The Pimp, the hustla and the Gangsta (September 6, 2001)
Ice T is returning to the Rap scene with his pimp, gangsta and hustla trademark. He is working on an album called "Money, Sex and Guns," in a collaboration with Smooth Tha Hustler. "Ice described the album as incredible and noted that Smooth Tha Hustler is bringing some serious heat that is guaranteed to make some heads spin," so he told Davey D. "Pimp Penal Code," which he is doing with several of the pimps featured in the HBO TV special called 'Pimps Up Hos Down'. Pimps like White Folks, Bishop, Magic Don Juan and others are all on the album spitting some serious game about a lifestyle and hustle that has caught the attention of many within Hip Hop. The music on the album has a serious funky/ 70s beats. He will be selling the album at $100 dollars a pop. He explained that the 'game should be sold, not told'. Both LPs are scheduled to drop this year.

Blue Print Release Date Changed (September 5, 2001)
Jay-Z is moving up the release date of his new album, "The Blueprint." Originally scheduled for a September 25 release, then moved to September 18, the album will now drop next week on September 11. The move is due to the nonstop requests for the album from retailers and consumers and the album has also been heavily bootlegged within the past week.
"I just think when someone puts there heart and soul in making an album, and they like it, they should buy it," Jay-Z says." Music shouldn't be traded so freely. Paying for a CD is way easier."
Jigga had similar problems with his last album too. Some say "The Blue Print" is Jay's best album since "Reasonable Doubt." Jay-Z and the rest of Roc-A-Fella will be heading out on the road for the Blueprint Lounge Tour on September 14.

Aaliyah Comes Home, One Last Good-bye (Aug. 31, 2001)
A private going home service for Aaliyah will be held today at St. Ignatius Loyola Church in Manhattan. There is expected to be 1,200 people present by invitation only at the private funeral, which will be followed by a horse-drawn carriage carrying Aaliyah's body from the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home to the church. Twenty-two trained doves were to be released to fly overhead, one for each year of Aaliyah's life. There will also be a register book outside and at other funeral homes across the country for fans to sign. Aaliyah's body will be interred at the Ferncliff Cemetery and Mausoleum in Hartsdale, New York. A memorial event for fans and members of the public will be held at Cipriani's 42nd Street on East 42nd St. in Manhattan. Aaliyah's music and videos will play continuously during the memorial between 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

Aaliyah's pilot wasn't authorized to fly. (August 30, 2001)
Luis Morales III, the pilot of the plane that carried Aaliyah and seven others pleaded no contest to cocaine possession two weeks before the flight and was not authorized to fly the plane. Morales was pulled over on August 7 when he ran a stop sign in Pompano Beach, Florida. His car was searched and the police officer found cocaine residue on a tube in a bag and Morales was booked on a felony cocaine-possession charge, and charges of driving with a suspended license and running a stop sign. On August 13, Morales pleaded no-contest to the possession charge, as well as to a November charge of possessing stolen property and was sentenced to probation and drug testing. The no-contest plea meant that his pilot's license should have been revoked under Federal Aviation Administration rules. According to FAA spokesperson Kathleen Bergen, even though Morales' license hadn't been revoked yet, he was not authorized to fly the plane, which was operated by Blackhawk International Airways. Blackhawk is cleared to fly charter planes under a "single pilot certificate," meaning that only one pilot was authorized to fly the plane that crashed and killed Morales himself along with Aaliyah and seven other passengers including Aaliyah's security guard and makeup artist as well as representatives from Virgin Records. Though Kathleen Bergen did not identify the authorized pilot, becuase "it would not be appropriate," she said it was not Morales. Morales' license qualified him to fly Cessna 402B planes, but he was not on Blackhawk's certificate. While Blackhawk International is on record as the plane's operator, a company named Skystream is listed as the plane's owner. Both companies list the same Pembroke Pines, Florida, address as their headquarters. Calls to Blackhawk were not returned, and no phone number was available for Skystream. U.S. and Bahamian authorities are still investigating reports that engine failure and overloading contributed to the crash.

Aaliyah's body flown back to the US/ Hot 97 Goes too Far (Aug. 29, 2001)
The body of singer/actress Aaliyah, was flown from Nassau Int'l Airport in The Bahamas to the US. A private jet carrying the body of Aaliyah landed at Newark International Airport in New Jersey, and a hearse carried the casket away to a yet not know location.
In other Aaliyah related news, yesterday Hot 97's Star and Buckwyld made a mockery of the tragic plane crash that killed Aaliyah. Star and Buckwyld blamed Aaliyah and the 8 other passengers for the accident because they overloaded the plane with baggage. They played a recording of a plane going down and people screaming as Star mentioned Aaliyah's name. Miss Jones their CO-host was so mad that she cursed on the air and walked out. Many people think Star and Buckwyld should be removed from the air including Q-Tip who called into Angie Martinez's show stating that he was going to boycott them. Someone has already made a petition online (http://www.petitiononline.com/starr) we encourage you to visit the website and sign the petition.

Eminem Show Paused After Crowd Injuries (August 28, 2001)
Police had to temporarily stop an Eminem performance Saturday in Glasgow, Scotland as 45 people were injured when the audience surged forward as Eminem came on stage. None of the injuries were serious. Eleven people were taken to local hospitals but released after treatment. The others were treated at first aid tents set up around the outdoor concert site. Eminem was allowed to continued his show at Glasgow's Gig on the Green festival after a 30-minute break, while the injured people were taken outside.

Aaliyah dies along with 8 others in Plane Crash (August 27, 2001)
This Saturday at approximately 7pm the 22-year-old R&B Star/Actress Aaliyah Dana Haughton was killed in a plane crash along with eight others. Aaliyah's private plane crashed seconds after taking off from the Bahamas. Aaliyah was in the Bahamas shooting a video, and was on her way to Opa-Locka Airport in Miami. Another passenger died early Sunday morning in Nassau, where he was awaiting airlift to a Miami hospital. The cause of the crash was not immediately know but Bahamian aviation officials have launched an investigation into the tragedy. "Aaliyah's family is devastated at the loss of their loving daughter and sister. Their hearts go out to those families who also lost their loved ones in this tragic accident," read a statement released through Aaliyah's public relations firm.

Tragedy At Bad Azz Release Party (Aug. 6, 2001)
Last Tuesday night at Bad Azz's release party , Personal Business, a drunk guest, Robert Lewis, 31, fell off Pier 63 off the Hudson River shore. Two other men jumped in the water to try and pull the man out but he was pronounced dead when the ambulance arrived at the hospital. Lewis died from a broken neck, which was caused when his head hit the pier.

Daz Dillinger Suing Death Row (Aug. 6, 2001)
Last Wednesday Daz Dillinger filed a breach of contract lawsuit against Death Row Records and CEO Suge Knight. Daz claims that Suge exploited him, collecting millions in royalties and violated several agreements Daz had with his former label. Daz is now suing for more than $2 million.

Los Marijuanos Name-Jacking - [June 27, 2001] submitted by Mark Armstrong
  Chicagoland's premier Chicano rap group Los Marijuanos has enjoyed a close relationship with its Los Angeles area contemporaries in the Cypress Hill camp for several years dating back to the late 1990s. Cypress Hill's admiration was apparently so deep for Los Marijuanos that a live band side group the West Coast rappers are members of appropriated the Chicagoland acts nom de mic without permission.
  Acknowledging that the Chicagoland rap has applied for a trademark to the Los Marijuanos name, its manager and label head at Wicked Entertainment Mickey Sleepy Elahi revealed in a telephone interview Thursday that the label has sent a cease and desist order forbidding the other act to use the name to Cypresss attorney Paul Rosenberg, who also represents Eminem.
   The Los Marijuanos name was attached to the Southern California group also comprising the rock groups Deftones, Jane's Addiction, Methods of Mayhem, and Downset and mic-controllers Everlast and Mellow Man Ace, brother of Cypress Hill mic-controller Sen Dog when a friend announced it under that nom de mic to rally more applause during a Jun. 11 gig at Club Vynyl in Hollywood, Sleepy said. Before the Chicagoland aired their concerns about the incident and ensuing confusion during a Friday broadcast of John Mancow's show on Q101 FM, Los Marijuanos mic-controller and producer Pony Boy tempered speculation grounded in a sense of betrayal with a need for clear answers to amicably resolve the matter.
   Sen Dog said he had another name that he liked, and I think it was B-Real trying to scam, Pony Boy said in a Thursday interview from his Gary, IN home. We've got them on video for our smoke-umentary backstage saying they're down with Los Marijuanos at the Allstate Arena when we did [a Dec. 9] concert with them, Twisted 7 and Everlast. On [the cover] of our new CD, I'm wearing Sen Dog's new gear Latin Thug.
   So we're going to move on this fast before we put an album out. We don't want any trouble, we just want to know what's going on.
   In the mid-1990s, Cypress Hill, led by B-Real, very publicly lowrated Ice Cube for allegedly lifting for his own album unpublished music from an in-progress album the group reportedly allowed the Westside Connection kingpin and his mic-controlling kinsmen?. Before they subsided, the hostilies ranged from a recorded attack on Ice Cube as a faux ghetto tough to defending Common against Westside Connection's vociferous attacks on Chicago-bred rapper out of the belief that I Used To Love H.e.r. was anti-West Coast. B-Real said the Cypress Hill and Ice Cube camps had considered themselves close before than incident.
   Rosenberg could not be reached for comment on the Los Marijuanos matters.

Juvy in Trouble Again (Jun. 27, 2001)
Jackson Saintagne, the man Juvenile allegedly hit with a bottle of Moet, filed a $5 million lawsuit in Miami Dade County Circuit Court seeking damages for pain and suffering. Saintagne claims he has paid several visits to the hospital since the fight with Juvenile. The incident occurred outside the Improv Comedy Club in March. Juvy broke right after the incident and was later arrested but was released for $17,000, charged with aggravated battery with a bottle, battery on a law enforcement officer, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest without violence. Police say Juvy grabbed an officer and yelled profanities at him. Juvenile awaits his trial on assault charges.

Da Brat Sentenced (June 26, 2001)
  Da Brat has been charged concerning felony aggravated assault charges involving her and another woman at an Atlanta club, by pleading guilty, Fulton County District Attorney’s Office reduced the original felony charge of a minimum of one year in prison. Da Brat's sentenced was reduced to 12 months probation, 80 hours of community service, and a $1,000 fine. Da Brat was accused of pistol whipping a woman with a .22 caliber gun at Chili Pepper nightclub in Atlanta after the woman refused to leave a railing designating for the VIP section. Allegedly, Da Brat struck her across the eye and in the forehead in the alleged altercation with the reported firearm. No firearm was found on Da Brat or anywhere near the place where the incident occurred.

Assault on Lil Mo [June 25, 2001]
Last Friday Nite's KMEL House of Soul concert in San Francisco Lil Mo was one of the performers, according to Davyd D and Chuck D's Rapstation.com, after a good performance fans went to the backstage door and catch up to her. As Lil Mo was leaving she stopped to talk to some fans on her way to her limo, someone through a bottle at her which left Lil Mo dazed on the ground and blood streaming from a cut face. They never did catch the assaulting punk. Why the hell would anyone do something like that, damn that just pisses me off.

Jay-z' Case Pushed Back, Again (June 18, 2001)
The 1999 assault case against Jay-Z has been pushed once again. Jay-Z was scheduled to appear in a New York courtroom yesterday, but the date was pushed back to next month because one of the Jays's attorneys, Murray Richman, is handling another trial in the Bronx. Jury selection is now set to begin on July 16th. Jay-Z stands accused of stabbing record executive Lance "Un" Rivera during a fight at New York City's Kit Kat Club on December 1st, 1999. Jay-Z is also scheduled to appear in a Manhattan courtroom on June 26th for a hearing on gun charges stemming from an incident in which police allegedly found a gun in the waistband in one of the Jay's bodyguards outside a New York nightclub in April.

Submit Ends, Plans Announced (June 15, 2001)
After a successful Submit, that brought all kinds of people you wouldn't normally see together, the two day Submit comes to a close. Among the agreements reached was for the creation of a voluntary uniform standard for marketing albums with the Parental Advisory Label, basically labels should be plainly displayed, and unable to be removed, on the cover art for all necessary albums at one set size. This also includes all advertisements including the products, both online or on posters, ads, etc. Also, something good for the artist themselves, Def Jam introduced its Hip Hop Mentoring Program, which would focus more closely on artist development and allow hip hop artists more of a say in their personal and professional development within the industry. This will hopefully be adopted as an industry-wide standard. Also, the summit attendees agreed on an industry-wide commitment to the political empowerment of hip hop, including an alliance to push for more synergy between the industry and the NAACP, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Million Family Movement and Nation of Islam, and Rap the Vote led by Executive Director Mario Velasquez. This movement includes the formation of a hip hop political action committee, a hard-core Rap The Vote voter registration drive for the 2002 and 2004 elections, and the formation of Hip Hop Think Tanks with the initial Think Tank at Columbia University as a means of creating an alliance between hip hop industry people and artists and academia. Overall the 2001 Hip-hop Submit was pretty successful.

Nelly Discriminated (June 15, 2001)
This Saturday Nelly filed a complaint with TWA on a trip from St. Louis to Denver. Nelly claims that the flight attendant serving refused to give him a pillow, so he went to find one himself. But when he got up, the pilot ordered him back to his seat and threatened to have him arrested if he didn't. Nelly eventually received his pillows, but police officers were waiting for him in Denver. Nelly tried to get the pilot's name, the officers told him to leave the gate or he would be arrested.
"The way it escalated was a result of me being a black man," Nelly claimed. A spokesman for TWA denied Nelly's report and said a witness would back up the airline's version.

First Day of the Hip-Hop Submit (Jun. 13, 2001)
 Yesterday June 12, music industry heavyweights and community leaders from across the nation were in New York City at the Hilton Hotel to discuss topics about the the Hip-Hop industry. The submit was kicked off by the Executive and Marketing Meeting. One of the ideas that was being discussed was advisory labeling and ratings on Hip-Hop marketing mediums. Later one very important point that was discussed was bonding the Hip-Hop into a political force. This was followed by a Hip-Hop Media Accountability Meeting, moderated by Traci McGregor of the Source. This was followed by Executive and A&R concerns as well as a Youth Roundtable discussion. Today the conference begins again and among the present will be FCC Chairman Michael Powell.

Source Award Nominees Anounced (Jun. 12, 2001)
On Monday the nominees for this the 2001 Source Awards announced. The awards will air from Miami Beachon on Aug. 28 from 8-10 p.m. ET on UPN. Up for Album of the Year are Snoop, Eminem, Outkas, Jay-Z, Nelly, and MOP. Ja Rule, Eve, Snoop, Jay and Eminem are also up for the Artist of the Year/Solo award. The Artist of the Year/Group nominees are Outkast, MOP, Wu-Tang, 3-6 Mafia, and Cash Money. Make sure to check that out.

P. Diddy and Naomi hooking up? (Jun. 11, 2001)
The Eurweb (Eurweb.com) reported that Sean "P. Diddy" Combs might be hooking up with supermodel Naomi Campbell. The two were reportedly going out of their way not to be photographed together but were quite buddy-buddy when no reporters or cameras were around at a recent party Combs threw. Damn Puffy might have some pretty good game hooking up with all these fine females.

Em's mom doesn't want to settle for settlement (Jun. 7, 2001)
Eminem's mom was denied more money from a settlement she reached with her son. Eminems Mom was forced into a settlement of $25,000. She first filed two suits against her son, which totaled $12 million. "She didn't sign anything and his so-called settlement went through after she'd already written a letter attempting to fire her attorney," said her new lawyer. Eminem's grandmother said that Debbie Mathers dropped the lawsuits in an attempt to reconcile with her son, then kept flip-flopping on the matter, saying, that "she wanted to bring it back, and then she doesn't." After all thats a lot of money, but what self respecting rapper talks about his mom like that?