Gotti is listed in the report as Irving Lorenzo, a music producer at IG Records at a Manhattan address.

He was a last-minute contributor, paying by credit card on Wednesday, according to the report. His fame grew with hits for Ashanti, Ja Rule and Jay-Z, although Lorenzo has since moved into reality TV. In 2005, he and his brother were acquitted of federal charges that they used his record label, then known as Murder Inc., to launder money for a drug kingpin.

Although Fenty’s image has been largely defined by his athleticism and retail politics, Fenty is a hip-hop head, according to friends. Last May, Fenty proved his rap knowledge by joining in with RUN DMC’s Darryl McDaniels when he spat a few rhymes after a news conference on foster care.

Lorenzo’s $1,000 contribution was part of $327,305.51 that Fenty raised from Feb. 1 through Wednesday, bringing his total to more than $3.9 million for his reelection campaign.

He’s closer to earning what political insiders are calling him: the $4 million man. Fenty, however, has spent some funds. He has $3.3 million in cash on hand, according to the report.

Stay tuned to D.C. Wire for more on the campaign finance filings.

Source: Nikita Stewart, Washington Post

On the Web: http://www.fentyreelect.com

That being said, along the course of the campaign, much was made about the question whether America was “ready” for a black president. History has now recorded that at least 52.6% of it is. To many of us, this is wonderful news, breathing life back into the lofty, never-ending aspiration we have been chasing for generations, that of forming a more perfect union. The bells of change have been ringing from the upper class echelon, the well-worn halls of congress to the gritty streets of Everyhood, USA, ever since.

Young urban America has emphatically followed suit, and are particularly quick to remind anyone who will listen that their president is black. Yet, despite the finally-harnessed force of the hip-hop cultural voter bloc, voices of hip-hop luminaries were noticeably hushed during the improbable, yet impressive ascension of Senator Barack Obama to the highest office in any land. Despite the hip-hop generation’s excitement and attachment it feels to their president, it is not lost on anyone that Obama is not exactly a card-carrying member of the trap. A Harvard-educated lawyer who, raised in Hawaii, our next leader was never a candidate to be called Lil’ Barack or Yung Obama, despite his invocation of Jay-Z when brushing Hilary off his shoulder. However, although his connection to hip-hop might be cursory, it can be argued that Sedgwick and Cedar was as much responsible for his victory as his extraordinary campaign, the economic meltdown or the collective “anyone-but-another-republican” American sentiment.

Political observers have long surmised that in any election, especially those on a presidential level, would easily swing toward the left if only African-American, Latino and young voters would show up at the polls, yet surges in interest among these groups in the past fizzled before Election Day. For the most part, these groups just hadn’t voted with the kind of numbers necessary to wrench control away from the status quo political landscape, and even the intervention of Hollywood and youth-oriented voting drives, the youth never quite rocked the vote. In fact, despite a rather ominous threat from a certain iconic figure in hip-hop, when they did not vote, no one actually died.

Well, what a difference four years make. According to CIRCLE, a non-partisan research group, voters aged 18 to 29 increased this election year by at least 2.2 million. Exit polls conducted by MSNBC show that as much as 65% of this group voted for Obama. Again, much of this can be attributed to the Obama campaign’s ridiculously effective use of the internet and Obama’s often criticized “rock star” likability, as well as the huge slant from African-American voters as a whole. But there is more to consider.

In particular, these young voters, particularly the white ones, are the combined members of, and children of, the hip-hop generation. These are the members of society that were enthralled by the realism and guttural excitement portrayed on the big screen watching Boyz In Tha Hood, entranced by the ghetto chronicles of The Chronic and engaged to the adoption of a hip-hop influenced lifestyle. These became the actual “swing voters”, relatively young, white Americans, who were less likely to feel any prejudice toward a candidate based on his color, in part because their lives have been more integrated than any previous generation. Very few sociological forces have heightened a cross-cultural acceptance than the enormously popular influence of the hip-hop sub-culture, and the overwhelming tolerance that hip-hop helped usher into American life may have loosened the jar of racism just enough to edge the 2008 election toward Obama.

Let’s analyze.

My youngest children are 10 and 9, are biracial, and (I might be biased here) are intelligent slightly beyond their years. But like nearly every youngster in America, school, TV, their peers and their parents made it very clear the enormous significance of an Obama nomination and possible election. Many did as I did, personally involving their children in this historic event. I brought mine into the polling booth, and we all simultaneously pulled the lever signaling my vote for the 44th president of the United States. I wanted them to be a part of it, waking them up as soon as CNN projected Obama the overall winner, and again when he delivered his victory speech later that night. To me, and millions of others, this was gigantically monumental. To them, it was moderately cool.

To present an oversimplified analogy, it reminded me of the time we visited Jones Beach to view an air show. Fighter jets, biplane’s flipping and twirling, Army parachutists gliding into the ocean, it was a delightfully impressive event. But to kids, apparently, a plane is a plane, and after a few glances upward, they were just as happy to dig in the sand as I was to watch an F-18 scream by with unparalleled mechanical ferocity.

It’s not that they don’t get it. As unfathomable as an Obama victory may have seemed to the rest of us, to my children, the thought of an African-American running for president and winning was really nothing much more than a 50/50 possibility. There were two guys. One would win, one wouldn’t. The only reason that it was a big deal to them was because it was a big deal to me, and to the rest of the world. Without the constant attention on the historical significance of such a victory, many children might only have had the slightest realization of exactly why this is so groundbreaking.

This is good and bad. As the sting of the injustice which caused the civil rights movement slowly fades from daily life, overt racism continues to slowly skulk from view, and families, communities and cultural influences continue to become increasingly integrated, if we look hard enough, we can see that there is more tolerance, more acceptance, and in some areas, absolutely no exposure to prejudicial environments. While it is important to never lose sight of the painfully difficult times in our nation’s history, we can also afford to realize and be thankful that 18-40 years olds have been alive during a time where there has been an exponential acceptance of the ideals of racial and cultural integration, in no small part fueled by the general public’s exposure to, involvement with and acceptance of hip-hop music and culture.

While the country has taken an enormous step toward realizing the much heralded dream of Dr. King, as well as the private hopes of countless citizens, it is unfortunately just as clear that racial prejudices still exist, and in some areas, by some people, are as disturbingly prevalent as ever. But this year, we saw not only an endorsement of equality hinting that King’s dream could indeed be on its way to fulfillment, but we witnessed a strong showing by the upcoming generation of American citizens who are open to openness, and in proving themselves as such, give extra meaning to the mantras of “hope” and “change” so dominant in the Obama campaign.

While much is said about the negative influences of hip-hop, the aversion to stereotypical images of thuggery and demeaning lyrical content, even the call for laws banning sagging pants, there is a benefit to be gained from the global admiration of a culture that is decidedly American in its creation and evolution, one that has, for better or worse, long captured the attention of American youth of all races, and in its wake, just may have helped pave the way to a time when true U.N.I.T.Y. is no longer just a song, but a frame of mind that continues to lead us all to a better, brighter future in our beloved country.

Source: Manny Faces, Birthplace Magazine

On the Web: http://www.birthplacemag.com/2008/11/how-hip-hop-helped-elect-barack-obama/

According to the police report, obtained by TMZ, Wright was pulled over at 3:37 AM after cops noticed he was driving erratically.

Cops say they approached the vehicle and when they began talking with Wright, they noticed “red and watery eyes, odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath, and low and slurred speech.”

Cops say the 24-year-old couldn’t provide current insurance information — they also discovered he was driving on a suspended driver’s license.

Wright was taken to a nearby jail where he was booked for DUI and driving on a suspended license.

Earlier in the evening, Wright played 22 minutes in the Heat’s victory over the Los Angeles Clippers — but he only scored one point in the game.

Source: TMZ

On The Web: http://www.tmz.com/2010/03/11/dorell-wright-nba-dui-arrest-miami-heat/#ixzz0hugmpgRy

The troubled hip-hop artist was arrested Tuesday in Phoenix for violating his probation after telling his probation officer that he’s been using cocaine and otherwise not complying with the court-ordered rules he’s supposed to be living by.

He was duly locked up after being booked on five counts of probation violation, having now racked up nearly a dozen arrests in three years.

DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, served 90 days in jail last year on animal cruelty, theft and marijuana and narcotics possession charges, then managed to avoid yet another go-round in the pokey by pleading guilty to aggravated assault for throwing a food tray at a guard while he was locked up.

With everything seeming to be on the up and up for DMX, who was supposed to return to Florida to cut a new album, what went wrong?

Well, for one thing, the Cradle 2 the Grave star needs more rehab, according to his lawyer. Possibly even Celebrity Rehab.

“He’s been battling addiction for some time and he’s in need of treatment,” attorney Gary Jenkins told TMZ. “We’re hoping that Dr. Drew may be able to help him out.”

Considering DMX has been auditioning for Drew Pinsky’s VH1 show for a few years now, perhaps it’s time the good doc gave him a chance.

Source: Natalie Finn, E! Online

According to RadarOnline.com, Jungers took home the title and a $75,000 cash prize in the shock jock’s beauty pageant composed of Woods’ former lovers.

Also vying for the prize were ex-mistresses Loredana Jolie and Jaimee Grubbs, who is said to have won $15,000 for finishing in second place.

Jungers reportedly came out the winner after answering most of Stern’s prying questions, including those about Woods’ endowments and turn-ons.

The golfer’s No. 1 mistress, Rachel Uchitel, was reportedly banned from participating in the contest due to a settlement agreement with Woods, TMZ.com reported.

No word yet on who rated the women, though it’s doubtful Woods’ estranged wife, Elin, accepted Stern’s offer to judge.

Source: Cristina Everett, NY Daily News

On The Web: http://www.howardstern.com

The Notorious B.I.G. was gunned down in Los Angeles on March 9, 1997, as he left a Soul Train Music Awards afterparty. To date, the assailants remain at large.

Investigations into the murder of the Brooklyn rapper are ongoing, and a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by Biggie’s mother, Voletta Wallace, and others against the city of Los Angeles and other defendants is also pending.

The ongoing quest to punish the people behind Biggie’s death, however, continues to leave those involved frustrated.

Ms. Wallace declined to comment on the status of her lawsuit but issued a brief statement to MTV News: “I thank you for the opportunity to touch [my son's] fans and for the network’s continued support of me and the family, but it’s been 13 years, I miss my son, his children miss their father, and the murderer is still at large.”

Theories abound about the murder of the iconic rapper, which occurred only a short distance from the Petersen Automotive Museum where Biggie, Diddy and their entourage were celebrating just moments before. According to author Randall Sullivan’s book “LAbyrinth,” associates of Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight, who was embroiled in a feud with Diddy’s Bad Boy Records, conspired to kill Biggie. The book, based on extensive research conducted by Sullivan and interviews the writer held with former Los Angeles Police Department detective Russell Poole, an investigator into Biggie’s murder, those involved in the hit on Biggie were dirty cops.

“They say some cops become gangbangers; well, these guys were essentially gangbangers who became cops,” Poole told MTV News.

Rafael Perez and David Mack, Poole alleged, were just two of the many LAPD officers who were on the payroll of Death Row Records. According to Poole, the officers’ primary sense of duty and allegiance to the police force was tainted by their involvement with Death Row. The two eventually went to prison but on charges unrelated to the investigation into the Notorious B.I.G. murder.

Poole maintains there were clues that pointed to each man that should have been looked into further. “I’ve put away guys for life with less evidence [than I had on Perez and Mack],” Poole said.

Through a complex web of deceit intended to shield the LAPD from a controversial scandal, Poole said, members of the force, including the chief at the time, suppressed efforts to look into policemen who were connected to Suge Knight and Death Row.

Poole eventually resigned in protest, amid his frustrations that the investigation was being sabotaged.

A representative for the LAPD declined to comment when contacted by MTV News about the status of the rapper’s murder investigation. At one point, the FBI picked up the investigation but later announced it had stopped its pursuit. A representative for the FBI also declined to comment when contacted by MTV News.

Ms. Wallace’s wrongful-death lawsuit remains open. The case was brought to trial at one point, but days later it was declared a mistrial after it was discovered the detective who took over as lead investigator in Biggie’s murder hid evidence. The mistrial was announced July 7, 2005, however, no further advancements have been made since in pushing the case to trial again.

Poole alleged that police initially sought to slow down the investigation into Biggie’s murder in order to keep the lid on possible LAPD involvement in the crime. Now, he said, the new administration and Los Angeles’ power players are striving to keep the truth buried for fear that civil-lawsuit payouts could bankrupt the economically challenged city. In any event, the former detective said he’s ready to be a witness in Ms. Wallace’s case and will testify whenever he is called upon.

For now, Poole waits, haunted by a puzzling case in which he seems to have too many pieces gathered to not complete the full picture.

“I want this thing solved before I die,” he said. “Every detective has a case that they think about each and every day, and this is the case right there. This is the case I think about every single day before I go to bed. It never goes away. It’ll haunt me for the rest of my life. The day it’s solved, I’ll be able to relax.”

Source: Jayson Rodriguez, MTV

The Grammy Award-winning rapper delivered only a brief bow to fans and supporters as he was led out of a courtroom in handcuffs to start serving his sentence.

With that, Lil Wayne headed off to face his punishment in a case that had shadowed him as he became one of music’s most prolific and profitable figures in recent years. Arrested in July 2007, he pleaded guilty in October to attempted criminal possession of a weapon. He admitted he had the loaded .40-caliber semiautomatic gun on his bus.

His lawyer, Stacey Richman, said the rapper was resolute as he was taken away.

“He knew what he had to do, and he’s doing it,” she said.

Lil Wayne will serve his sentence in the Rikers Island jail complex. Richman said she expected he would be held in protective custody, but the city Correction Department said it was still deciding on that. Protective custody is given to inmates who, for a variety of reasons including notoriety, require separation from the general prison population.

The 27-year-old rap star could be released in about eight months with good behavior.

Lil Wayne, born Dwayne Carter, is going behind bars with his career in full throttle. His “Tha Carter III” was the best-selling album of 2008 and won a Grammy for best rap album. His latest album, “Rebirth,” was released last month.

He made a point of leaving fans with fanfare, from a “farewell tour” in recent months to a series of videos on the Web site Ustream on Sunday.

“Law is mind without reason … I’ll return,” he wrote on his Twitter account Monday morning.

Dozens of fans jockeyed with photographers waiting on the courthouse steps Monday afternoon, cheering as Lil Wayne, fellow rapper Birdman and others arrived. Shouts of “Oh, man” and “Keep your head up, Weezy!” – a nickname he often uses – erupted in the courtroom as he was sentenced.

Although Lil Wayne had agreed to go to jail, a number of roadblocks kept him from starting his sentence in recent weeks.

First, his sentencing was postponed in February so he could undergo surgery on his bejeweled teeth. Then, a fire shut down Manhattan’s main criminal courthouse while he was on his way there last week.

He told Rolling Stone for a story last month that he planned to keep working while behind bars.

“I’ll be still rapping in there, have a gang of raps ready when I come back home,” he said.

As for listening to music, inmates are allowed to buy AM/FM radios at the jail commissary.

Source: Jennifer Peltz, AP

She claims her cellphone was stolen at the BET Hip-Hop Awards in October and that the thief is asking for money in exchange for the pics.

[The images are] me on a very upset day — I think I was in Canada, upset crying,” Trina, 31, told MTV.com.

Just personal stuff. Photos in the studio. I think [one] was me having an allergic reaction, breaking out. I just think it was my personal stuff and for someone to do that is so, so wrong.

She later added,

So now I’m actually having it looked into by the FBI and it’s gonna be a bigger situation than just leaked photos. Hopefully we can deal with the situation and put an end to it.

In one of the photos, Trina’s face is swollen. Her doc says it was from a breakout caused by an allergic reaction to shellfish or makeup.

Source: Miami Herald

The “i know” campaign is sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which aims to draw thousands of young people into a conversation about HIV using Facebook, Twitter, text messages and a website (actagainstaids.org). It launches today with an event at Clark Atlanta University that will be webcast to students nationwide.

If it works as the CDC hopes, young African Americans will no longer be passive consumers of HIV-prevention messages. Instead, they’ll become vocal advocates armed with information that will help them protect themselves and one another from HIV, says Kevin Fenton, director of the CDC’s national center of HIV/AIDS prevention. “We’re trying to create a movement,” Fenton says.

The initiative is part of a five-year, $45 million effort called Act Against AIDS, announced last year at the White House. The broader effort was designed to “refocus attention on the HIV epidemic here at home” after years of addressing the crisis in Africa and elsewhere, says Robert Bailey II of the CDC.

Public health officials say one of their biggest challenges is to shatter the complacency bred by the misconception that, thanks to effective treatment, HIV is no longer an emergency.

The AIDS virus continues to spread widely among African Americans, who represent just 14% of Americans ages 13-29 but account for half of new infections in that group, the CDC reports. Young black gay and bisexual men account for 55% of infections among African Americans in that age group, the CDC says.

Yet the number of young blacks who say they’re concerned about HIV declined from 50% to 40% from 1997 to 2009, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Tina Hoff, who leads Kaiser’s efforts to convey prevention messages through the entertainment industry and social media, says Internet networking can raise awareness, but only as part of a comprehensive strategy.

Last fall, the foundation set out to bolster the White House initiative with its Greater Than AIDS campaign, launched with the Black AIDS Institute, MTV, BET, Essence and other media enterprises. What’s needed, Hoff says, is a “collective response” in the African-American community: “Building a social network is a useful component of that.”

Source: USA TODAY, Steve Sternberg

As their star rapper Lil Wayne prepares to go to jail next month, the founders of rap record label Cash Money Records appear to be on the hunt for a new kind of bling — this one involving black gold.

The label’s co-founders, Bryan “Birdman” Williams and his brother, Ronald “Slim” Williams, have launched an energy exploration enterprise under the name Bronald Oil & Gas LLC, which they describe as an “independent oil and gas company focused on exploration and development of assets in several US Gulf Coast states and Osage County in Oklahoma.”

What began as an image on Bryan “Birdman” Williams’ head (above) may turn into a reality as the Cash Money Records mogul seeks a new venture to take the place of the label’s rapper Lil Wayne, who is going to jail.

Details about Bronald are scant, and the Williams brothers have declined requests for details. However, sources said the Bronald name — a rollup of the brothers’ first names — has been around for two years.

The firm on its Web site says it plans to “grow through development and via the acquisition of prospective acreage that complements its existing assets and exploits the abilities of the Company’s technical resources.”

The company also says it is committed to “preserving the environment, promoting worker safety and maximizing the potential output of various oil and gas assets.”

The idea of celebrities diversifying into other businesses isn’t new. Former basketball great Magic Johnson has had an equally successful career in real estate, and just yesterday revealed an interest in publishing by holding talks to buy African-American magazine Ebony. Meanwhile, ex-boxer Evander Holyfield last year outlined plans to build a solar farm on his vast estate in Georgia, with plans to sell the power generated from the farm.

And the Williams brothers aren’t alone in wanting to get in on the energy business, which though well off its highs from a couple of years ago, is still well above historic levels, with some analysts predicting a return to triple-digit crude prices once the economy recovers.

It would also seem the oil business is close to the heart of Bryan Williams, who has an oil drilling rig tattooed on his head.

Nevertheless, the Bronald Web site is short on details of the company’s business, except for a short video featuring a montage of oil rigs and derricks. Further, several attempts by The Post to reach an official at the company came up short.

Instead, the site features as a bio of Bronald’s founders an article titled, “Cash Money Records: Still Blinging After All These Years,” which details the Williams brothers’ rise from a New Orleans housing project to rap superstars.

Source: Mark DeCambre, NY Post

Ain’t kidding.

Put away those paper bags forever: Drew Brees and the Saints are NFL champions, rallying to beat Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 Sunday night in one of pro football’s most thrilling title games.

Brees tied a Super Bowl record with 32 completions, the last a 2-yard slant to Jeremy Shockey for the winning points with 5:42 remaining. The Pro Bowl quarterback was chosen Super Bowl MVP.

New Orleans’ lowly ranked defense made several key stops, an onside kick sparked their second-half comeback, and Tracy Porter’s 74-yard interception return on a pass from Manning, of all people, clinched it.

Manning gave chase, but fell awkwardly as the cornerback raced by. The four-time NFL MVP forlornly walked to the sideline as the Big Easy celebrations began. Who would have thought the biggest mistake of the game would have come from Manning?

An NFL embarrassment for much of their 43 years, the Saints’ football renaissance, led by Brees and coach Sean Payton, climaxed with Shockey’s touchdown and Lance Moore’s 2-point conversion catch. The conversion pass originally was ruled incomplete, but Payton challenged the call and won.

Porter’s pick, just as dramatic as his interception of Brett Favre’s pass to force overtime in the NFC title game, was the game’s only turnover. It’s one Manning will forever regret.

The Saints (16-3) won three postseason games this winter after winning only two in the previous 42 years. They beat Arizona, Minnesota and Indianapolis (16-3) — all division winners — for their first title, scoring 107 points and allowing only 59.

The championship came 4 1/2 years after Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans, making the Saints nomads for the 2005 season. There even was some doubt they would return, but the NFL refused to abandon the Big Easy. The Superdome was rebuilt and the Saints won the NFC South in ‘06, their first season with Brees and Payton.

That was the season Manning won his only Super Bowl. He had the Colts in front for much of this one, but New Orleans’ league-leading offense, which scored 510 points this season, outscored Indy 31-7 after falling behind 10-0.

Source: Associated Press

Ja Rule — real name Jeff Atkins — had argued in a two-week hearing last spring that cops had no cause to search his Maybach after a concert at the Beacon Theatre and seize a .40-cal, unlicensed handgun found inside. Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Richard Carruthers denied the motion this morning.

The judge did throw the rapper one crumb — his helpful statement to cops that he had “a little weed” in his pocket can’t be used against him.

“We disagree with the decision, but we’ll tend to other issues now,” said defense lawyer Stacey Richman.

Next fight for the hip-hop big will be against the methodology investigators used to match a microscopic amount of DNA recovered from the gun to Ja’s own profile, Richman said.

He remains free on bail on gun possession charges carrying a mandatory minimum of 3 and 1/2 years prison; his next court date is March 3.

Source: Laura Italiano, NY Post

Rapper Bun B hosted a benefit concert at Warehouse live. He said after watching news coverage of the deadly quake, he wanted to do something to help. So he enlisted the help of his friends to pull together a fundraiser.

“In remembrance of Dr. King, we all like to do service on his birthday, the national holiday of his birthday, I thought what better way could we as a hip hop community of Houston do on Martin Luther King Day than to help the people of Haiti,” said Bun B.

Titans quarterback and Houston native Vince Young donated $2,000 from the Vince Young Foundation to the relief effort.

“It was a sad moment to see the people, and things that happen – the conflict and all the stuff that is going on for food and water the kids, especially the kids out there,” said Young.

100 percent of the proceeds will go toward the Haitian relief effort.

Source: KIAH-TV

Police said the shooting victim was rapper Juaquin Malphurs, better known by his stage name, Waka Flocka Flame. The shooting happened at a car wash at 5320 Old National Highway.

Investigators said Malphurs’ gold chain and wallet were taken before he was shot in the arm.

The shooting suspect is described as a black man with a brown complection, 5-foot-9 to 5-foot-11 in height, with a low fade haircut, and a tattoo between his eyebrows of two circles and three squares. Police said the suspect also had a dollar sign tattooed on his left cheek. The suspect was wearing a white tank top, blue jeans and red underwear.

Anyone who has any information about this case is asked to call Fulton County Police.

Source: Atlanta 11Alive.com

The 26-year-old Adams was taken to the emergency room at at Self Regional Healthcare at 7:14 a.m. Eastern time and pronounced dead at 8:21 a.m., Kelley-Clark said. Adams, who is from Greenwood, was visiting his girlfriend.

A Greenwood County Sheriff’s investigator said the house was owned by Adams and the player and his girlfriend were at the residence at the time, and she reportedly made the call to 911 at around 7 a.m.

Toxicology tests are being run by the State Law Enforcement Division, though drug use was not suspected as a factor in Adams’ death. However, those results probably will not be available for at least two months, Kelley-Clark said.

The Bears issued a statement Sunday afternoon, saying, “We are stunned and saddened by the news of Gaines’ passing. Our prayers are with his family during this difficult time.”

Adams’ unexpected death shocked teammates. He was traded to Chicago from Tampa Bay in exchange for a 2010 second-round draft pick.

“It’s crazy,” Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher said. “I didn’t know him that well because he came in during the middle of the season. But I did know him. I still saw him every day when I went into work. It’s just weird.

“I had a teammate die when I was in college. You just don’t know how to handle it. It’s just sad, man. It’s a bad deal.”

Adams, a star at Clemson, was the fourth pick in the 2007 draft by the Buccaneers. The Bears traded for him in October, intent on rebuilding their pass rush around him.

Adams did not have any reported prior medical issues that would have revealed heart issues.

“I remember him at the 2007 Draft as a fine young man,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “Our condolences to Gaines’ family, his teammates on the Bears and Buccaneers, and their organizations on their loss.”

Source: Vaughn McClure and Brad Biggs, Chicago Breaking Sports News

He pleaded guilty in 2003; later, he also pleaded guilty to two federal misdemeanor counts of failing to file tax returns on a total of $1.7 million he earned in 1998 and 1999. A judge allowed him to serve the federal sentence concurrently with the state sentence.

Tyler completed his sentence at the David Wade Correctional Center in north Louisiana, near Homer. While driving back to his home in Baton Rouge this week, he called his old friend DJ Wild Wayne of New Orleans’ Q93.3 FM for an on-air interview.

“I’m still trying to feel this reality,” Tyler said of his newfound freedom. “I was gone so long, all the things I achieved felt like a dream, like I had never done that stuff.”

Given the ever-growing list of soon-to-be, currently or recently incarcerated hip-hop stars, Wayne asked if Tyler believed rappers are unfairly targeted for prosecution.

“That’s an easy excuse to say that, but we’ve got to take responsibility for what we do, too,” Tyler said. “We’ve got to pay more attention to what we’re doing ourselves. We can’t be fools, especially when you’re blessed and successful beyond your dreams. We’ve got to tighten up.”

Mystikal, best known for his gruff, tongue-twisting flow, was among the first New Orleans rappers to achieve national success. After a stint on Master P’s No Limit Records, he moved on to Jive Records. His 2000 album “Let’s Get Ready” went platinum on the strength of the hit “Shake Ya Ass.” A follow-up album, “Tarantula,” did not fare as well, but he remained a star, appearing in videos with the likes of Mariah Carey. He earned a pair of Grammy nominations in early 2003.

The incident that led to his arrest and guilty plea involved his female hairstylist. Tyler accused her of writing $80,000 worth of unauthorized checks on his bank account, then offered not to turn her in if she performed sexual acts on the rapper and two bodyguards. Tyler and the bodyguards pleaded guilty after a videotape of the incident surfaced.

Tyler was in Elayne Hunt Correctional Center near Baton Rouge during Hurricane Katrina. “I could have done so much for my city,” he said. “I was at the height of my career. I was supposed to be splashing in that water out there, helping my people. But I couldn’t do nothing but look.”

He could not vote in the most recent presidential election, but was moved by President Barack Obama’s election: “That man got me involved in politics and paying attention and watching the news. I was never into all that stuff. I couldn’t vote, but I was there heart and spirit, all the way.”

Tyler encountered fellow New Orleans rapper Corey “C-Murder” Miller in prison, he told Wayne. He also said NBA star Shaquille O’Neal visited him.

Tyler put his platinum career on hold before YouTube, MySpace and Twitter, to say nothing of fellow New Orleanian Lil Wayne, impacted the music industry. Tyler told Wild Wayne that he still owes one album to Jive Records, the label he was contracted to at the time of his incarceration. He also said he is considering several offers to star in a reality show.

“Most artists would not be able to sustain a blow like I took,” Tyler said. “Six years off the scene, for most rappers, it would be over with. It’s going to be the beginning for me.”

He still faces five years of probation, and must register as a sex offender in Louisiana.

Source: Keith Spera, The Times-Picayune

And just hours after the quake struck Tuesday afternoon, Jean’s Yéle Haiti foundation — established in 2005 to mobilize emergency relief on the impoverished island — began raising money to help survivors.

Tens of thousands of people made $5-a-pop instant donations to Yéle Haiti via text messages.

By Friday, Yéle Haiti had raised $2 million, reaching Jean’s goal of $1 million a day, said Albert J. “Albe” Angel, CEO of Give on the Go, a Miami Beach mobile marketing company partnering with Yéle Haiti.

“Oh my God, it’s off the charts,” Angel said.

But as Jean met his fundraising goal, critics questioned whether enough of the money raised for previous events had gone to Haitian causes.

The Smoking Gun website said Yéle Haiti “has a lackluster history of accounting for its finances” and that the tax-exempt foundation “has enriched” Jean.

“The organization has paid the performer . . . at least $410,000 for rent, production services and Jean’s appearance at a benefit concert,” the website said.

Smoking Gun based its reporting on Yéle Haiti’s federal tax returns for 2005-07.

Jean could not be reached for comment.

Angel said Yéle Haiti has been vetted and approved by the Mobile Giving Foundation, a tax-exempt group founded in 2007 by the wireless industry to assist nonprofits in fundraising.

The Smoking Gun has been “fairly harsh” toward Jean, without knowing details of how his foundation operates, Angel said.

“From a standpoint of awareness, Wyclef has been in the spotlight for a long time,” Angel said. “I don’t think he would damage his reputation by taking advantage of a catastrophe for his own personal benefit.”

Source: Steve Rothaus, Miami Herald

“I urge everyone who’s listening right now that knows how great this kid is in Haiti — I need y’all to verify this information,” he said during a CNN interview. “It would be a terrible loss for us.”

On Friday (January 15), CNN confirmed that O, 35, who had reportedly traveled to the island to work on a mixtape, had died in the quake. According to reports, O was crushed while driving around downtown Port-au-Prince.

CNN was on the scene when O’s body was discovered Friday and watched as a man examined the body and pulled the artist’s passport from his pocket, verifying the corpse as that of Jean “Jimmy O” Jimmy Alexandre.

Agent Robert Dominique was also present at the discovery of the body and verified his identity. “His loss will be tremendous in Haiti,” Dominique said. He said that in addition to helping run the Yele Haiti charity, O also developed new talent and artists in Haiti.

The grief-stricken mother of the musician and his wife and two of his three children were present at the scene and were reportedly joined by a crowd that was also overcome with emotion over the loss.

As of Friday morning, Yele Haiti had raised more than $2 million from mobile giving, according to Albe Angel, CEO of Miami-based Give on the Go, the mobile-communications company working with nonprofit Yele Haiti to coordinate donations. In addition to food distribution and emergency relief, Yele Haiti has provided thousands of scholarships to children since its founding in 2004.

Source: Gil Kaufman, MTV

Combined, Jay-Z and Beyoncé nearly doubled the amount earned by Forbes’ Number Two couple, Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart, who Forbes reports made $67 million thanks largely to Ford’s $65 million paycheck for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie came in third, while a pair of technically semi-retired music artists and their respective partners, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith and Victoria and David Beckham, came in fourth and fifth.

Other music-related couples to make the list include Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow, who combined for $33 million, new Idol judge Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi with $36 million and “the Jay-Z and Beyoncé of country music,” Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.

Source: Rolling Stone

* DUB Magazine tricked-out a 2011 Mustang GT for Nelly that features a gloss black exterior paint job, flat black racing stripes and 22-inch Pirelli tires in the front and 24-inch tires in the rear

* The new Mustang GT continues Ford’s powertrain offensive with an all-new 5.0-liter V-8 engine, which uses advanced technology to deliver 412 horsepower and projected unsurpassed highway mileage of 25 mpg

The 2011 Mustang 5.0-liter V-8 is set to make its hip-hop debut alongside Grammy Award-winning artist Nelly as part of his upcoming album’s artwork. The album, set to launch this spring, will feature a tricked-out 2011 Mustang GT customized by DUB Magazine.

The 35-year-old rapper, actor and mogul, who was most recently ranked third on Billboard Magazine’s “Artist of the Decade List,” says the Mustang is one of the hottest muscle cars ever to hit the streets.

“I don’t care where you grew up, everyone knows the Mustang. At some point, you’ve had a conversation about a Mustang – and it was probably one about you wanting to get behind the wheel of one,” says Nelly. “I’ve always loved the Mustang; the vehicle has power to the point where you can’t help but want to hit the pedal. And the newest one? More power, hotter style.”

Nelly’s tricked-out Mustang GT came to life after the artist caught a glimpse of the vehicle while inside the walls of Ford’s design studio a little more than a year ago as part of a partnership tied to the launch of the 2009 Ford Flex. Since then, Nelly has collaborated with Ford’s design team and DUB’s customization team to make the Mustang his own while still keeping the vehicle true to its muscle car roots.

Crystal Worthem, Ford’s Multicultural Marketing communications manager, says Nelly is an amazing partner for Ford: Nelly has an impressive history within the entertainment world, just as the Mustang has a strong history within the automotive world.

“Nelly is a true car guy, there’s no denying that. When Nelly expressed interest in wanting to partner with Ford on the all-new 2011 Ford Mustang GT, we knew it was a perfect fit,” said Worthem.

“The Mustang has such appeal within the urban market. Since it was launched, the vehicle has made appearances in several of the most popular urban films,” Worthem added. “This was just a great opportunity for Ford, and we’re excited that the Mustang GT is going to be a part of one of the most anticipated albums of 2010.”

The exterior of the vehicle features a custom gloss black paint job with flat black racing stripes and a one off custom wide body Street Scene body kit complete with custom 22- and 24-inch TIS Modular wheels and Pirelli tires. The vehicle also includes a billet grille, hood scoop, tinted taillights, Eibach springs, angel eyes headlights and a Borla exhaust.

In addition, the interior is a complete suede and leather design with a custom JL Audio system that includes two 12-inch subwoofers, amps and speakers.

Nelly says he can’t wait to hit the streets in his 2011 Mustang GT.

“I’m itching to get behind the wheel of my Mustang and really take it out on the streets. This vehicle being a part of my album artwork is just a reflection of the direction and feel that the album has. To be able to partner with Ford again on another vehicle that is going to change the automotive game is exciting,” said Nelly.

2011 Ford Mustang GT

The 2011 Ford Mustang GT arrives with an all-new advanced 5.0-liter V-8 engine, developed by a passionate cadre of engineers who rallied around the common goal of delivering more than 400 horsepower.

The modern 5.0-liter four-valve Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) V-8 engine in the new Mustang GT will deliver 412 horsepower and 390 ft.-lb. of torque. At the same time, fuel economy is projected to be better than the previous model and unsurpassed in the segment.

The 412 horsepower and 390 ft.-lb. of torque delivered by the 2011 Mustang GT 5.0-liter V-8 represent significant increases versus 2010 model year output levels.

A Brembo brake package upgrade will be available for serious enthusiasts. This package includes 14-inch vented front discs from the GT500 Mustang, unique 19-inch alloy wheels and summer performance tires.

Added convenience content

For 2011, Mustang GT offers drivers several new convenience technologies, including:

* Standard message center
* Integrated blind spot mirrors
* MyKey™ programmable vehicle key
* Rear headrests

New look

From the 5.0 fender badges to the new engine cover, Mustang GT honors and continues the proud heritage of its predecessors. The speedometer increases to 160 mph and the tachometer redline advances from 6,500 to 7,000 rpm.

Three vibrant new colors will be added for 2011 including Yellow Blaze Tri-Coat, Race Red and Ingot Silver.

Source: PR Newswire

But a month later, Drake, born Aubrey Graham, realized there was a method to the madness. “Within like four weeks I noticed I had a brand-new sound that takes a while to digest and understand. Things started to pick up and I started to learn the value of taking risks,” he says.

Now, the venture is paying off. Last month when the Grammy nominations were announced, Drake learned he was up for best rap solo performance and best rap song for “Best I Ever Had” off “So Far Gone.”

“I can’t say this is unexpected, because, I mean, it’s something that’s kept me up many nights,” the 23-year-old says. “I dreamed about this for a lot of years and have lost lots of sleep over it. This is like the highest honor and I am humbled by this. It’s one of the few awards that isn’t a popularity contest; you have to make great music to be honored, and this is completely surreal to me.”

It’s an honor, however, that has an unintended side effect. With the two nominations that stemmed from his mixtape, that puts Drake out of the running for best new artist in 2010, when his debut album is released.

Lady Gaga experienced a similar technicality in 2009, as she was ineligible for best new artist since her track “Just Dance” was nominated for best dance recording the previous year. The best new artist rules say the nominated performer is eligible for “the first recording which establishes public identity,” and a prior nomination indicates that this threshold has already been reached.

But that may be just a tiny regret for Drake, who is set up to receive tremendous exposure for his forthcoming set. Drake, who got signed to Universal Motown through mentor Lil Wayne’s Young Money label shortly after the release of “So Far Gone,” is prepping “Thank Me Later,” slated for a February release. “The best part about ‘So Far Gone’ was that I didn’t focus on structure. The only thing that was consistent was the story and the emotion. That’s what I want to do with this album,” Drake says. “I make music for people to get lost in it, so, as long as it takes you somewhere, then I’ve succeeded.”

So far, the album features Kanye West, Wayne, Young Jeezy and Jay-Z, and a collaboration with Sade is on Drake’s wish list. “Something happened last night too that might be great-it might serve as the legendary sprinkle for the album,” Drake says about another potential partnership on the set. “Shut It Down” and “Fireworks” are two tracks slated to make the album’s final cut.

“In 2010 I’m really hoping I can stay true to this new way of life I’ve committed myself to,” he says. “I have a special plan to keep the free flow of music going after the album is released. This is definitely a unique path I’m setting out on, and honestly, it’s great. I’m honored to be in this position.”

Source: Mariel Concepcion, Billboard

The new station format will feature Top 40 hits. The station is also boosting its signal power.

The station is owned by Northern Lights Broadcasting, which is a Pohlad family-backed company. It was purchased in 2007 for $28 million.

The station says they switched to a more mainstream mix of music to reflect what people are listening to across the country.

Source: WCCO

On Nov. 17, a sold-out show at the Yemeni Culture House in the nation’s capital, Sanaa, fused elements of hip-hop culture such as break dancing with traditional Yemeni music, and doubled as a campaign to promote peace and national unity in this desperately poor country that is being torn apart by different domestic insurgencies – as well as touted as a new base for Al Qaeda.

In Yemen’s staunchly traditional society, the main activities for young people are chewing khat, a mild narcotic, or going to mosques. Events like last week’s show hope to promote hip-hop culture as a healthy alternative and keep youths from being swept up into extremist ideas, say event organizers.

“[In Yemen] you have people who are trying to gain support among the youth for every sort of cause: Al Qaeda, Salafis.… We have to win the hearts and minds of the kids,” said one of the event organizers who wishes to remain anonymous because of his close ties with the Yemeni government.

“Yemen is hungry for hip-hop. When I first came here in 2003 you couldn’t find a rapper or a break dancer,” said Hagage Masaed, an American of Yemeni descent and self-described “Snoop Dogg” of Yemen who has been a centerpiece of hip-hop’s growth in the country.

“All the problems youth are facing in Yemen – there’s no work – this a way for them to release. It’s an outlet,” he said before the start of the show.

Indeed, when Mr. Masaed came onstage rapping, with lyrics such as “one Yemen united” and “no terrorism please,” the crowd went wild.

“I hope in the future hip-hop grows more in Yemen,” said Yunis Shuilah, a rapper who likes to go by the nickname “Pro Boy,” after the show. “The music and the dance are the best for the guys. We are free when we do hip-hop.”

Source: Laura Kasinof, Christian Science Monitor

Chad Ochocinco is definitely different. He even legally changed his last name from Johnson to Ochocinco so it would match his uniform number (85). The Ocho Cinco truck is just the latest in his “different” behavior.

Chad Ochocinco has been selected to the Pro Bowl five times and named an All-Pro three times. His name change took place prior to the 2008 regular season. He references his last name as two words “Ocho Cinco,” hence the Ocho Cinco truck name, but in fact his legal last name is condensed into one word, as spelled on his uniform.

The video of the Ocho Cinco truck was captured as he drove up to “work.” At least, rather than bringing guns to work, as Gilbert Arenas did, it was just highly customized truck.

The first news of the Ocho Cinco truck emerged from Ochocinco himself. He sent an image of his truck to his Twitter feed. IT supposedly has a plaque with his name on it attached above the left front tire. His first photo of the Ocho Cinco truck showed it in what appeared to be a parking garage. He later posted another pic of it out on the street, as he took it for a spin.

It’s possible that Chad Ochocinco is growing up, however. On his Twitter feed, after the posts about his truck, he mentioned he was now 32. He then asked if there was anything “he shouldn’t be doing” any longer.

Unfortunately for Chad Ochocinco, his birthday and the Ocho Cinco truck did nothing for his team. The Cincinnati Bengals lost the wild card game they played against the New York Jets. Ochocinco himself had just 2 catches for 28 years. The Jets move on to next week’s playoffs, while the Ocho Cinco truck is driven home for the offseason.

Source: Michael Santo, HULIQ.com

After a 14-month tour of duty in Iraq, Army Specialist Marc Hall was supposed to be re-deloy but now he’s in a Fort Stewart, Georgia jail. The military has charged him with misconduct for a rap song threatening to kill members of the military.

On part of the song by Hall, also known as hip hop artist Marc Watercus, says: “Like Obama said, somebody be held responsible. But some of y’all gonna be held in the hospitals.”

The language is explicit and Specialist Hall further made his point by mailing his song to the Pentagon.

“I got a (expletive) magazine with 30 rounds, on a three-round burst, ready to fire down Still against the wall, I grab my M-4, spray and watch all the bodies hit the floor. I better, you never stop loss nobody no more,” he also says in the song.

Contacted by the group Iraq Veterans Against the War, Washington D.C. lawyer James Klimaski insists the military has overstepped by jailing a soldier for music.

“Here’s someone who’s put it into a song and sent it out to everybody, everybody knows it, so it really was political speech. I mean, it’s hyperbole, it’s not real. Nobody can expect that,” said Klimaski.

There are now numerous websites defending Hall’s right to free speech. Hall says he’s merely a political artist with an agenda. He says at the top on his list is ending the Army’s stop loss policy.

In the song, he says, ” You know, the Army is the only branch of the Armed Services that still got the stop loss in effect, so the only thing I gotta say is prepare for the consequences.”

In a statement to Stars and Stripes newspaper, the Army says Hall has threatened violence on numerous occassions and that they have a duty to protect others on the base. He is charged under Article 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which gives the Army lots of leeway to charge anyone whose actions bring “discredit upon the Armed Services.”

Source: News Channel 8 Virginia