ford would have an upper hand with this market simply based on their buyer’s familiarity with the model, ability to score cheap parts and ease of repair, but what the hell do we know?
Ford has announced the Taurus police package and we’re guessing that they could cook up a taxi version of that which could include all the heavy duty suspension and handling pieces, engine durability enhancements, and maybe even the shotgun rack for flair.
It’ll be a sad day when Ford puts the Panther down. It’s been a good piece of equipment for some time and frankly, who among us hasn’t felt the smooth surface of a vinyl rear seat in a police car before?
Was that last part out loud?
Source: Brian Lohnes/CarDomain & Damon Winter/The New York Times
Weezy Thanx You: Blog #3
I hope everyone’s summer has been going well doing whatever it is you like to do. On my end, I’m alive, breathing and blessed. You already know how I’m passing the time – reading and working out. I know I say it every letter, but thank you from the bottom of my heart for the pictures, rocking free weezy tees, and continuos letters. They mean the world. I promise to continue to update as much as I can and answer as many questions as I can from you guys. Shout out to my YM family for making me proud last night. Love and appreciate life. God bless.
Young Jeezy x Big Meech – BMF (The Real Blowin’ Money Fast)
Well, what have we here…this is certainly interesting. I doubt that it’s a diss, but, well…it certainly is a one-up on Rick Ross’ version…
Since we’re on the subject, here is the tracklisting for Teflon Don, due out 7/20:
1. I’m Not A Star
2. Free Mason f. Jay-Z
3. Tears Of Joy f. Cee-Lo
4. Maybach Music III f. T.I., Jadakiss & Erykah Badu
5. Live Fast, Die Young f. Kanye West
6. Super High f. Ne-Yo
7. No. 1 f. Trey Songz & Diddy
8. MC Hammer f. Gucci Mane
9. B.M.F. (Blowin’ Money Fast) f. Styles P
10. Aston Martin Music f. Drake & Chrisette Michele
11. All The Money In The World f. Raphael Saadiq
Two Stadium Shows Added To The Jay-Z & Eminem Concerts!
Well whadayaknow: “The dynamic duo have added on to their history-making Home and Home concert series. Sources confirm an additional show will go down in the D on 9/3 and in the BX on 9/14. Tickets on sale tomorrow morning at 10 am.”
Make no mistake, you’re either buying the tickets first thing tomorrow, paying for tickets and 4x the price later, or hearing other people talk about it. No time to waste!
Source: Rap Radar
eWeekly Report – Autumn Joi
Big K.R.I.T. Official Def Jam Signing
Congrats. Looking forward to the new music (which we’re already seeing…eh).
Ice Cube ‘I Am The West’ Delayed – Now September 24
Now 9/24. West Coast artists are getting pushed the hell back this year…
Source: HipHopDX
DC Residents: This Guy Does NOT Want Medical Marijuana In Your City
Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Ut.) announced this week that he was introducing legislation disapproving of the District’s plan to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes.
In a statement, Chaffetz said, “I am opposed to legislative and legal efforts to reclassify or decriminalize the use of marijuana. Marijuana is a psychotropic drug classified under Schedule I of the federal Controlled Substances Act as having ‘high potential for abuse,’ ‘no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States,’ and a ‘lack of accepted safety for use of the drug…under medical supervision.’ While certain of these principles may be open to significant debate within segments of the medical community, and among pro-legalization/decriminalization groups, I am opposed to re-classification and decriminalization efforts.”
His effort to disapprove of the District initiative — a right reserved to all members of Congress, who are given 30 days to review all District laws — stands virtually no chance of passing, given the Democratic control of not only the House and Senate, but also the White House. Of course, that doesn’t mean that Chaffetz, the ranking Republican on the House committee that oversees the District, won’t try to attach riders or insert prohibitions in the city’s budget at some point in the near future.
Earlier this year, Chaffetz introduced legislation that would have forced the District to hold a public vote on whether or not to legalize same-sex marriage. Clearly no one on his staff pointed out the obvious contradiction with his most recent effort to interfere in local affairs, given that medical marijuana was approved by 69 percent of District voters in a 1998 referendum before being shelved by then Georgia Republican Bob Barr (who subsequently changed his mind on the whole thing, no less). Apparently we should only vote on things that Republicans from fringe districts believe in.
The legislation legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes in the District was submitted to Congress on June 4, and is expected to make it out by late July. Once the system is in place, anywhere from five to eight dispensaries around the city will offer qualifying patients small amounts of marijuana for their ailments. And if things go my way, dispensaries will double as chapels for same-sex weddings, if only to see Chaffetz’s head explode at the mere thought of it.
Source: DCist