Jimmy Henchman’s Son Responds To 50 Cent Diss

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50 Cent recently released a new track, ‘Hold On’, from his upcoming album Animal Ambition…in the track, the below line was said:

On the phone I heard ‘Ya smacked the shit outta a kid…Now Jimmy got life/Gonna smack him again.”

That line referred to an incident when G-Unit affiliates (which originally included Tony Yayo) slapped Henchman’s son back in 2007 (by the way, the guy who actually did the smacking was murdered).

James Rosemond, Jr. has since responded to the line through AllHipHop:

“First and foremost, when is it cool for four grown men in their 30′s to surround and hit a 14 year-old middle school kid? The incident in 2007 was a bad situation I didn’t deserve, and seven years later it’s now being made fun of in a record? What real gangster condones grown men assaulting a minor or a young man who has no involvement in the beef? Plus, these guys have kids of their own, and they should know better!”

“Secondly, who gets credit for trying to diss a man who is currently down and in no position to defend himself at this moment? It’s so easy to try to kick a man when he is down. What “real” street person applauds when a person is fighting against the same corrupt and prejudice system that has incarcerated a lot of black men? I guess that’s how some “gangster rappers” build their credibility… At the end of the day we are not catering to any negativity on our side and we have much bigger things to put our energy into.”

Pharrell & Will.i.am End Legal Feud Over Use Of ‘I Am’

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From Radar Online:

Pharrell Williams has something new to be happy about! RadarOnline.com has learned that the Oscar-nominated singer recently settled his bitter lawsuit with fellow artist Will.i.am over the use of the phrase “I Am.”

It all began when the former Black Eyed Peas singer sent Williams a cease and desist letter last summer, demanding he stop using the name “I Am Other” for his newly launched YouTube channel. In response, Williams sued, and then Will.i.am fired back with a blistering lawsuit of his own.

Will.i.am even went so far as to accuse the “Blurred Lines” singer of being a serial thief because of the plagiarism lawsuit Marvin Gaye‘s family brought against that song.

But according to court documents obtained by Radar, it’s all water under the bridge. Court documents filed March 10 state that the two have come to a settlement that stipulates they drop their lawsuits against each other.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the case will be forever dismissed.

Dame Dash (Possibly) Sends Subliminal Diss To JAY Z

I’m really disappointed in all the people that I personally watched Biggs help just acting like it’s just ok not to help Biggs …he’s a g so he’s not complaining but this shit is just not ok…you all know who you are…I have know respect for anybody Biggs looked out for that is not looking out him…you should be ashamed of yourself…if you not gonna send him something buy a shirt and I’ll send it to him #harlemstickstogetherddpoppington.com

The Smoking Section saw the above message (much like everyone else) and theorized that — amongst others, I’d imagine — Dame Dash’s Instagram picture and message may have been directed at JAY Z. During Roc-A-Fella’s heyday, it was JAY, Dame and Biggs that represented the empire (below).

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Biggs is currently serving a five-year sentence for conspiring to distribute more than 100 kilos of marijuana.

Ma$e Quietly Began Divorce From His Wife (Then Backed Out)

Huh? From Uptown Magazine:

Former Bad Boy rapper Mase has dismissed his divorce petition against wife of 12 years, Twyla Betha.

The rapper turned pastor secretly filed for divorce on January 2, citing irreconcilable differences. Mase, real name Mason Betha, requested full custody of their two children and child support. The “Welcome Back” rapper stopped divorce proceedings a day before Valentine’s Day.

Kurt Cobain’s Case Will Not Be Reopened Despite New Rumors

Below is an official statement from the city of Seattle in the midst of growing rumors that Kurt Cobain’s case could be reopened. Above are a couple of photos that have been released from the 1994 crime scene.

In anticipation of the 20th anniversary of the suicide of Seattle icon Kurt Cobain, Seattle Police Department Cold Case Detective Mike Ciesynski reviewed the case file in anticipation of media inquiries about Cobain’s death, and the many conspiracy theories surrounding the case.

Ciesynski reviewed the case—including statements and evidence photos—but did not re-investigate or re-open what is considered a closed case.

“We knew with the 20th anniversary coming up and we knew there was going to be a lot of media interest,” Ciesynski says. “I’ve been a detective in homicide for 20 years and I’ve been in the cold case unit for 10 years. Most of the cases I work on, I look for something that wasn’t done [in the investigation] in the past.”

To prepare himself to take a fresh look at the case, Ciesynski says he watched several documentaries about conspiracies surrounding Cobain’s death, read articles and watched TV shows. “They’re all very interesting,” he says. “I can see why people have questions [about the case], but you can always point to something and say ‘what if.’”

After pulling the full case file out of storage at SPD’s Evidence Unit, Ciesynski did find something left undone in the 20 year old investigation—four rolls of crime scene photos, which were never developed by investigator as they “felt it was a suicide and already had polaroids and photos from the medical examiner,” Ciesynski says.

While it’s unusual for SPD to store evidence from a closed case for two decades, Ciesynski says that because of the high profile of the case, detectives put the Cobain file into storage. “There were so many conspiracy theories out there, it was good judgement on their behalf to hold to this,” he says.

While Ciesynski didn’t come up with any new theories about the case, he does have a theory about why questions about Cobain’s death have persisted after all these years. “Sometimes people believe what they read—some of the disinformation from some of the books, that this was a conspiracy. That’s completely inaccurate,” he says. “It’s a suicide. This is a closed case.”

Arrest Warrant Issued For Singer Anita Baker

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From the Detroit Free Press:

A bench warrant has been issued for the arrest of singer-songwriter Anita Baker in a lawsuit that alleges she failed to pay more than $15,000 for work done on her Grosse Pointe home, according to an attorney involved in the civil case.

The bench warrant stems from the Grammy Award-winning singer’s failure to appear at a creditor’s examination in Wayne County Circuit Court last September after she was subpoenaed, said attorney Dan Gerow, who is representing Ray A. Smith Painting & Decorating.

Gerow’s client alleges Baker did not pay for carpentry, plastering and painting work done at her home in 2009.

According to Wayne County Circuit Court records online, a bench warrant was signed and filed Wednesday.

Baker could not be reached for comment. Online court documents don’t give the name of her attorney in the case.

Gerow said a default judgment for $15,351.41 was entered against Baker in April 2011.

“I just want to collect the money,” Gerow said.

Baker, who grew up in Detroit, is best known for a series of hit songs in the mid-1980s and early ’90s, including “Sweet Love” and “Giving You the Best That I Got.”

ARTWORK/TRACKLISTING: August Alsina – Testimony

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Get ready to hear August Alsina’s Testimony when it drops April 15th. You can check out the tracklisting below.

01 Testify
02 Make It Home f. Jeezy
03 Right There
04 You Deserve
05 No Love
06 Porn Star
07 FML f. Pusha T
08 Grind & Pray/Get Ya Money f. Fabolous
09 Ghetto f. Yo Gotti
10 Kissin’ On My Tattoos
11 Ah Yeah
12 Mama
13 Benediction f. Rick Ross
14 I Luv This Shit f. Trinidad Jame$ [Bonus]
15 Numb f. B.o.B & Yo Gotti [Bonus]

Founder Of Westboro Baptist Church Dead At 84


From Huffington Post:

Fred Phelps, the founder of the Westboro Baptist Church, has died at the age of 84, according to two of his children.

His son, Timothy Phelps, confirmed to Kansas’ WIBW that Fred Phelps died “before midnight” on Wednesday. His daughter, Shirley Phelps-Roper, also confirmed news of the death to the Topeka Capital-Journal.

However, at least one family member seemed to dispute the reports of his siblings, as attorney Jonathan Phelps told WIBW: “Pastor Phelps is doing just fine.” The network notes this could be a spiritual reference.

“I can tell you that Fred Phelps is having some health problems,” WBC spokesman Steve Drain told the Lawrence Journal-World Sunday. “He’s an old man, and old people get health problems.”

A spokesperson for the Westboro Baptist Church was not immediately available for further comment Thursday.

Nate Phelps, one of Fred Phelps’ estranged children, wrote a Facebook post on March 15 saying his father was “on the edge of death at Midland Hospice house in Topeka, Kansas.”

He also revealed Fred Phelps had been excommunicated from the church in August 2013. The Topeka Capital-Journal later reported the excommunication occurred after he called for kinder treatment of fellow church members.

The Westboro Baptist Church was established in 1955 by Phelps. Over the years, the Topeka-based group became infamous for their vehement anti-gay rhetoric and picketing of funerals. In 2011, NPR reported the church only had about 100 members, almost all of whom were from Phelps’ family.

De La Soul Will Reportedly Release Two New Albums & A New Mixtape…This Year

Posdnuos, Dave

From Billboard:

Dave Jolicoeur (aka Trugoy), a member of the classic hip-hop group, says a new mixtape will be issued in the next week or so and the trio is working on two full albums they hope to release later this year.

A little more than a month ago, De La Soul gave away its entire catalog for free on Valentine’s Day, and the result showed the trio there’s plenty of love still out there 25 years after issuing the landmark release “3 Feet High and Rising.”

“It motivated us even more,” Jolicoeur said before a surprise South By Southwest appearance with Damon Albarn on Friday night. “We’re already in the process of recording two albums, but actually it made us feel like we really, really need to get this done. People are still fans, still really love the music and let’s do it for them.”

The response to the group offering seven full-album downloads online went beyond modest expectations – demand was so heavy that it temporarily overwhelmed the servers and the hip-hop group had to ask fans to be patient.

The numbers were “insane, I’m afraid to say it,” Jolicouer said. “I’m not really allowed to, but I’ll say I was expecting it to be somewhere between 15,000 and 25,000 people. Man, you can multiply that by whatever number you can throw in the air, so it was ridiculous.”

He said the move was not a marketing campaign, but a gift to fans, who only had to provide an email address. The group’s music is difficult to find for a number of reasons, including tangled sample and ownership issues and now-shuttered labels.

“I thought it was really cool,” Jolicoeur said. “We had an opportunity to speak to our attorneys, and, you know, in hindsight it was maybe not the smartest thing to do. But in the midst of it, a lot of people think, ‘Great campaign, great promotion, great publicity stunt,’ but it really wasn’t. …

“It was just, `What can we do for Valentine’s Day? Yo, we can give away our catalog. Yeah, why not?'”

Of the new two albums the group is working on, he said one will be sample-based and one will be recorded with a live band, Los Angeles’ Rhythm Roots Allstars. The mixtape will include some new songs as well as some reworked material.

“But in a De La fashion, it’s just not a mixtape with 11 songs,” Jolicoeur said. “There are skits and things. It’s cool. That’s coming out in about a week, and hopefully God willing more De La music.

“That’s all we do. There won’t be any movies. There won’t be any fashion lines, nothing like that. Just music.”

Sylvia Rhone Named President Of Epic Records

3rd Annual ESSENCE Black Women In Music Event

Sylvia Rhone was named President of Epic Records and will be joining forces with the CEO of Epic Records L.A. Reid.

“I’m honored to have the opportunity to expand my relationship with the talented team and the amazing artists at Epic. What makes this opportunity different from any other is my partnership with renowned music executive L.A. Reid. I’m looking forward to what I think will be the finest chapter in my career.”

Cee-Lo Releases Statement On Sexual Assault Case

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You can check out the official statement released in regards to his current woes:

“Given that the matter is under investigation, we obviously cannot speak as freely as we’d like. What we can say is that these allegations are despicable, untrue, and deeply hurtful to CeeLo, his children and his family.”

“We are confident that when all the facts come out, it will be clear that if anyone was victimized here, it was CeeLo. In the meantime, CeeLo is deeply grateful for the overwhelming support he has received from his fans, his friends, and his colleagues.”

ARTWORK/TRACKLISTING: Pharoahe Monch – PTSD

Pharoahe Monch reveals the artwork & track listing (as well as the above preview clip) for his upcoming album PTSD which is set to hit stores on April 15th. You can check them out below.

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1.) “The Recollection Facility” (produced by Pharoahe Monch)
2.) “Times2” (produced by Marco Polo)
3.) “Losing My Mind” f/ deNaUn (produced by Jesse West)
4.) “Heroin Addict” (produced by Pharoahe Monch)
5.) “Damage” (produced by Lee Stone)
6.) “Bad M.F.” (produced by Lee Stone)
7.) “The Recollection Facility Pt.2” (produced by Pharoahe Monch)
8.) “Rapid Eye Movement” f/ Black Thought (produced by Marco Polo)
9.) “Scream” (produced by Quelle Chris)
10.) “SideFX”f/ Dr. Pete (produced by Pharoahe Monch)
11.) “The Jungle” (produced by Marco Polo)
12.) “Broken Again” (produced by The Lion Share Music Group)
13.) “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder”(produced by Boogie Blind & B.A.M.)
14.) “Dream” f/ Talib Kweli (produced by Lee Stone)
15.) “The Recollection Facility Pt.3” (produced by Pharoahe Monch)
16.) “Eht Dnarg Noisulli” f/ The Stepkids (produced by The Stepkids & Pharoahe Monch)
17.) “Stand Your Ground”f/ Vernon Reid (produced by Lee Stone) Digital Bonus

Cdai Charged In Connection With RondoNumbaNine Murder Case

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The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Savage Squad Records/OTF affiliate Cdai has been arrested and charged in connection with a February murder that RondoNumbaNine was arrested for and charged with:

A 19-year-old man charged with murder today is the second person implicated in the February fatal shooting of a livery driver in the city’s Wentworth Gardens neighborhood.

Courtney Ealy of the 300 block of East 60th Street was charged with one count of first-degree murder in the Feb. 22 shooting death of Javan Boyd, said police. Cdai is currently being held on $1 million bond.

FSD

Kanye West Sentenced In Paparazzi Assault

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Kanye West has pleaded no contest in his misdemeanor battery assault with a photographer at LAX last July. After accepting the plea, he was then ordered to pay for the photographer’s equipment and medical bills. The judge also gave Kanye West 2 years probation, 250 hours of community service, 4 anger management sessions and a day in jail.

Mick Jagger’s Long-Time Girlfriend Commits Suicide

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TMZ reports:

L’Wren Scott, the fashion designer who was dating rocker Mick Jagger, was found hanging in her Manhattan apartment today. She was 47.

According to police, the body was found by her assistant this morning around 10:00 AM. Officials say she was hanging from a doorknob.

There was no suicide note found and right now police say they do not suspect foul play.

Scott was known to have dressed Nicole Kidman, Amy Adams, Christina Hendricks and Penelope Cruz for the red carpet.

She and Mick had been dating for 12 years. Their last big public outing was back in November for the launch of one of her fashion lines in L.A.

Chief Keef Arrested For DUI

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TMZ reports:

Chief Keef really does hate being sober — TMZ has learned, the rapper was popped for DUI … less than two weeks after he left rehab for weed.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, Keef was pulled over in Highland Park, IL early in the AM on March 5th for having expired tags on his 2010 Jeep Cherokee. When officers approached the vehicle, we’re told it reeked of pot and, according to our sources, Keef openly admitted to smoking before driving.

We’re told police administered a field sobriety test and Keef choked. He was placed under arrest at the scene. In addition to DUI, Keef was also charged with driving on a suspended license and cited for having no proof of insurance.

The rapper was subsequently released after posting $300 bail.

It’s crazy for several reasons — Keef had just left court-ordered rehab for weed addiction in February … and three days after his arrest, he posted a pic of himself smoking weed on Instagram.

Drake & Rihanna Are Reportedly Dating Exclusively

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TMZ reports:

Rihanna’s locking it down — she and Drake are officially exclusive.

Multiple sources extremely close to the couple tell us, Rihanna and Drake have gone from casually hooking up to seriously dating … they’ve decided to give it a serious shot.

We’re told Rihanna wants to spend as much time with Drake as her schedule will allow — because he treats her better than anyone she’s ever been with. Not a high bar.

As we reported, the pair have been virtually inseparable while Drake’s been touring in Europe — we’re told Rihanna has spent every single night with him since she arrived.

As for Drake, he’s smitten — one source said “he’s in the best mood he’s been in a long time.”

Justin Bieber’s DUI Trial Date Pushed Back; Could Be Forced To Speak On Selena Gomez In Court

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From MTV:

Justin Bieber’s DUI trial date has been moved once again.

At a hearing in Miami on Tuesday (March 11), Bieber’s hearing date was set for May 5. His trial was originally scheduled to begin on March 3, but was postponed while his lawyers handled the release of police videos that showed the singer submitting to a urine test in a police station.

At the same hearing, prosecutors said that, contrary to reports, Bieber has not been offered a plea deal the case. In late January, he pleaded not guilty to charges of driving under the influence, resisting arrest and possessing an invalid driver’s license.

Since being arrested in Miami in January, Bieber’s trial date has now been changed twice — it was originally set to begin on February 14 then was bumped to March 3.

In related news, he may also have to reveal details of his relationship with Selena Gomez (this is in regards to a recent deposition for beating up a photographer, or something like that. From TVNZ:

The troubled singer was asked about his on/off girlfriend during his deposition last week – part of the ongoing lawsuit after his bodyguard allegedly beat up a photographer – and refused to answer questions, but now the lawyer has insisted he has a right to know whether they are currently dating.

According to gossip website TMZ, the Beauty and a Beat hitmaker may have to open up about their rumoured reconciliation after court documents were filed.

The lawyer – representing the photographer – has claimed Justin and Selena’s relationship is relevant to the case because she was with him at the scene of another apparent attack on a paparazzo in 2012.

It is said if Justin and Selena are back together, she could be considered a biased witness and not credible.

He responded: “Don’t ask me about her! Do not ask me about her!”

In addition to forcing Justin to answer questions about the Spring Breakers actress, the lawyer also wants him to be punished for his rude behaviour before he walked out of court during the deposition.

Led Zeppelin To Release Unheard Recordings After 30 Years

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Spotted on Telegraph:

Led Zeppelin are to release previously unheard material including a song, La La, recorded in 1969.

The song, along with dozens of unheard studio and live recordings, will be released as companions to reissued editions of the albums Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin II and Led Zeppelin III.

The albums have been remastered by guitarist and producer Jimmy Page. They will be released on June 2 on CD, vinyl and via digital download. There will also be a “limited edition super deluxe boxed set” – price to be announced at a later date.

The vinyl edition will be packaged in a sleeve that replicates the LP’s first pressing in exact detail, down to the original wheel and die cut holes.

La La was recorded for Led Zeppelin II but was not included on the album. It is the band’s first ‘new’ release since Coda in 1982, and will be included in the “companion audio” for the reissue of their second album.

Read more about it here.

Bill O’Reilly Blasts Barack Obama & Beyoncé (Again)


From MTV:

The Fox News pundit has spent the first two nights of the week working himself into a lather — as he is wont to do — over a pair of perceived evils that threaten not only the future of our Republic, but our children (think of the children!): Beyoncé’s “Partition” video and President Barack Obama’s appearance on “Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis”

On Monday’s “O’Reilly Factor,” Bill spoke to Russell Simmons about “harmful entertainment marketed to largely unsupervised children” (and also Simmons’ new book, “Success Through Stillness”) when he abruptly banked right and brought up Bey’s sultry “Partition” vid, which, in his opinion “Glorifies having sex in the back of a limousine.”

Teenage girls look up to Beyoncé … why on earth would this woman do that? When she knows [about] the devastation [of] unwanted pregnancies and fractured families,” O’Reilly said. “I believe an entertainer like Beyoncé [has] an obligation to protect children, not put out exploitive garbage … what she’s done here is inexplicable.”

To his credit, Simmons attempted to explain the inexplicable, pointing out that, in essence, Beyoncé was flipping decades-old gender stereotypes with the video — “There’s research that says that a man thinks about sex every 12 seconds, so when an artist expresses something that’s sexual in music, it’s a reflection of our reality,” he said. “If we want that reality changed, then we have to do things that affect the core.” — but Bill was having none of it, incredulously calling into question Bey’s art, and closing out the segment by joking to Simmons “When you see Beyoncé, tell her ‘Knock it off,’ from me.”

Of course, on Tuesday’s “Factor,” O’Reilly wasn’t in the mood to joke … not after Barack Obama had the audacity to appear on “Between Two Ferns” at a time when the United States is being “tested” by enemies like Russian president Vladimir Putin.

“For a president under intense scrutiny to do a comedy show raises some questions. I don’t have a problem with it in general … [but it’s] a little bit desperate, don’t you think?” he asked rhetorically. “There comes a point when serious times call for serious action.”

Indeed. O’Reilly then backed up that point with the salient (and technically factual) assertion that Abraham Lincoln never would have appeared on “Between Two Ferns,” and said that he would have had no problem with White House press secretary Jay Carney doing the show … but the president? Forget it, especially since the video will only serve to reinforce Putin’s opinion that Obama is a “lightweight.”