Nas' Ex Carmen Bryan Hit With Plagiarism Lawsuit

While rapper Nas is riding a wave of success with his new album Hip-Hop Is Dead, the rapper's former girlfriend Carmen Bryan has been hit with a lawsuit over her salacious, tell-all book It's No Secret: From Nas to Jay-Z, from Seduction to Scandal--a Hip-Hop Helen of Troy Tells All.
In a lawsuit filed in Columbus, Ohio Federal Court, Tannell Davis claims to have written the book, which originally had a working title of Sex, Drugs and Hip-Hop...Oh, and Did I Mention Love?"
Bryan, who did stints at Def Jam and Capitol Records, also shares a daughter with Nas.
The 272-page-book tells Bryan's life story and her role in a vicious feud between Nas and rapper Jay-Z and her affair with both rappers as well as other trysts.
Bryan details a secret affair she had with Nas' one-time rival Jay-Z and claims she was the inspiration behind a number of hit records written by Jay-Z, including "Give It To Me, "Is That Yo Chick" and others.
The lawsuit alleges that Davis originally wrote and copyrighted Sex, Drugs and Hip-Hop...Oh, and Did I Mention Love? and that Bryan plagiarized the original version and sold the new version to Simon & Schuster under the new titled It's No Secret.
In a recent interview with AllHipHop.com, Nas shared his views on the book, which hit stores in November.
"In this game, ya moms can come out and write a rhyme about you," Nas told AllHipHop.com about the book. "It is what it is, what can you do? People are going to write books. I hope it’s a best seller. I hope she can buy twelve Bentleys off of it. Get out of my pockets and do her thing. I don’t respect when people jump out of their shirt; lose their shirt to cause controversy and stuff like that. That’s a different world. I’m staying out of it."
Davis seeks an undisclosed amount in damages.

Steve Rifkind Talks Wu-Tang Clan Album, New Deal

Five years after the release of their last album, Iron Flag, Wu-Tang Clan has reunited for their long awaited follow-up by signing a new record deal with the man credited for bringing them to the masses.
Steve Rifkind, CEO of SRC Records, announced the acquisition of the Staten Island collective this week in a video on his blog, thelabel.blog.com.
Although a new album had long been discussed, things didn’t get rolling until Wu-Tang was recognized at this year’s VH1 Hip-Hop Honors, according to Rifkind, who consistently stayed in touch with group member and lead producer RZA.
"Not only did I want, as a fan, want one more Wu-Tang record, but RZA also wanted one more Wu-Tang record," the mogul revealed to AllHipHop.com. "And then when we started discussing it a few months ago, the timing of it was just really perfect.
"We always talked about it, but the timing was never really right," Rifkind continued, citing recently released "great albums" from Ghostface Killah (Fishscale, More Fish) and Method Man (4:21... The Day After) as signs of the Clan’s imminent return to form.
While plans are solidified for one Wu-Tang album, Rifkind remained optimistic about future group releases.
"We’re going to start with this one album and then let’s see where it all goes," Rifkind explained. "Everybody else has all their other careers. People are acting now. People are owning their own businesses. But it’s definitely one record."
Rifkind predicted that work will begin on the new album at the beginning of 2007 with a release date for later in the year.
A major tour will also follow, he added.
As for Wu-Tang’s mindstate going into the project, Rifkind has good news for faithful fans.
"The mind state is the 36," he shared, alluding to the title of the group's classic 1993 debut Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).
"That’s what we’re bringing it back to," Rifkind said. "Listen to Ghost’s album, how amazing it is. Listen to Meth’s album. Listen to what Rae’s spitting now. It’s hot."
Wu-Tang is among the artists put on the public radar by Rifkind, who helped break Mobb Deep, Big Pun, Xzibit, Tha Alkaholiks, Lil' Flip, dead prez and others.
With SRC, the executive is ushering in a new line up of established artists such as Remy Ma, David Banner, Pharoahe Monch and Akon, who is enjoying the success of his latest album Konvicted.
The release has currently sold more than 2 million copies worldwide.
"We ended the year off strong, extremely strong," said Rifkind. "When you focus on breaking acts, which we specialize in doing, that’s what we're going to do. We’re expecting an incredible year from Remy next year, an incredible year from Banner. More carryover of Akon. We have this kid Topic out on the West Coast that’s incredible. Young Cash out of Tallahassee, Fla. I mean we’re really, really excited. Pharoahe Monch. We’re extremely excited of the releases we have next year."
Rifkind founded Loud Records in 1992 and released the Wu-Tang Clan's breakthrough album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).
The group also crafted a groundbreaking deal under Rifkind's watch, which allowed each member to record seperate solo albums on other labels.
The result was a slew of classic albums from Wu-Tang Clan members Method Man, RZA, GZA, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Inspectah Deck, U-God and Masta Killah.

Nas Plays New York, Reunites With Cormega & Foxy Brown

Nas played to a pair of sold out crowds and treated fans to a holiday surprise to those in attendance at New York's Nokia Theater last night (Dec. 23). In support of Nas' Hip-Hop Is Dead, Foxy Brown and longtime friend Cormega joined the the rapper on stage for a spirited performance of "Affirmative Action," one of the standout songs on The Firm's 1997 album. "It was powerful feeling, especially the reaction from the crowd," Cormega told AllHipHop.com. The special guests were met with glee of the raucous fans. The Firm, a short-lived supergroup backed by Dr. Dre, Steve Stoute and The Trackmasters, consisted of Nas, AZ, Foxy Brown and Nature. Cormega refused to sign in with the rest of the group for business and personal reasons. Cormega was the centerpiece of Nas' 1994 hit "One Love," but the two grew into a beef over the years. Cormega and Nas traded lyrical bars dissing each other, but those days are apparently behind them. "We had our differences, but me and Nas knew each other before Hip-Hop. This wasn’t the first time I spoke with Nas, we’d been talking, but the world didn’t know it.," the New York native continued. "We’ve taken lyrical shots at each other, but it’s a New Year, and it was just time for us to publicly squash the beef." Cormega's work continues on the musical front. "I’m dropping a mixtape within the next three months featuring Large Professor, Styles P, and others. All the songs are exclusively for the mixtape, none of them will be on the next solo album, which is called The Inevitable." As for the concert pessimists that speculated the reunion with Nas and Foxy was just for the show, Cormega said, "If it wasn’t sincere, I would not have been there."

DJ Carl Blaze Dies

DJ Carl Blaze, a popular New York DJ, has died from wounds sustained after being shot multiple times earlier this month. Blaze, who played nights on New York's Power 105.1, was shot 13 times on December 7 and was expected to live if he could survive the initial days following the attack. Déjà Vu, an on air personality for Power 105, told AllHipHop.com her thoughts on the shooting in a previous interview. "It hit hard for me personally, because I was on the air when I heard the news. When I delivered the info to my audience, I had a semi-breakdown on the mic," she said. "The frailty of life was heightened in my mind. It was as if someone had punched me in the stomach. Life is too short for senseless violence." At press time, no official motive has been announced, but police seek to talk to a woman that may have played a roll in Blaze's death. Carl Blaze was dedicated to his craft for over 12 years and spun a wide range of music, playing in both radio and clubs.

Legendary Singer James Brown Dies, President Bush, Various Rappers React

Pioneering R&B legend James "The Godfather of Soul" Brown died early today (Dec. 25) from an unknown illness in Atlanta, GA.
According to his representatives, Brown, 73, was admitted to Emory Crawford Long Hospital on Sunday, suffering from pneumonia.
He died around 1:45 a.m. with manager Charles Bobbitt by his side.
"We really don't know at this point what he died of," Brown's agent Frank Copsidas told the Associated Press.
Rapper Nas, who incorporated a portion of Brown's song "Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved" on the song "Where Are They Now" from his latest album Hip-Hop Is Dead, was lucky enough to meet Brown before his passing.
"I spoke in front of hundreds in his honor," Nas told AllHipHop.com in a statement today (Dec. 25). "I looked directly at him. He smiled while I told him how I used his music with mine and how much he's done for us and how I love him. I'm lucky to have had that moment, shook his hand. He was pure greatness."
The news of Brown's death evoked a statement from United States president George W. Bush Jr.
"Laura and I are saddened by the death of James Brown," Bush said in a statement. "For half a century, the innovative talent of the "Godfather of Soul" enriched our culture and influenced generations of musicians. An American original, his fans came from all walks of life and backgrounds. James Brown's family and friends are in our thoughts and prayers this Christmas."
Rapper Snoop Dogg labeled Brown his "soul inspiration."
"I am hurt. That's my Godfather," Snoop Dogg said. "The hardest working man in show business of all time. He'll be missed, but his music and his legacy will live on through me, in everyway you can imagine."
Rapper Ice Cube acknowledged Brown's iconic status within the Hip-Hop industry as well, as he influenced nearly every rapper or producer that participates in the craft.
"James Brown was the first solo singer that I loved as a kid," Ice Cube admitted. "He was not only the Godfather of Soul, but the Godfather of Funk and Rap. Music will never be the same."
Like many rappers, Brown's story is one of triumph, as the singer was born in extreme poverty in 1933 in Augusta, GA.
In the late 1940's, Brown was arrested for armed robbery.
He gained parole with the help of Bobby Byrd and formed a gospel group.
After unsuccessful stints as a baseball player and a boxer, Brown joined Byrd's group The Avons.
The pair later went on to form their famed group, The Famous Flames in Macon, Georgia in 1955.
Brown and The Famous Flames released a number of seminal records as artists on Syd Nathan's historic Cincinnati, Ohio based label, King Records.
In the 1950's, Brown rode the charts with singles like "Please, Please, Please," "Try Me" and others.
In 1963, Brown released what many consider the most important record in his career - Live at the Apollo.
The album captured the live energy of a James Brown concert and reached #2 on the charts.
Live at the Apollo was the start of Brown's fight for artistic control over his music career.
In 1964 he released the hit single "Out of Sight" for Smash Records, while he was still under contract to King Records.
A following lawsuit prevented Brown from recording until King finally capitulated and granted Brown more artistic freedom.
The result was a spate of hit records, including crossover hits like "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," "I Got You (I Feel Good)," "I Got the Feelin," "It's A Man's World," "Licking Stick-Licking Stick" "Funky Drummer," "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud" and others.
In 1969, Brown's band walked out on him due to his demanding nature as a bandleader.
Brown recruited a young group from Cincinnati named the Pacemakers, which featured Catfish Collins and legendary bassist Bootsy Collins, who became members of the Parliament/Funkadelic collective.
Brown has had over 100 hits throughout his career in the United States. He also embraced Hip-Hop music early in the genre's evolution.
His records have been incorporated into the fabric of Hip-Hop music since the genre's inception in 1973.
Since then, Brown's has been sampled countless times.
He teamed with Hip-Hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa to release the hit single "Unity" in 1984 and in 1988, Brown teamed with R&B/Hip-Hop group Full Force to release "Static, Pts. 1 & 2."
Brown was also an entrepreneur, as the owner of several publishing companies, radio stations and record labels, including the legendary People imprint, which included acts like The JB's, Maceo [Parker] & The Macks and Lyn 'The Female Preacher' Collins, who's James Brown produced single "Think (About It)" was turned into a Hip-Hop classic titled "It Takes Two" by Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock.
In 1998, Brown sold $100 million in "James Brown" bonds to undisclosed insurance companies with the help of securities company The Pullman Group.
The bonds were secured against Brown's 750-song catalog, allowing him to use his works as collateral to help feed the poor and to finance the production of his Christmas album, Christmas for the Millennium & Forever.
Brown became a pioneer of digital music with the release of Christmas for the Millennium & Forever.
The album was released via an exclusive deal with Emusic.com in 1999.
Emusic.com licensed the album from Brown and sold the songs as digital downloads exclusively online, while Brown retained the master recordings and publishers and writer's rights.

Fur In Sean John Jackets Infuriates The Humane Society

Sean "Diddy" Combs' Sean John fashion line has come under fire, after The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) determined that a Sean John jacket that was advertised as using "faux fur" contained real fur from a canine species.
Last week, The HSUS released the results of a mass spectometry test conducted on a Sean John Hooded Snorkel Jacket, which was originally advertised as having "imitation fur" and sold on Macys.com as well as in other traditional retail stores.
According to tests conducted by The HSUS, the jacket actually contained fur from a canine species known as "raccoon dog."
Macy's has already pulled the mislabeled jackets from its Macys.com store and its department stores as well. The HSUS is urging all retailers to pull the jacket from the shelves.
The Sean John jackets weren't the only jackets subjected to the spectrometry tests.
THE HSUS found that a range of fur-trimmed jackets were being produced by clothing lines like Andrew Marc, MaxMara, Calvin Klein and Baby Phat, while retailers like Burlington Coat Factory, Bloomingdale's, J.C. Penney and Saks Fifth Avenue were selling the mislabeled jackets, in violation of The Fur Products Labeling Act.
"First these jackets were falsely advertised as faux fur, and then it turned out that the fur came from a type of dog," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. "This is an industry-wide problem, and our investigation demonstrates that retailers and designers aren't paying close enough attention to composition of the fur trim they are selling. It's especially problematic when the fur is sourced from China where domestic dogs and cats and raccoon dogs are killed in gruesome ways, even skinned alive. The safest course of action is for Sean Combs and other designers and retailers to stop using fur trim. That single act would solve the problems we have uncovered."
According to statistics, China is the leading exporter of fur and supplies almost half of all of the fur products that enter the United States for sale.
The HSUS maintains that China kills dogs, cats, foxes and raccoon dogs in barbaric ways and maintains that fur sellers in China will attach almost any label their customers want on their coats.
"It would be jarring to the public to shop in a marketplace where dog and cat fur is banned, but coats labeled as 'raccoon dog' are still legally sold," added Pacelle.
The HSUS is the United States' largest animal protection organization with nearly 10 million members and constituents. According to The HSUS, over 50 million animals are killed each year for their fur.

2007 Will Be A Big Year For M.F. DOOM

2007 is steady approaching and the Supervillain has some serious servings of dopeness cooking in the ol’ iron kitchen.RhymeSayers is finally re-issuing the out-of print Operation:DOOMSDAY CD/LP. As many of you know the album was forced out-of-print due to legal issues regarding the cover and rumored sample clearance issues. The new version is rumored to be a deluxe edition digipak with additional tracks and a DVD featuring videos and live concert footage. They are also planning on re-issuing DOOM’s MM..FOOD CD/LP. Many of you might not even know that this was also pulled from shelves due to sample clearance issues.Madvillain 2 not seeing an ’07 release? Rumors have been circulating that M.F. DOOM and Madlib have yet to connect on any solid studio time for Stones Throw’s highly anticipated Madvillain 2 project. From what I’ve heard through the grapevine, DOOM only turned in one song for the project so far, and it’s the joint that was released on the Chrome Children LP this past fall.Unlike Madvillain 2, The Ghostface/M.F. DOOM project will supposedly see the light of day in 2007. Although the pair have only recorded a handful of tracks together, Ghostface has begun to see this album as a high priority in recent months, noting in some interviews that he knows his fans want this album to be his next. Madvillain toys? That’s right. Kid Robot, known for immortalizing the likes of Biggie Smalls and the Gorillaz in plastic have begun production on their latest creation, the Madvillain 8.5” figurine. Sure to be a highly sought after collectors item, this limited run toy will surely hit you hard in the pockets. But look at it like an investment, EBay kids, EBay. M.F. DOOM has a special holiday treat for you all. Christmas Eve from 10PM to 6AM the supervillain will be hosting Adult Swim on Cartoon Network. As DOOM explained in the teaser commercials, “Why spend Christmas Eve waiting for some extra fat white dude to come busting through the ceiling, when you can spend Christmas eve with yours truly, DOOM”. DOOM will be basically talking in between shows, giving his thoughts on the holiday happenings, and spreading holiday cheer to all who indulge.

"It's Official," Wu Tang Clan Sign Album Deal With SRC

SRC Records CEO Steve Rifkind recently announced that he has reunited with the Wu-Tang Clan for a new album.

Wu-Tang, who first came to prominence via Rifkind's now-defunct Loud Records, have not released a group album since 2001. During their six year hiatus, all nine members of the New York bred rap collective have released solo albums.

The group's most infamous member, ODB (born Russell Tyrone Jones), died in 2004 from an accidental overdose while recording his third solo project.

"I just got off the phone with Divine and RZA from Wu-Tang, we are coming back, we are joining forces for one album, coming up in 2007," said Rifkind via a video on his blog , thelabel.blog.com. "I don't know what the name of the album is but we are back, its official. Wu-Tang and Steve Rifkind are back together."

Rifkind is also credited for breaking rap acts like Mobb Deep, Big Pun and Xzibit, among others. His current SRC roster includes Akon, Remy Ma, Pharoahe Monch and Remy Ma.

Spend Your X-Mas With MF Doom!

Spend Your Christmas With DOOM

Young Jeezy Debuts Atop Album Charts

Young Jeezy's sophomore album, The Inspiration: Thug Motivation 102, debuted at the top spot on the Billboard Top 200, selling over 350,000 units in its first week. "This album is a step up, but its still so Jeezy," the Georgia rapper told AllHipHop.com. "It feels so good. It feels bigger and better. When people speak from their heart, its a different kind of music." The album's success was fueled by a strong grassroots approach as well as commercial single, "I Luv It." According to his label Def Jam records, the song has entered the Top 10 on the R&B charts and has a successful run in the video market. The Inspiration is the the follow up to Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101, , the controversial multi-platinum CD. Jeezy's second single will be “Go Getta” featuring R. Kelly. In related news, Ghostface's More Fish, which was released the same day as The Inspiration opened at No. 71 on the charts, pushing about 36,000 units. Fishscale , the rapper's other Def Jam album of 2006, debuted at No. 4 and sold over 110,000 CD's.

Too Short and E-40 Celebrate Holidays with Youth UpRising Members

West Coast rap fixtures Too Short and E-40 are creating Christmas memories for East Oakland, CA. youth through their involvement with Youth UpRising's (YU) second annual end-of-session holiday party and showcase.
The rappers will co-sponsor the gathering, which will be from 4-7 p.m. on Friday (Dec. 22) at Youth Uprising, 8711 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland.
Activities include DJ, dance and vocal performances as well as raffle-prize giveaways and special presents handed out to YU members in celebration of their academic, artistic, and personal achievements.
Youth UpRising is an East Oakland-based 25,000 square foot facility which offers youth-leadership opportunities, job-skills training, and enrichment activities to more than 2,000 members - primarily to low-income youth of color between the ages of 13 and 24.
The annual party and showcase provide an opportunity for YU staff to not only acknowledge its most committed young members, but also allow members to show off new skills honed in fall classes on film production, beat-making, DJing, and urban dance.
The event, which also receives assistance from Alameda County and the City of Oakland, is hosted by members of YU's RiseUP Radio Broadcasting class.
Class members will distribute prizes and introduce scheduled individual and group talent that will perform. In addition, Corner's Café, YU's in-house youth-staffed eatery, will cater the party with home-style soul food.
Age-appropriate gifts and cash-donations to purchase gifts are welcome.

Sean 'Diddy' Combs, Kim Porter Deliver Healthy Twin Girls

Music and clothing mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs and girlfriend Kim Porter received early Christmas presents, as Porter has given birth to two healthy twin girls.
Porter, 36, gave birth to the twins at Mt. Sinai hospital in New York.
The couple announced the news of Porter's pregnancy in August and revealed that she was expecting twins.
Combs and Porter already have a son, 8-year-old Christian.
Combs has another son, Justin, 12, with fashion stylist Misa Hylton-Brim and Porter has another son, Quincy, from a previous relationship with Al B. Sure.

Nelly & Talib Kweli Invade Your Celly

GoTV Networks announced the launch of their "Off the Top" mobile hip-hop television show today (December 20). The show will feature artists performing exclusive freestyles and verses from artists like Nelly, Chingy and Talib Kweli.
Hosted by Daylan Williams, "Off The Top" will appear on GoTV's Hip-Hop Official channel - a mobile network which offers exclusive artist interviews, features, reviews and event coverage. The channel is currently available to Cingular subscribers.
"Hip-Hop Official is a prime example of how mobile television is gaining traction as a mainstream entertainment medium," said GoTV Networks' Executive Vice President of Studios Daniel Tibbets via statement. "And we're excited to bring never-seen-before footage from some of hip-hop's most talked about artists to Cingular Video."
Cingular subscribers with Cingular Video capable phones can buy Hip Hop Official for $4.99 per month by selecting Cingular Video from the main menu and then Premium Channels on any 3G handset. It can also be purchased by visiting www.4gotv.com.

Eminem Ends Marriage With Kim, Divorce Settled Out Of Court

Eminem and his ex-wife Kimberley Mathers avoided taking their second divorce to trial by finalizing it with an out-of-court settlement during a hearing at Detroit's Macomb County Circuit Court yesterday (December 20).
Eminem (born Marshall Mathers III) filed for divorce from Kim on Wednesday (April 5), less than three months after the couple remarried in a highly documented but intimate ceremony in January.
The two were first married in 1999, but that marriage ended in October 2001 with a legal battle over custody of their daughter Hailey. They would later reconcile in late 2004 and Eminem went public with their love in December 2005.
According to the Detroit Free Press, the hearing was presided over by Chief Judge Antonio P. Viviano, who raved about the couple's behavior. "These people were a pleasure," Viviano told the Free Press. "They conducted themselves with dignity and respect."
The couple will now share custody of their daughter. They also reached an undisclosed agreement which mentioned money and property issues.

Aftermath Signee Joell Ortiz Goes The Indie Route

After signing a deal with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Records, Joell Ortiz is now set to drop a street album, The Brick (Bodega Chronicles), on Koch Records.
The record, which is slated for a February 27 release, will include a collection of more street-oriented material and will help to serve as an appetizer until Ortiz's Aftermath debut hits shelves. An alum of The Source magazine's "Unsigned Hype" column, the Brooklyn, NY native earned a strong fan base after his many mixtape appearances, reportedly received Dre's blessing before releasing the album.
Ortiz's single, "Brooklyn," received a fair amount of spins on New York's Hot 97 radio station as well as being featured on mixtapes by several DJs including Whoo Kid and Kay Slay.
The LP will feature a slew of guest appearances from Immortal Technique, M.O.P., Ras Kass, Big Noyd, Graph and Stimuli. The disc will also feature production from The Alchemist, Showbiz, Fame of M.O.P., Moss and others.
The Brick (Bodega Chronicles) hits stores on February 27 on Koch Records.

Nas Heads To The Small Screen

Nas will be making a variety of TV appearances this week in support of the release of his latest album, Hip Hop Is Dead.
The Queensbridge, NY emcee, who appeared on BET's "106 & Park" yesterday (December 18), will appear on "Rap City" today (December 19).
Nas will then make appearances on MTV's TRL on Wednesday (December 20) and "Last Call with Carson Daly" on Friday (December 22).
Hip Hop Is Dead, which hits shelves today, features appearances from Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, Kelis and The Game. Production on the CD was supplied by Dr. Dre, Scott Storch, Just Blaze, and will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas, among others.

Nas Memorializes Hip-Hop With Concert, Dinner And Party

Last night, it appeared that Nas attempted to memorialize and resuscitate Hip-Hop at the same time with the likes of Jay-Z, actor Tracy Morgan, Spike Lee, Chamillionaire, Busta Rhymes, Ja Rule and numerous others that packed Manhattan's club Capitale. The Queenbridge-born rapper hosted an exclusive dinner affair and black tie party to celebrate the release of his new album Hip Hop Is Dead.With a strictly enforced black and white dress code, party goers weretreated to a makeshift funeral home setting at Capitale, a former bank converted into a club.In the night's theme, a hearse was parked outside the revamped bank, as stars posed on the black carpet. As revelers walked in, they walked over the image of "Hip-Hop" outlined in chalk on the carpet. Caskets lined the inside of the area, wreaths adorned the stage and even faux crows loomed above the crowd. DJ Goldfinger manned the turntables with a live organist, violinist and drummer playing along with the records.After making an entrance shortly after midnight, Nas addressed the crowd briefly and ad-libbed through a few of his classics before Hip-Hop legends Dana Dane, Greg Nice, Just-Ice, Grandmaster Caz, Melle Mel, Raheem, Monie Love, Joe Ski Love and others moved the crowd through performance.Def Jam president Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, Spike Lee, Chris Webber, MarkWahlberg, Melle Mel, Grandmaster Caz and others attended the party. Many continued to debate over whether or not Hip-Hop has truly met its demise."I would say Hip-Hop is dead, but it is quickly coming back to life," Melle Mel told AllHipHop.com. "As long as there are people that understand the true meaning of Hip-Hop and are willing to fight for it the way we fought for it, then we are making the right steps to bring it back."Rapper Chamillionaire noted that the release of Nas' album is one reasonwhy Hip-Hop is not dead."The actual culture might be hurting but the music is alive," Chamillionaire noted.Others concurred that the notion that the culture has expired is greatly exaggerated.Teddy Ted of the Awesome Two said, "Well I think Hip-Hop needs a resurrection right now, I don't know if it's completely dead. It might be in a coma though. We need to hear a couple of things that we are not hearing right now to really bring it back."Earlier in the evening Nas and his closest family and friends, convened to celebrate with an exclusive dinner. The event was held at Gin Lane in Manhattan and was graced by the likes of singer Mikki Howard, father Olu Dara, younger brother Kiane Dara, daughter Destiny, celebrity photogtapher Johnny Nunez, Marc Ecko, Stephen Hill and video host Rocsi of BET, DMX's wife Tashara Simmons, D-Nice, and others like professional basketball player and producer Chris Webber.Both Olu and Kiane Dara admitted that they were waiting for day of release to hear Hip-Hop Is Dead, and had only heard the album's lead single thus far.Just prior to dinner, Nas entered the dinner room draped in a black and red tuxedo surrounded by video cameras and photographers. The rapper eventually took his seat at the head of the table with wife Kelis, and the couple chatted with attendees through the evening. Party sponsor Hennessy even bestowed Nas with an exclusive bottle of their sprits in honor of his overall achievements in music.With Hip-Hop Is Dead, hitting the shelves today, Nas could perhaps received another distinction, but spurning more people to take care of the culture. Film maker Spike Lee told AllHipHop.com, "Hip-Hop is still alive through people like us."Before all of the upscale extravagance, Nas performed for rabid fans at Webster Hall, a popular venue in New York.Hip-Hop Is Dead hit stores today.

DJ Clue Talks New Album, Core DJ/Young Buck Controversy

Six years after the release of his sophomore album, The Professional Pt. 2, DJ Clue is finally readying the third installment of the Professional series.
While Clue released The Professional's first two installments within two years, reports say he's been working on the third one for years now. Six years after his first offering, Clue is finally set to drop his third installment.
"It's not me, it's the artist, man," Clue said regarding the reasons for his album's perpetual delay. "I don't rap. It's the artists. The artists got their own schedule. They got their own agenda. I had to do it when they can do it....unless I wanna just take any song."
Heads weren't aware of Clue's release date up until recently. But instead of blaming Def Jam's lack of promotion, the Queens, NY DJ plans to take matters into his own hands to ensure his product is promoted.
"I mean, every regime is different. I'll never depend on a label to work my record," Clue explained. "So it's like I depend on myself. You always gon' be your best form of promotion."
Clue alongside prominent DJs like Kay Slay recently phoned into a conference call to mediate an incident between Young Buck and BME's DJ Will. Conflicting reports have Buck harming Will after the DJ defiantly played The Game's "One Blood" twice before Buck took the stage at Atlanta,GA's Club Nocturnal. Clue informed that the incident seems close to a resolution.
"From what I hear it wasn't a real fight and I heard they was supposed to be working it out. I don't know how true it is, but I heard Will and Buck was actually on the phone talking," Clue revealed. "If they can get on the phone and talk about it, I think maybe it was just a misunderstanding more than Buck really trying to physically hurt him or something like that."
DJ Clue's The Professional Pt. 3 featuring guest appearances from Nas, Snoop Dogg, Kanye West, Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, Lil' Wayne, Diddy, Fabolous, Jadakiss, Styles P, Fabolous and production by DJ Clue, Scott Storch, Swizz Beatz hits stores on December 19.

Hoopz Fires Venom at Wendy Williams, Denies T.I. Threesome

In honor of 2006, remembers our best exclusives. For the next two weeks we will be recalling our finest moments. In the immortal words of Rick James, "It's a celebration!"
Since winning VH1's "Flavor of Love," Hoopz has become a regular topic in the rumor circuit. In this exclusive, Hoopz goes off on gossip queen Wendy Williams, denies rumors of a threesome with T.I. and dismisses "Flavor of Love" as "fake."
Forget New York. The harsh words Hoopz had for the "Flavor of Love" runner-up were tame in comparison to the shots she fired at New York gossip queen and radio jock, Wendy Williams.
"Fuck that bitch!" Hoopz said by phone. "Who the fuck is she? A fat ass bitch with a mouth. That's it." [Listen/download: Exclusive Hoopz audio]
An irate Hoopz fumed as she targeted Williams as the source of the rumors being spread about her alleged love affairs and sexcapades. We contacted Williams who could not be reached for comment.
"I'm in her mouth 23/7," Hoopz said. "[There are] two hours out of the whole damn week [when] she's not talking about me all together. Now her new thing is I'm fucking everybody in the industry. I'm supposed to be married in three different sides of the world. I'mma get back with her though."
The latest rumor has Hoopz engaging in a threesome with ATL rapper T.I. and an anonymous video vixen. While the Detroit model denied the ménage a trios, she admitted to "hanging out" with T.I. and revealed there is tension between her and Tip's boo, Tiny, formerly of R&B quartet Xscape.
"I'm in her mouth 23/7...[There are] two hours out of the whole damn week [when] she's not talking about me all together. Now her new thing is I'm fucking everybody in the industry...Fuck that bitch!"
"Absolutely not! It's so not true," Hoopz told us of the threesome rumors. "Whenever they see me with somebody I'mma probably end up sleeping with him or whatever, people gon say. Come on, come up with something new. Actually, the altercation between me, him and Tiny is true. Actually she never said anything directly to me. Tiny got on the radio talking shit. Me and T.I. were at a club in Atlanta -- Fox Sports Club. It was Nelly's party, I believe. Anyway, so we're in the back or whatever, everybody was just kicking it and Tiny grabbed him off me like, 'Who the fuck is this?' That's the extent I know cause I turned around 'cause that shit was so bad. I wasn't even trying to hear nothing. I moved away. I kept having fun." [Listen/download: Exclusive Hoopz audio]
"[Then] Tiny gets on the radio like...'If I would have known her. If she would have known me, I would have whooped her ass.' Bla, bla, bla, bla, bla, talking this mad shit," she added. "Of course she didn't say nothing to me personally. She got on the radio talking shit. I guess she felt protected more like that. Me and her never exchanged words in person and that's all it was with that."
For the record, Hoopz says she isn't married or dating anybody in the industry and is definitely not having ménages. She makes it clear that the Myspace pages out there for her are fakes. And as for the reggaeton video that recently surfaced on the internet showing her writhing and grinding in the background, she says it's "old footage."
There's one more thing she considers fake... "Flavor of Love." In fact, she's growing annoyed by people, including Tony Yayo, who think she somehow wronged Flav. The G-Unit soldier recently shouted her out at Lloyd Banks' recent birthday bash, only to say, "I don't like how you did my man Flav" seconds later.
"What are you talking about?" Hoopz said in regards to Yayo calling her out. "Yayo came up there [and] was like, 'You know I'm just messing with you. I'm trying to hype the crowd up.' That's what they do, knowing we just got done talking about how fake it was. They casted for the second show during the first show, come on. How true is it?"

Nas Week: Nas Hits NY & Philly On Weekend Tour

In celebration of the upcoming release of his Def Jam debut, Hip Hop Is Dead, Nas will be hitting New York City and Philadelphia for three concerts this weekend.
The Queensbridge, NY MC will perform back to back shows at New York's Nokia Theatre in Times Square on Friday (December 22) at 9 p.m. and 12 a.m.. He will then hit the Electric Factory stage in Philly on Saturday (December 23).
Tickets for all three concerts are available via ticketmaster.com
As SOHH previously reported, Hip Hop Is Dead comes out tomorrow (December 19). The album features appearances from Jay-Z, The Game, Kanye West and Snoop Dogg. Production on the CD was supplied by Dr. Dre, Scott Storch, Just Blaze, and will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, among others.

Controversial MC NYOIL Vents, "Anybody That Rhymes About [Selling Drugs] Is A Dummy"

We chopped it up with controversial New York rapper NYOIL, who has been heating up the Internet recently with his homemade videos, to talk about his song "Y'all Should All Get Lynched" and his thoughts on crack music.
The Shaolin MC's video for "Y'all Should All Get Lynched," which was posted on YouTube, features images of rappers like The Game, Jim Jones, 50 Cent and Three 6 Mafia interspersed with images of lynching and slavery. The song repeatedly calls for "fake thug rappers" and "coon ass rappers" to "get lynched," lyrics that NYOIL drew from his frustration at the current state of hip-hop.
"The attention I'm getting right now is due to the fact that I'm saying what the people want to hear, in a way they can digest it. There is nothing unique about 'Y'all Should All Get Lynched' except that it's being said in a brazen, unapologetic manner," NYOIL told SOHH exclusively. "I'm saying what I said. I said it and I mean it and if anybody got a problem with it, that's just they tough luck."
"Bad boy imagery is so prevalent, the artistry is abandoned," NYOIL continued. "Hip-Hop now means you hustled on the streets, got locked or got shot and that makes you the toughest nigga, so that gives you the right to rhyme whatever it is you rhyming because this is how you lived. My problem is it's some bullshit. It's a bullshit conversation being held by a bunch of bullshit people. Being out on the corner trying to work a package, that shit is pressure. That shit ain't fly. I know what it is to have cuffs on- that shit hurts. It's not what's up. There is nothing about that worth rhyming about. Anybody that rhymes about that is a dummy."
Since its release, NYOIL has faced criticism disparaging his use of lynching in the song and video; however, he feels his opponents fail to see the bigger picture.
"Not as many people have been lynched as have been affected by drug trafficking in our community. Which one is really the transgression against our people?" NYOIL reasoned to SOHH. "There is a rapper who named himself after the dude that originally sold crack in Compton and LA. How are you going to call yourself after this man? Do you know how many lives are ruined behind him? I've seen people on this drug, I've seen murders, death, theft, robbery, communities ravaged, beautiful families turned inside out behind money and this drug - and dude is biggin' this shit up! There is a section of rap called "crack music." Are you fucking kidding me, yo? And people have nerve to take issue with me saying 'Y'all should all get lynched?'
Meanwhile NYOIL has been spending his time and money giving back to the community. The rapper has been donating proceeds from the sale of his "Y'all Should All Get Lynched" ringtone to a mentor program at Plainfield, New Jersey's South Second Youth Street Center, where he recently delivered a music workshop to at-risk kids.
"Get the ringtone so I can keep going to these places and kick in for the kids," he said. "All they really need is time."

Insurance Company Says Its Not Liable In $10 Million Dollar Lawsuit Against 50 Cent

An insurance company claims it is not liable for a $10 million lawsuit against 50 Cent, claiming the rapper took more than a year to report the assault of Richard "DJ Xzulu The Big Lipped Bandit" Dunkerson at 93.9 WKYS-FM in Lanham, Maryland.
According to The New York Post, National Fire claims 50 Cent, born Curtis Jackson, waited more than 12 months to report the assault, which effectively nullified the rapper's coverage.
The lawsuit was filed after former G-Unit member The Game and an entourage appeared on Xzulu's show in Jan. of 2005, weeks before the release of his chart-topping G-Unit/Aftermath debut The Documentary hit stores.
During the interview, Xzulu allegedly made an off-color remark about a cell-phone ear piece being worn by The Game's manager, Jimmy "Henchmen" Rosemond.
Shortly after the interview was over, police said a group of men confronted the DJ and punched and kicked Xzulu, causing serious internal injuries.
In April 2005, another man named Kwasi Jones came forward and claimed that he was beat by the pack of men the same evening as well.
Jones filed a $280 million dollar civil-assault case against The Game, G-Unit, Shady Records, and Aftermath Entertainment.
He also claimed the labels were negligent for releasing several remixes to Game's "Hate It or Love It" single which featured 50 Cent.
On the song, The Game rapped: "I'm rap's MVP/Don't make me remind y'all what happened in D.C."
While charges against The Game were eventually dropped, Rosemond was found guilty of misdemeanor assault in Feb. 2006.
Rosemond was later sentenced to three years of unsupervised probation and fined $2,500 for his role in the incident.

Snoop Youth Football League Player Receives Achievement Award

The Snoop Youth Football League (SYFL) honored one of its own Saturday (Dec. 16) at its All-Conference game at Citrus College in Glendora, CA.
Cenyon Usher, a Lawndale, CA seventh grader, received the first It's In Your Hands achievement award from league sponsor Cutter Gloves. The award, given to a player each year, is based on academic progress, sportsmanship and character.
Usher, a tight-end for the Woodcrest Giants Pee-Wee Division, was awarded with a $1,500 scholarship fund and an all-expenses-paid trip to the Snooper Bowl, which is set to take place Feb. 3, 2007 in Miami.
The Rogers Middle School student, who has never received anything lower than a B in school, cited his mother Imani Westbrooks as his motivation for aiming high. His future plans include attending college and studying sports medicine or becoming a pro football player, while setting "a good example" for his younger brother.
"My mom is my hero ... I know my mom is proud of me, but I want to make her even prouder," said Usher, who said he aspires to "become first a good and honest man" when he gets older.
Finalists for the 2006 award included Thomas Laster, Gregory Earl Adams, Jr., Caylin L. Moore, and Darrell Hunter II.
Founded in 2004 by Snoop Dogg as a way of making football and cheer more accessible to kids, the SYFL is comprised of 50 football teams for boys and girls ages 7-13.
The SYFL's alliance with Cutters, a leader in high performance sports gloves for football, baseball and golf, reinforces Snoop Dogg's goal of providing an alternative for youth.
"We couldn't do this without people like [Cutters] who believe in the Snoop Youth Football League," Snoop said. "It's easy for a kid to join a gang -- we need to make it easier to play football. The SYFL is on to something so fresh and productive for our youth, and we are also all about helping the boys and girls off the field. We thank Cutters for being a part of it."

Young Dro & Yung Joc, Dat Boy O Killed, Kweli, White Rappers

According to rapper Young Dro, he and fellow Atlanta native Yung Joc have teamed to create a new movie, "Young & Yunger." While Dro didn't reveal the details of the plot, the movie is being pitched to some Hip-Hop Hollywood A-listers. "We’re shopping the movie around talking to [Ice] Cube, Charlie Mack, Will Smith’s people and stuff like that," Young Dro told AllHipHop.com. Mack and Smith served as executive producers of ATL, which starred T.I., the CEO of Grand Hustle Entertainment. Grand Hustle released Dro's album Best Thang Smokin', which spawned the hit "Shoulder Lean." In related news, Yung Joc has teamed with DJ Drama to release a new Gangsta Grillz mixtape titled Welcome to My Block. Welcome to My Block features appearances by Russell "Block" Spencer (CEO of Block Entertainment), P. Diddy, Boyz N Da Hood, Lil Wayne, Dipset Ying Yang Twins and others and is in stores now.
A man found slain at a Colorado Springs motel was identified as Iliff Omar Burleson aka Dat Boy O, a rising rapper in the area. Burleson had recently released a single "Dont' Blow Me Up," which is getting airplay on local Hip-Hop station KIBT 96.1 The Beat. The rapper was also featured on the stations Christmas CD. According to the Colorado Springs Gazette, Dat Boy O was also proclaimed a local sensation in a recent profile in the Colorado Springs Independent. The rapper moved from Katy, Texas to Colorado Springs, so he could be closer to his family. “I don’t know what went down at that motel,” Sandra Ramseur told The Gazette. “I’m in the dark about a lot of this stuff. Burleson leaves behind a four-year-old son. Police have no suspects or motives in Dat Boy O's murder.
TeamWorks Media launched part two of their Big Ten Conference men's basketball campaign "Welcome to the Big Stage" featuring rapper Talib Kweli. The PSA made its national debut last week on CBS, during the Indiana-Kentucky men's basketball game. In part 1 of the campaign, Kweli performed an original rhyme in an underground club setting. In part 2, Kweli performs a new rhyme in a large, sold out amphitheater, cut in with footage of Big Ten highlights. TeamWorks Media shot both PSA's in a green-screen studio in high-definition, allowing Kweli to appear in a 360-degree animated environment. The PSA has been customized into eleven Big Ten school-specifics versions, which highlight game footage from each team. The PSA airs during every Big Ten game.
VH1 will premiere ego trip's The (White) Rapper Show on Monday, Jan. 8. The show is hosted by Michael "MC Serch" Berrin of the pioneering white rap group, 3rd Bass and super producer, Prince Paul. The (White) Rapper Show is set in the South Bronx and features 10 contestants from all over America being tested on their knowledge of Hip-Hop and their views on race. The group of white rappers are competing for $100,000 dollars and reside in "The White House," where pioneers like Grandmaster Flash, Kurtis Blow, Fat Joe, Just Blaze and others critique them on their skills and knowledge. The (White) Rapper Show premieres on Jan. The eight-episode series airs at 10:30 pm.

Kelis, Funkmaster Flex Featured In New Ford Edge Campaign

Kelis has been tapped to star in a new urban marketing campaign promoting the 2007 Ford Edge crossover utility vehicle (CUV) with an ad campaign featuring a new song titled "Push it to the Edge."
The radio spot, which also features a cameo appearance by Hot 97's Funkmaster Flex, starts airing Wednesday (Dec. 20) on various national and syndicated radio shows, including The Steve Harvey Morning Show and The Tom Joyner Morning Show.
Tonight in New York, Kelis will kick off the new relationship with Ford during Nas' black and white ball, which is being held to celebrate the release of his new album Hip-Hop is Dead.
"I am an informed buyer who likes to shop around for what I like," Kelis said in a statement. "I prefer bold designs and that's what I see when I look at the Edge. I believe it was built to defy expectations and change people's perceptions, two concepts that have helped me define who I am."
An accompanying television commercial featuring Kelis is also slated to start airing nationwide starting in late December and a traditional print advertisement titled "Shattered" will run in various urban publications.
Ford has huge expectations that the Ford Edge CUV will increase its bottom line, which has seen losses into the billions in recent years.
"This is the most important vehicle launch for us this year," Ford's President of the Americas, Mark Fields, told the LA Times in a recent review of The Edge. "The Edge will challenge people's assumptions about Ford. It will even challenge their prejudices."
Fields said he hopes the launch of the Edge will stabilize Ford's market share at 15%, down from the 25% share the company held ten years ago.

Armed Teenager Shot Dead By NYPD

New York police shot and killed an armed teenager after chasing him into a building lobby last night (December 13).
According to the Associated Press, 19 year-old Timur Person was standing with a group of men on Walton Avenue in the Bronx around 8 p.m. when four officers in a marked vehicle approached them. While the others escaped, Person was chased into the lobby, where he tussled with the police before he was shot.
Hector Suarez, who witnessed the shooting, claims that he heard police tell Person to let go of his weapon, and Person responded, "I'm giving you the gun," prior to being shot.
Witnesses reported that at least one officer shot Person at close range.
"He stood over his head and he just looked down at him and he just shot four times, one, two, three, four," Suarez said.
Person, who had a loaded .38-caliber semiautomatic and an extra clip in his possession, was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Person's shooting marks the city's first fatal police shooting since officers killed Sean Bell on his wedding day last month in a barrage of 50 bullets.
Bell, 23, was leaving his bachelor party at a Queens topless bar on November 25 when five officers fired on his car, killing him and wounding two unarmed passengers.
Community leaders like Al Sharpton and New York bred rappers, including Papoose and Nas, have all expressed outrage at the shooting. The officers are currently on paid administrative leave as prosecutors weigh possible criminal charges against them.

Scratch Magazine Goes XXL, Re-Launches in '07

After already winning a spot in the hearts of DJ's and producers, Scratch magazine will now be overseen by XXL editor-in chief Elliot Wilson and transformed into XXL Presents: Scratch.
Wilson, who has been at the helm of XXL for the past 7 years, will have an advisory role at Scratch, while also working on XXL. The two-and a half year old Scratch, which caters to the spin doctors and beat makers of hip-hop, is set to undergo a few changes, all while still keeping the magazine's core audience in mind.
"I am extremely excited to be given the responsibility to make Scratch magazine a more commercially successful publication while still maintaining its essence," Wilson said. "I respect what Scratch has accomplished in a short time but I know there's much more to achieve."
As his first official act as editorial director, Wilson has appointed former XXL senior online editor Brendan Frederick as the new editor-in chief of Scratch.
"We're taking XXL's savvy take on hip-hop one level deeper with the new Scratch," Frederick explained. "While XXL focuses on MC's personalities, Scratch will dissect the art of making music. Since the magazine already has a solid foundation with producers and DJ's, we're focusing on attracting the everyday hip-hop fan who wants to discover the blood, sweat and tears that goes into popular music's most innovative genre."
The first issue of XXL Presents: Scratch will be the March/April issue and will be available on newsstands on February 6.

Sean 'Diddy' Combs Starts Production On TV Version Of 'Raisin In The Sun'

Sean "Diddy" Combs is transferring his Broadway experience to the small screen in a new television movie adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun.
Production recently started on the three-hour feature in Toronto, Canada. The feature will air on ABC during the 2007 season.
Combs, who received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Walter Lee Jr. in the theatrical version of the drama, will reunite with fellow castmates Phylicia Rashad, Audra McDonald and Sanaa Lathan.
John Stamos for the TV reworking.
Set in the 1950s, A Raisin in the Sun follows a family living and struggling on Chicago's South Side, in a moving portrait of people whose hopes and dreams are constantly deferred.
It was the first play written by an African-American woman to be produced on Broadway.
The play's original cast included Sidney Poitier, Claudia McNeil, Diana Sands, Ruby Dee and Louis Gossett Jr. when it premiered in 1959. A Columbia Pictures feature version of the production with the same cast followed in 1961.
The drama's latest Broadway run resulted in a Best Actress Tony Award for Rashad, a Best Featured Actress Tony Award for McDonald and a Best Featured Actress Tony nomination for Lathan.
The ABC film will be produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, the pair that executive produced the Oscar-winning film, Chicago.
Sean Combs' Bad Boy World Wide Entertainment Group and Sony Pictures Television will also serve as executive producers.
Kenny Leon, who received a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Director for his staging of the play on Broadway, will be make his film debut with the movie
The drama's TV adaptation is the latest acting achievement for Combs, who made his acting debut in the film Made and appeared in Monster's Ball, which starred Halle Berry and Billy Bob Thornton.

Katt Williams, FHM Mag, Proof

Comedian Katt Williams was senteneced to three years probation in Los Angeles, after the comedian pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor firearm charge.Williams, who hosted the BET Hip-Hop Awards and has won critical acclaim for his HBO standup special The Pimp Chronicles Pt. 1, was arrested Nov. 6 at Los Angeles International Airport, after airport security found a gun in his briefcase. A judge also ordered Williams to pay restitution. In related news, Williams hosts DJ Whoo Kid's Pow Radio Pt. 5 mixtape, which also features appearances by 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Lloyd Banks, Young Jeezy, Eminem, Lil' Wayne and others.
The U.S. edition of mens magazine FHM is the latest publication to close its doors, citing "difficult trading in the U.S. market" as the main reason the magazine cannot survive. Parent company Emap said that the U.S. edition of the magazine is suspended because of a downturn in ad sales and news stand sales. The decisicion to halt the U.S. operation does not affect the 30 international editions of FHM, or the UK version of the magazine, which is the leading monthly mens publication in that market.
An 18-song CD from deceased rapper Deshaun "Proof" Holton is on the way, according to The Detroit News. Time A Tell, is an album Proof recorded in a 24-hours, after being challenged by Julius Meyers aka DJ Jewels Baby. "It shows how serious Proof was about recording," Myers told The Detroit News. The album will be released on Proof's Iron Fist Records, which also released the rapper's 2005 solo album, Searching for Jerry Garcia. Proof was shot and killed in April of 2006, during an altercation with a bouncer at a Detroit bar. He was 32.

Notorious B.I.G. Investigation Linked to LAPD Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

A new sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a Los Angeles Police Department officer has connections with the alleged cover-up in the murder investigation of the late Notorious B.I.G.
According to reports, the suit was filed by LAPD Sgt. Ya-May Christle. Christle claimed some department promotions and choice assignments are being handed out in exchange for sexual favors.
Christle, who was part of the LAPD team that reviewed the B.I.G. investigative files and her lawyer said that some of the information she prepared has disappeared and was never forwarded to the rapper's family as ordered by the courts.
Former LAPD deputy chief Michael Berkow is named as a defendant in the suit, which accuses the officer of offering advancement in return for sex as well as maintaining a sleep-in room at the Bradbury Building in downtown Los Angeles.
The building is the same place where police Board of Rights hearings are held and the headquarters for the LAPD's Internal Affairs Division. Berkow recently left the LAPD, after the lawsuit was filed, to become chief of police in Savannah, GA.
Christle also claimed she was transferred and demoted after filing complaints about Berkow's alleged activities. In addition to the LAPD, Christle is suing city of Los Angeles.
Neither Berkow or the LAPD have commented on the suit. An LAPD spokesman said the department never comments on any pending litigation.

DITC Plotting New Album, Diamond D. Talks New Album, Grammy Nod

Producer Diamond D. has revealed that legendary Hip-Hop group Diggin' in the Crates is planning to release a new, untitled album.
The New York-based collective features Diamond D., Fat Joe, Showbiz, A.G., Buckwild, O.C. Lord Finesse and the late Big L, and the group has become legendary for a slew of classic albums as a collective and as solo artists.
“We’re getting back together, but that’s all I can say now," Diamond D. told AllHipHop.com. In the meantime, the producer is hard at work on his latest album, Huge Hefner, which will feature appearances from Q-Tip, Sy Scott, the Beatnuts and others.
Diamond D. was also recently nominated for a Grammy Award, for his production on Jazz/R&B songstress Natalie Cole’s most recent album 2006 album Leavin’.
Diamond D., born Joe Kirkland, produced the hit single “Day Dreaming” on Cole's album.
“I’m glad just to be a part of this whole thing for Natalie,” Diamond told AllHipHop.com. “Dallas Austin was working with her. He asked for me to come through and play some joints for Natalie. She picked about four joints from me, but one she really, really liked. That’s the one that wound up being used for ‘Day Dreaming.’”
Diamond previously won a Grammy in the Best Rap Album category for his work on the title track for The Fugees’ 1996 album, The Score.
The Diggin’ in the Crates member is also known for his work with Brand Nubian, Pharoahe Monch, and his solo work – including 1992’s “I Went For Mine,” which was reworked into Busta Rhymes’ 2006 hit “New York S**t.”

Get To Know Mix Tape Awards Rookie Of The Year

Justo's Mixtape Awards didn't go exactly as planned this year, but that didn't stop Jamaica Queens native DJ Superstar Jay from receiving Rookie Of the Year honors the following day, via a telephone call no less. "They called me up on the phone to tell me that I won, since the joint was shut down like three categories in", Jay explained. The ROTY first touched the tables at age 12, and honed his skills under the watchful eyes of Kid Capri, Ron G., and DJ Clue. After a basketball scholarship landed him briefly in college, Superstar Jay realized that maybe the NBA wouldn't be calling as he had thought. His fallback plan would turn out to be his turntable talents. Currently, Superstar Jay has sold more than 50,000 units to date and Jay is the hottest up and coming powerhouse in the mixtape game right now. A large part of his appeal, is his ability to assemble killer rosters including those ever elusive unobtainable artists and deliver quality product. Check for this kid!

Wyclef Jean Employee Freed From Haitian Kidnappers

An employee of Wyclef Jean who was kidnapped during the rapper's latest visit to his homeland of Haiti was recently freed by his captors.
According to The New York Daily News, Bidthlerson Brutus, a news man for Telemax, a network owned by Wyclef, was abducted near the Port-au-Prince headquarters of the station while Jean was giving away presents to children at the studios.
The kidnappers reportedly demanded a ransom for $250,000 for the safe return of Brutus.
Unable to talk to the hostage-takers directly, Wyclef sent pleas via TV appearances asking the hijackers to let Brutus go.
The following day, Brutus, who had been kept blindfolded for three days, was released without any money being offered to the kidnappers.
"We freed the journalist after considering how much effort Wyclef is doing to help our sisters and brothers in the forgotten ghettos," one of the captors, who identified himself as The Commander, told SOS Journalistes-Haiti, which helped negotiate Brutus' release.
Wyclef suspects the kidnapping may have been related to him laying off employees when he bought Telemax earlier this year.
"I think it was a person who felt hatred," Wyclef told the Daily News." Sometimes the evil side of a person's mind takes over. But later he asks, 'What the hell am I doing?' I'm just happy that Mr. Brutus is home alive."
Despite the incident, Wyclef is focused on bringing prosperity to his native land via his Yele Haiti relief program.
"I'm redoubling my efforts," emphasized Wyclef. "Nothing is going to discourage me."
AS SOHH previously reported, Jean has begun working on his sixth solo album. Titled The Second Wind, Jean has already crafted songs with Mary J Blige and Shakira. He also plans to collaborate with Carlos Santana, Destiny's Child and Whitney Houston, among others.
The Second Wind is scheduled to hit stores in the summer of 2007.