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November 23, 2000

ODB Being Held Without Bail

From MTV.com. Ol' Dirty Bastard will be held without bail in a Philadelphia jail until a December 7 hearing determines whether he is extradited to New York or California, a judge ruled Tuesday (November 28). The Wu-Tang Clan rapper fled a court-mandated drug rehab program in California last month and was arrested as a fugitive Monday afternoon while surrounded by fans in a south Philadelphia McDonald's parking lot (see "O.D.B. Found"). He faces outstanding drug, traffic and domestic violence warrants in New York. "Based simply on geography, New York will probably get him first," said Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Michael O'Gara, who prosecuted O.D.B.for parole violations. Ol' Dirty Bastard was ordered held without bail because he is "obviously a flight risk," said Cathie Abookire, spokesperson for the Philadelphia district attorney's office. Larry Charles, who was said to be the rapper's attorney in Philadelphia, could not be reached for comment. Peter Frankel, the rapper's New York attorney, declined to comment on his client's arrest, but said he is prepared to defend O.D.B.on the criminal charges he faces there, which include cocaine possession charges in Queens and Brooklyn. Ol' Dirty Bastard (born Russell Jones) had been living at the Impact House rehab center in Pasadena, California, after serving six months in county jail for violating probation by drinking alcohol. Last month he fled as he was being transported from the center to Los Angeles Criminal Courthouse (see "Ol' Dirty Bastard Flees Drug-Treatment Facility"). The rapper joined the rest of the Wu-Tang Clan onstage at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom last week. He left the venue without being arrested, despite the presence of numerous police officers outside the venue. The performance was the first time he'd surfaced publicly since his escape (see "ODB Joins Wu-Tang On Stage"). Robert L. Shapiro, the rapper's California attorney, had no comment on the case, his secretary said Tuesday.

American Cream Team Rapper Killed

From MTV.com. NEW YORK-- Bruce Mayfield, a 30-year-old rapper for the Wu-Tang affiliated American Cream Team, was shot and killed Saturday morning over a money dispute, police said. Officials believe Mayfield, who rapped under the handle of Chip Banks or just "Bankie," was gunned down by Alfred Dancy around 7:40 a.m. at the corner of 129th Street and Fifth Avenue in Harlem, according to the New York City Department of Corrections Public Information Office. The rapper was transported to Harlem Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival to the emergency room, a hospital spokesperson said. Dancy, 28, was arrested near the scene by officers who found a .45-caliber semi-automatic weapon on him, the gun they believe was used in the shooting. According to the DCPI's preliminary report, Dancy was injured while being taken into custody and was also taken to Harlem Hospital, where he was treated and then released into police custody. Dancy was arraigned on a felony murder charge and is being held at the Manhattan Detention Complex without bail until a Thursday court date. Mayfield, who hails from Harlem, helped form American Cream Team in 1997 with B-Twizzy, Lord Superb, Rhyme Recka and Trife. The Wu-Tang Clan's Raekwon took the group's name from a verse in "Motherless Child," a song included on Ghostface Killah's Ironman (1996). Under the guidance of Raekwon and Wu-Tang Clan producer Oli "Power" Grant, the Cream Team contributed to the RZA-produced "Ghost Dog" soundtrack, Method Man's Tical 2000: Judgement Day (1998) and Raekwon's Immobilarity (1999), among others. The American Cream Team had been working on their debut album, tentatively titled Only in America, and produced and performed several cuts for last year's "Black and White" soundtrack, with Mayfield taking a solo turn on the song "Stand for Something."

ODB Found

From MTV.com. Rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard's month-long stint as a fugitive — which included an improbable public performance with the Wu-Tang Clan last week — ended Monday afternoon (November 27) in the parking lot of a McDonald's restaurant in south Philadelphia, when police arrested him in front of a mob of fans. Police arrested ODB at 4:17 p.m., after being summoned by the manager of the McDonald's on Grays Ferry Avenue, according to authorities. The rapper, whose real name is Russell Jones, fled court-mandated rehab in California last month and faces outstanding drug warrants in New York. "He was hiding out in south Philadelphia, knowing he has a publicly known face," said a Philadelphia police source, who asked not to be named. "Since he was a star, he was letting it be known — mobs of people were crowding around him." Fearing a disturbance as ODB greeted fans in front of the restaurant, the McDonald's manager phoned police without knowing the rapper's identity, the source said. Police summoned to the scene soon realized who he was and made their way toward him. ODB initially approached the officers, apparently mistaking them for autograph seekers. But when they began to draw their guns, the rapper allegedly jumped in his car and tried to escape, moving toward an exit by way of the restaurant's drive-through lane. Police blocked the exit and arrested the rapper, who allegedly presented an identification card from a check-cashing outlet that bore a fake name. But ODB told police his real name when they asked him for it. The rapper, who was not immediately charged with any new crimes, was in custody Monday night in a cell at a Philadelphia police station, awaiting extradition to either New York or California. "We're going to try to get him down here. I'm sure California is going to try to get him out there," said Ken Holder, bureau chief of narcotics trials for the Queens, New York, district attorney's office, which is prosecuting ODB on a crack-cocaine case. ODB had been living at the Impact House rehab center in Pasadena, California, after serving six months in county jail for violating his probation by drinking alcohol. Last month, he fled as he was being transported from the center to Los Angeles Criminal Courthouse.

Authorities Stepping Up Search For ODB

From MTV.com. Police will step up efforts to find fugitive rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard in the wake of his public performance with the Wu-Tang Clan on Tuesday night, officials said Wednesday (November 22). The rapper, who fled a California rehabilitation center last month, joined the rest of the Wu-Tang Clan onstage at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom in front of hundreds of stunned fans. He left the venue without being arrested, despite the presence of numerous police officers outside the venue. "I don't think anyone had any information that he was in New York until last night — we thought he was in California," said Ken Holder, bureau chief of narcotics trials for the Queens, New York, district attorney's office, which is prosecuting O.D.B. (born Russell Jones) on a crack-cocaine case. The search for O.D.B., who is wanted in California for his flight from rehab and faces warrants on drug charges in Queens and Brooklyn, has not been a high priority for police, according to Holder. "I don't know that he's being actively chased. It's not like he's public enemy number one," he explained. But now that authorities know O.D.B. is in New York, they are likely to catch him, according to Holder, who passed on the news of the rapper's performance to the police department's warrant squad in Brooklyn. The warrant squad officer in charge of O.D.B.'s case could not be reached for comment on Wednesday. Los Angeles deputy district attorney Michael O'Gara, who prosecuted O.D.B. for parole violations, said Wednesday that he expected New York police to find the rapper. "They can't hide him forever," he said. O.D.B.'s lawyer, Robert L. Shapiro, did not return calls for comment on Wednesday.

November 22, 2000

ODB Joins Wu-Tang On Stage

From MTV.com. NEW YORK- -More than a month after fleeing a rehab center and becoming a fugitive from justice, rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard surfaced Tuesday night in a triumphant, if blatantly illegal, performance with the rest of the Wu-Tang Clan in front of hundreds of fans. "I can't stay on the stage too long tonight the cops is after me," ODB told the stunned, gleeful crowd at the Hammerstein Ballroom after joining with the rest of the Clan to perform "Shame on a Nigga." The rapper (born Russell Jones) is wanted by Los Angeles police for his flight from rehab, and he faces two other bench warrants in drug cases in Brooklyn and Queens. However legally risky, ODB's performance at the Wu-Tang Clan's release party for their new album, The W, marked a milestone for the group, according to its leader, rapper/producer RZA. "For the first time in three years, you see the whole Wu-Tang Clan onstage tonight," RZA told the screaming crowd. He had introduced ODB as a "surprise guest." In addition to lending his trademark half-sung rapping to "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nothin' Ta Fuck Wit" and "Shimmy Shimmy Ya," ODB used his time onstage to rant at the crowd. "You know, the whole f---in' world is after me. Y'all know, I'm still surrounded," he said, before explaining that he planned to become "like a bird" and to subsist on "birdseeds or whatever." "You'll see, motherf---ers, you'll see," he concluded. ODB wore a large orange parka and a hat with its tag attached. When he wasn't rapping, he periodically swilled from a bottle. As the show concluded, the numerous police officers outside the Hammerstein Ballroom appeared to be unaware of the presence of a fugitive inside. And as of 12:30 a.m. Wednesday (November 22), New York police had no record of arresting the rapper. ODB's unexpected performance Tuesday night is just the latest in a seemingly never-ending sequence of bizarre actions. In 1998, he jumped onstage during the Grammy Awards as an award was presented to singer/songwriter Shawn Colvin, proclaiming that the Wu-Tang Clan are "for the children." The rapper spent much of last year in courtrooms, appearing on charges of illegally wearing a bulletproof vest, possessing crack cocaine, making terrorist threats, operating a vehicle illegally and stealing a $50 pair of sneakers. He also released his second solo album, Nigga Please. ODB had been living at the Impact House rehab center in Pasadena, California, after serving six months in county jail for violating his probation by drinking alcohol. Last month, he fled as he was being transported from the center to Los Angeles Criminal Courthouse downtown. ODB appears on only one song, "Conditioner," on the Wu-Tang Clan's just-released new album, which is dedicated to him.

Lil' Bow Wow Joins N'Sync On Tour

From SOHH.com. He's a Gold selling artist, he rocks an iced out Mickey Mouse chain around his neck, he's only 13, he's Lil Bow Wow. The young emcee is gaining popularity among the teenage and has signed on to open up for pop mega-group, N'Sync. For those of you that need to see him perform, here are the dates (you older cats, don't try to snatch his chain, he's only 13!):

11/24 - Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand Garden

11/25 - Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand Garden

11/26 - Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center

11/27 - Inglewood, CA @ Great Western Forum

11/28 - Inglewood, CA @ Great Western Forum

12/1 - San Diego, CA @ San Diego Sports Arena

12/2 - San Diego, CA @ San Diego Sports Arena

Cash Money Gives Back To Community

From SOHH.com. After taking charge of the southern bounce music scene this year, Cash Money Records have given something back to the community. Yesterday, the Cash Money roster was at A. L Davis Park in New Orleans giving away free turkeys for the homeless and needy. The good deeds were done in the name of the Johnny & Gladys Williams Foundation named after Cash Money CEOs Ronald and Bryan Williams' deceased parents. The Cash Money crew are also headlining the Jingle Ballers Jam, which just went underway earlier this month. The tour also features Nelly, Lil Kim, Lil Cease, Philly's Most Wanted and many more.

Lyricist Loung Webcast

From SOHH.com. Once again, for those of you who missed the Lyricist Lounge Tour in your city, here your chance to see it. On Sunday November 26, HOB.Com (House of Blues) will be cybercasting the Los Angeles show at 12 p.m. PST/3 p.m. EST for 24 hours. The audio cast will feature live performances from Bahamadia, Slum Village, Master Fu'ol and Pacewon with the Outsidaz. Also check out LyricistLounge.Com for behind the scenes info. House of Blues will also be bringing you more hip-hop cybercasts for the month of December. On December 11 look for an Everlast video webcast. On December 16, Jurassic 5 will be representing on the Vans Warped Tour webcast. And finally, on December 17 you get a double dose of Wu-Tang with a webcast of Method Man & Redman and a webcast of the Wu-Tang Clan performances.

November 21, 2000

First Eminem Cartoon Debuts On SlimShadyWorld.com

From SOHH.com. A week can't go by without a story on Eminem. Last week, SlimShadyWorld.Com launched the first in a series of Slim Shady Show webisodes, titled "Party Crashers". The hilarious flash animated cartoon follows around a group of kids terrorizing another while subtlety dissing Slim's mother, Leonardo DiCaprio and Q-Tip. If you watch real close, you can see special appearances from a couple of South Park characters. In related news, Spin Magazine has named Eminem as artists of the year. The magazine also gave Em single of the year for "The Real Slim Shady". Look for the issue to hit newsstands on December 5. For those of you that want more Eminem in your life, today he will be releasing an authorized bio, Angry Blonde to the masses. The book is filled with black and white and color photos of Em and his crew, plus the publishing of the lyrics to some of the songs on his album, The Marshall Mathers LP. Continuing with his three identities, the inside cover touts, "This book is made by Slim Shady, from the mind of Marshall Mathers, as seen from Eminem's point of view. Got it?"

November 20, 2000

Snoop Dogg On Behind The Music

From SOHH.com. With his last album for No Limit Records set for release on December 16th, Snoop Dogg gets the Behind The Music treatment this week. The episode debuted on VH1 last night and details his youth growing up in Long Beach where his gang affiliations ended with a small stint in prison. The story then follows him to Death Row Records where he shined on Dr. Dre's The Chronic, leading to his own solo debut, Doggystyle. During the episode, Snoop also discusses his murder case, the death of his close friend, Tupac Shakur and his departure from Death Row Records to No Limit Records. You can catch the episode this week on Tuesday November 21 at 6 p.m. EST, Wednesday November 22 at 12 a.m. EST, Friday November 24 at 9 p.m. EST; and, if you miss all those airings, check it out on Sunday, December 10th at 6 p.m. EST.

November 16, 2000

Company Flow Breaks Up

From SOHH.com. According to a press release sent by the band, hip-hop group Company Flow will not record a follow-up to 1997's Funcrusher Plus. El-P and Mr. Len have announced that they will no longer record music as a group and will venture off to pursue their own endeavors. "After eight years of friendship and musical collaboration, Len and I have decided to stop making company flow records," El-P said in a statement. "This is in no way a reflection on our friendship or business together, it is merely a decision meant to honor what has been the most exciting, beautiful and rewarding experience of our careers so far by allowing ourselves to move on and grow." "For a little more than eight years I've had the pleasure of working with one of the illest mc/producers in the industry," Mr. Len added. "We've dealt with bad deals, lost crew members, beef with wack crews, and other situations you all know or think you know about. But through it all, in my eyes, we still made classics. And more than that we made a friendship that could withstand all the trials and tribulations." El-P is currently working with Cannibal Ox, a duo out of Harlem signed to his label, Def Jux. El is also working on former Rage Against The Machine front man, Zack De La Rocha's solo album as well as his own solo joint due out in 2001. Mr. Len has signed to Matador Records and will be releasing his album, Pity The Fool, next year.

November 15, 2000

Red and Meth Albums Pushed Back

From SOHH.com. With the hoopla of their 1999 album, Blackout, dying down, Redman and Method Man are now working on their own their own projects. It was announced earlier this year that Meth and Red would release their albums in December. Now, those plans have been changed. Red's album, entitled Where's Reggie Noble, is tentatively scheduled for release either late January or early February. Guests on the album include Erick Sermon, Saukrates, Method Man, Lady Luck, D'Angelo and others. Meth's album, Tical 0: The Prequel, has been pushed back all the way to March. According to sources, Meth hasn't even stepped in the studio to begin work on the album. He has been given a little leeway since he's been working on the new Wu-Tang Clan album, The W, due out November 21st. Word is that you can also expect another Redman/Method Man album around this time next year.

November 13, 2000

Jay-Z Helps Start New Label

From SOHH.com. After blowing up worldwide with his label, Roc-A-Fella Records, Jay-Z has secured a deal for a new label. The new imprint, Carter Faculty, will operate independently from Roc-A-Fella and will be headed by Jay's cousin Bryant Biggs and his close friend Tyran Smith, who currently manages Memphis Bleek. Def Jam Music Group will distribute the label's releases. Smith also added that although Jay isn't an official partner instrumental in helping secure the deal. The first project to come from the label will be Da Ranjahz' debut album, Build & Destroy due out in mid-2001. The first single, "Say What U Say", features Ja Rule can be found on DJ Clue Presents Backstage: A Hard Knock Life.

Eminem To Release DVD

From SOHH.com. According to HipHopSite.Com, Eminem will be coming out with a DVD in December. The DVD, titled E, will feature a collection of all his videos including uncut versions of "Stan", "Role Model" and "I Don't Give A F*ck". Also included on the DVD will be D-12's "Sh*t On You", a "Blair Witch Skit", plus behind the scenes footage of the "Stan" video shoot. Currently, Em is on tour with Limp Bizkit, Papa Roach and Xzibit on the Anger Management Tour. He recently went five times platinum in Europe, three times platinum in Australia/New Zealand and gold in Mexico, which is reached after moving 75,000 units.

Loud To Release Posthumous Big Pun Album

From SOHH.com. As Big Pun's birthday passes (November 10), LOUD Records announced that it will be releasing a new Big Pun album. Aptly titled, Endangered Species, the album will feature some of Pun's best tracks from his two albums, Capital Punishment and Yeeeah Baby! , as well as collaborations and previously unreleased material included. The album will be released almost exactly one year after his death on February 7, 2001. Big Pun died tragically on February 6, 2000 after suffering a heart attack and respiratory failure. Fat Joe reassures fans that, "This greatest hits album will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt who was and still is the most lyrical rapper ever to touch a mic."

R.I.P. Big Pun aka Christopher Rios

November 10, 2000

Jay-z Celebrates Life On Top

From MTV.com. When you're on top, you've got to enjoy it, and that's precisely what Jay-Z did this week he celebrated the #1 debut of his The Dynasty Roc La Familia 2000 with a party at a Los Angeles roller skating rink Tuesday night. The Brooklyn, New York, rapper got together with Puff Daddy, Ja Rule, Redman, Memphis Bleek, Carmen Electra, Rachel Leigh Cook, Bill Bellamy, Rachel Hunter and others at Skateland in Northridge, California, near Los Angeles, to celebrate his accomplishment, as well as the high chart positions of other rappers. "[Four] hip-hop artists in the top 10. ... It's a beautiful thing," Jay-Z said, pondering next week's album chart, which places the rapper next to Outkast, Nelly, and Ja Rule. Jay-Z's latest sold more than 557,000 copies last week, edging past Outkast, who sold 525,000 copies of Stankonia. "Shout out to Outkast," Jay-Z said. "It's a good thing for hip-hop in general. Just to have two artists sell over half a million records in one week. It's just incredible for both of us to do the numbers that we're doing and come in and be #1 and #2 on the charts in the country." Jay-Z puffed what he called a "victory cigar" at the Tuesday night soiree as he savored his perch atop the Billboard album heap and spoke about the people who put him there. "I want to thank all the fans out there, everybody out there for making me #1 in the country," Jay-Z said. "I really, really appreciate all the support over the years. This is my fifth album in four years, and they're still right there with me, like all the way, even stronger. My first album did 34,000 units the first week, maybe 40,000. ... It's a long way from half a million. It's a long, long way."

Rawkus Readies Lyricist Lounge 2

From SOHH.com. For the past couple of years the Lyricist Lounge brand name has been blowing up across the nation with the MTV show, The Lyricist Lounge Show and the annual U.S. tour. Now get ready to be hit with the Lyricist Lounge, Vol. II compilation album set to be released November 28th on Rawkus Records. Featured artists on the album include Mos Def, Dead Prez, Talib Kweli, Q-Tip, Notorious B.I.G., M.O.P., Kool G Rap, Beanie Sigel, Redman and a host of others. Production duties are handled by the likes of DJ Premier, Prince Paul, The Alchemist, Erick Sermon, Rockwilder, and DJ Hi-Tek, among others. The first single and video comes from a collaboration between Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch and Nate Dogg on the track "Oh No" (audio courtesy of Tha-Real.Com. In a statement, Lyricist Lounge co-founder Anthony Marshall, who's mother appears on an interlude, said, "Our mission with this album is to bring the Lyricist Lounge brand to the next level. We did a pretty good job of introducing ourselves with the first album; now we're showing people not only have we evolved, but also, the artists we've been working with for a long time- Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch, Punchline and Wordsworth- have grown too."

Beef Between Priority and Deathrow Records

From SOHH.com. Now that Deathrow has released Snoop's Dead Man Walkin', Priority Records, the rapper's label now, is upset according to a Deathrow press release. According to the release, Priority has issued a statement to radio stations nationwide that if they play any track from the Deathrow release, they will refuse to provide promotional and advertising material as well as live performances and interviews. The release says that Priority has issued this threat in an effort to encourage fans to purchase Snoop's upcoming album, The Last Meal, due for release in December. A Deathrow spokesperson said, "It's just the music business. Radio may be laying down on our record but the album is doing extremely well on the street and in the stores. Despite this opposition, we have a great piece of product, and it hasn't stopped consumers from buying it."

November 8, 2000

Funkmaster Flex Readies New Mixtape

From SOHH.com. Hot 97 DJ, Funkmaster Flex is gearing up for the release of his fourth mixtape. 60 Minutes of Funk Volume IV: The Mixtape will feature tracks from Eminem, Nelly, Xzibit, Ludacris, M.O.P., Faith Evans and a host of others. The project is scheduled for release on December 5 on LOUD Records. The first single from the album, "Do You", features DMX and is #36 on the on the Hip-Hop/R&B singles charts. For those interested, other upcoming projects from LOUD Records include Prodigy's H.N.I.C (11/14), Wu-Tang Clan, The W (11/21), Xzibit, Restless (12/12) and in 2001 Big Pun's Endangered Species, Project Pat, X-ecutioners, Beatnuts, Gangsta Boo, Krayzie Bone, Tha Liks, Shyhiem, and many more.

November 7, 2000

Bad Boy Entertainment Host's 4th Annual All-Star Weekend

From SOHH.com. Next week, Bad Boy Entertainment will be hosting their 4th Annual Atlanta All-Star Weekend. "5 Days of Pure Chaos" will begin on Wednesday, November 15th with a party at the Velvet Room. There are various events being held throughout the week, leading up to a Sunday, November 19th basketball game between So So Def and Bad Boy, a Bad Boy comedy show, a Sean John Fashion Show, a Bad Boy Skate Fest and a flag football game between Bad Boy and the Dungeon Fam. The grand finale will take place Sunday evening at the Riviera where Bad Boy Records will celebrate their platinum success. Featured performers include Shyne, Black Rob, Carl Thomas, Faith Evans and Puff Daddy. For more information on the events planned, check out BadBoyOnline.Com.

GZA Shooting Wu-tang Documentary

From Sonicnet.com. Raekwon may be known as the "Chef" of Wu-Tang Clan, but he won't be the only member of the hip-hop group working the pots and pans in an upcoming Wu-Tang documentary. "A lot of it has to do with us in the kitchen cookin', throwin' food, havin' debates, speakin' about things," Wu-Tang MC GZA, who is directing the project, said recently. "With real fine editing, it could be nice." GZA has been compiling footage for a documentary on the Staten Island, New York, group ever since Wu-Tang reunited in the spring to begin work on their third album, The W (November 21). The rappers holed up in a house in Los Angeles for two months during pre-production for the LP. "I'm trying to finish it up, but as time goes on, there's always more I want in there," GZA said about the film, which has no release date planned yet. "Documentaries sometimes can be shot over 10 years. You plan to stop in two, but you still gotta catch more." GZA originally planned to make a documentary about himself and began shooting footage while he was on a solo tour in Europe. He found the experience so liberating that he decided to broaden his plans and tackle a Wu documentary.

November 6, 2000

Master P, and Eve Join Snoop For "Last Meal"

From MTV.com. As he prepares his last album for No Limit Records, Snoop Dogg is making the most of his partnership with label CEO Master P, landing the rapper/mogul for a guest spot on the album and perhaps a tour next year. Snoop is putting the finishing touches on his Tha Last Meal, which will arrive on December 19 and feature Master P as a guest artist, No Limit said in a statement. Eve, George Clinton, Eastsidaz, MC Ren, Nate Dogg, Lady of Rage and Kokane also will appear on the album, No Limit said. No Limit publicist Barbara Pescosolido said that Snoop and Master P have also been talking about mounting a joint tour next year that would see No Limit artists sharing a bill with acts from Snoop's recently launched Dogghouse Records. Snoop and No Limit have already begun the push for Tha Last Meal by releasing its first single — the Timbaland-produced "Snoop Dogg" — to radio stations.

Made Man Is A Free Man

From SOHH.com. After being sentenced to 30 days in jail for disorderly conduct, Made Men group member, Ray 'Benzino' Scott is a free man. He was released last Friday (11/3) from the Norfolk Correctional Facility in Dedham, Mass. After being convicted on charges stemming from a 1998 incident in a Boston nightclub. After being released, Ray told the Boston Herald that, "we cannot stand here and say racial profiling in Boston is not happening. We cannot stand here and say that hip-hop artists with braids, leather coats and jewelry are not looked upon as different people in society. It's a problem.'' While in prison, Ray also worked on a book of poetry, art and positive messages that he collaborated on with other inmates. The book is titled Incarcerated Tears and is scheduled to be published in January, with volume two coming soon there after. The new Made Men album, Black Friday is due out in February.

Al Gore Stopped Rap-A-Lot Investigation?

From SOHH.com. Last week, after light was shed on Bush's 24 year-old DUI charge, NLPC (National Legal and Policy Center) president Peter Flaherty requested that the media look into allegations that Vice President Al Gore was instrumental in stopping the narcotics investigation into James Prince and his label, Rap-A-Lot Records. The request is in an effort to make matters "fair" since Bush's DUI conviction was an issue. According to reports, the investigation stopped in March after Gore made a campaign appearance at a church in Houston, where Prince was in attendance. Prince made a $1 million donation and bought the pastor a Mercedes Benz. According to FBI documents, the probe was stopped due to "political interference." Attorney General, Janet Reno, has recently called for an investigation as to why the probe was closed. No word if the investigation will be re-opened.

Blaze Battle On HBO

From SOHH.com. HBO continues to shine with their superb programs and documentaries and soon they'll add another winner to their top-notch programming. Last Thursday, HBO was at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom to tape the Blaze Battle Face-Off 2000 World Championships to air on the channel November 25th at 11:30 p.m. EST, and then again on November 29th. Hosted by KRS-One, sixteen emcees competed for the glory with Minnesota's Eyedea walking away with the trophy and Blaze Battle leather jacket and a chance to get signed to a recording contract. A&Rs from Jive, Rawkus, Priority, and Bad Boy were all in the house. There was also performances from Mystikal, Black Rob and Shyne. During Shyne's performance, an audience member threw a helmet at the rapper. He left the stage and entered the crowd which set off a commotion that lasted sixty seconds. He then returned to the stage, cursing out the audience and finished his performance. No word on if charges were ever filed.

November 3, 2000

De La Soul & Slick Rick Headline Invert 2000

From SOHH.com. On November 17, the Invert 2000 Hip-Hop Jam at the Anaheim Convention Center Arena in Anaheim, California will kick off the three-day Invert 2000 Vertical Sports Carnival. The show will feature Pharcyde, Souls Of Mischief, Casual, Lord G with De La Soul and Slick Rick headlining. The event is being produced by Da Entity Entertainment and Medior Entertainment who also produces Invert TV, Pump TV, and Blue Torch TV on Fox Sports Net. The show will be taped with segments featured on the Fox Sports Net programs. Da Entity and Medior also came together to produce the Invert 2001 Hip-Hop Compilation which is scheduled to hit stores in spring 2001. The album will feature tracks from established artists as well as up and coming acts.

Houston Emcee Arrested

From SOHH.com. It appears as though the rap game hasn't been too lucrative for a Houston rapper. Andre "007" Barnes of one-time Rap-A-Lot group, The 5th Ward Boyz, is a suspect in three bank robberies in a Houston suburb. Apparently Barnes allegedly held up the banks by passing a note to the teller threatening them with injury or death if they did not cooperate. The banks that were held were Hometown Bank of Friendswood on Oct. 2, Guaranty Federal on Oct. 10 and a Bank One branch on Oct. 27. According to Barnes ex-girlfriend, he is "laying low" to avoid arrest. His ex-girlfriend went to police after she saw a report that named her car as the getaway vehicle in the robberies. A witness remembered a portion of the license plate after the October 10 robbery and reported to police, which narrowed the search down. A new album from the 5th Ward Boyz, Recognize The Real is expected to be released this fall on Underground Records.

November 2, 2000

Eminem Loses Rhyme Notebook

From MTV.com. Will whoever has Slim Shady's notebook please stand up? Eminem has lost a notebook that contains the lyrics to an upcoming album with his group D-12, and is offering a cash reward or a chance to meet him in exchange for its return. The songs have not yet been recorded, according to the rapper's spokesperson, Dennis Dennehy. Eminem last saw the spiral notebook on Friday during a Delta Air Lines flight from Cincinnati to New Orleans, according to a statement from his label, Interscope. The notebook sports a picture of Britney Spears on its cover. Eminem's first album with D-12, a group of Detroit rappers whom he's known since before he found fame with 1999's The Slim Shady LP, is expected in March or April, according to Dennehy. Eminem recently released the single "Sh-- on You" with D-12, which includes the Everlast-dissing B-side "I Remember." Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Eminem's notebook can call 1-888-311-4343, or send e-mail to found@eminem.com.

Student's Want Eminem Concert Cancelled

From SOHH.com. A week after Canadian officials considered banning Eminem from performing in their country, yet another group wants Em to cancel his show in Illinois tonight. "I believe this concert is an explicit form of harassment. This is the university profiting from hate masqueraded as entertainment," University of Illinois student, Nick Sakurai told World Entertainment News Network. Other students joining Sakuri believe that Em is sexist and anti-gay. Bill Murphy, University spokesperson, said that they couldn't cancel the show because they're under contract. "We sold 8,000 tickets in the first two hours of them going on sale, so although some students are opposed, lots of them want to see the concert," he said. Students say that some of Em's lyrics violate the university's policy against discrimination, and plan to hold a demonstration outside of the show tonight.

Grandmaster Flash To Create New DJ Battle

From SOHH.com. Legendary DJ, Grandmaster Flash recently announced that he will be creating a new DJ battle competition called, Grandmaster Flash World Turntable Invitational. In the announcement, Flash states that he wants to re-introduce the concept of the DJ battles that took place in the late 70s. Original and unique record selections will be demanded; clean execution of needle dropping, cutting and scratching on beat is mandatory. Neither ready-made breakbeat or sample records will be allowed--nor covering of the records with marking tape. Let the real DJs stand up! In 2001, Flash will hold preliminary battles in five different cities with the winners flying to New York to compete in the championship. Invitations will be sent out to world famous DJs or those who have retired from the battle scene. The grand champ will receive a "hefty" cash prize along with other rewards.

November 1, 2000

Outkast to Perform At Times Square

From SOHH.com. To celebrate and promote the release of their new album, Outkast will be performing in Times Square this week. With the new album, Stankonia, in stores now, Andre 3000 and Big Boi will make their way to the MTV studios on Thursday November 2 for an appearance on TRL. After the appearance, they will head down to the Virgin Megastore for a signing and a performance from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. The new album features two different covers and 24 tracks of that southern funk. Guests on the album include Goodie Mob, Erykah Badu, Gangsta Boo, B-Real, Slimm Calhoun and other members from the Dungeon Family. Outkast and Organized Noize handled production duties.