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Ludacris rode the early-2000s Dirty South explosion to widespread popularity, as his songs enjoyed an enormous embrace, mainly by urban media outlets but also MTV and pop radio.

The Atlanta-based rapper went from local sensation to household name after Def Jam signed him to its Def Jam South subsidiary in 2000. In addition to connecting him with super-producers like Timbaland, the Neptunes, and Organized Noize, Def Jam gave Ludacris remarkable marketing push. Ludacris thus quickly became one of the rap industry's most in-demand rappers, guesting on hits for everyone from Missy Elliott ("One Minute Man") to Jermaine Dupri ("Welcome to Atlanta") when he wasn't dominating the urban market with his own hits, most notably "What's Your Fantasy?," "Southern Hospitality," "Area Codes," and "Rollout (My Business)."

Before he became the Dirty South's most successful rapper, Ludacris DJed at an Atlanta radio station. He used the opportunity to hone his craft on the mic, learn about the industry, and make a name for himself throughout the Atlanta area, which had become the South's rap mecca starting in the mid-'90s. Eventually, he began aspiring toward a career as a rapper rather than as a radio jock, and after working with Timbaland -- appearing on the super-producer's Tim's Bio album (the original version of "Fat Rabbit") in 1998 -- Ludacris began taking his rap career seriously. He recorded an album, Incognegro (2000), and released it on his independently released Disturbing tha Peace label. Ludacris primarily worked with producer Shondrae for the album, though also with Organized Noize to a lesser extent. Incognegro sold impressively in Atlanta, where Ludacris was well known for his radio work.

Soon after Incognegro became the talk of Atlanta and "What's Your Fantasy?" became a regional hit, Scarface came knocking. Def Jam had given the veteran rapper the go-ahead to scout for talent in the South, since the Dirty South movement was gaining steam at the time and Def Jam wanted to start a Def Jam South subsidiary. Ludacris became Scarface's first signing, and Def Jam re-packaged the tracks from Incognegro, along with a few new productions: a U.G.K. collaboration ("Stick 'Em Up"), a Neptunes production ("Southern Hospitality"), and a remix of his previously released song with Timbaland (retitled "Phat Rabbit"). Def Jam then gave the resulting album, Back for the First Time (2000), substantial marketing push, choosing "What's Your Fantasy?" (an explicit duet about sexual fantasies from both the male and female perspective) as the first single. Though some radio stations were hesitant to air such a provocative song, "What's Your Fantasy?" became an enormous success -- as did, to a lesser extent, its even more provocative remix featuring Foxy Brown and Trina -- opening the door for countless other truly "dirty" Dirty South songs that would soon become the norm rather than the exception.

Following his initial breakthrough with "What's Your Fantasy?," Ludacris remained ubiquitous. He toured the States with OutKast and released a flurry of successive hit singles: the Neptunes-produced "Southern Hospitality," the Timbaland-produced "Phat Rabbit," the Nate Dogg collabo "Area Codes," the Timbaland-produced "Rollout (My Business)," the Organized Noize-produced "Saturday (Oooh Oooh!)," the KLC-produced "Move Bitch." His second album for Def Jam, Word of Mouf (2001), peaked at number three on the Billboard album chart in October and hovered at the top of the charts for a long time. Furthermore, he contributed to hits for other artists during this same time, most notably Missy Elliott's "One Minute Man" and Jermaine Dupri's "Welcome to Atlanta," and also released another album, Golden Grain (2002), which featured his Disturbing tha Peace posse. The proper Ludacris follow-up, Chicken -N- Beer, was released in October 2003. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide

G-Unit rap war fired up
After lashing out at high profile hip-hop stars, rapper 50 Cent has booted his own top-selling protege The Game, which led to gunplay at Hot 97 on Monday night

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50 Cent and The Game (NEWSDAY.COM COMPOSITE)
Mar 2, 2005

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Hot 97 at center of controversy
Mar 1, 2005

"Piggy Bank" lyrics

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Audio: Hear 50 Cent, The Game

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Ja Rule speaks (NYNewsday.com)
Oct 7, 2004 (RealVideo)

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Rapper The Game (Photo/Peter Kramer/Getty Images)
Jan 20, 2005

Rapper 50 Cent (Getty Images)

The NYPD collects evidence. (Photo by Charles Eckert)
Feb 28, 2005

BY GLENN GAMBOA AND ROCCO PARASCANDOLA
STAFF WRITERS

March 2, 2005

After weeks of lashing out at high profile hip-hop stars, rapper Curtis Jackson, also known as 50 Cent, has set his sights on his own top-selling protege, Jayceon Taylor, known as The Game.

The move touched off a war in his own camp that turned bloody late Monday when an associate of The Game was shot three times, police said.

The skirmish came after 50 Cent unexpectedly announced The Game's dismissal from the G-Unit, his rap crew, during an interview on radio station Hot 97. When The Game and his entourage tried to confront his former boss, gunfire broke out outside the West Village station.

Kevin Reed, 20, The Game's associate from Compton, Calif., was hit once in the upper leg and grazed in the leg and shoulder. He was rushed to St. Vincent's Medical Center, where he was treated and released yesterday. Police are also investigating shots at Violator Management, which represents 50 Cent, shortly after the Hot 97 incident.

Police have made no arrests in connection to Reed's shooting or the shots fired at Violator Management, which shattered the glass front door and left six holes in the lobby's marble wall.

Reed initially told cops at the scene that the shooting had nothing to do with the rap world, police said, though they didn't believe him. Those with Reed said they were passersby, though police believe they are all part of The Game's crew.

When police arrived, several people from both entourages fled. Police said no one claimed the dark sedan that was left running outside the building.

50 Cent was in the radio station at the time and was not involved, police said.

Hours before the shooting, MTV debuted the video for "Hate It or Love It," the third single to feature 50 Cent from The Game's chart-topping debut "The Documentary" on its "TRL" show. Though Game and 50 Cent have the No. 5 single in the country with "How We Do," their relationship apparently reached the breaking point Saturday night after 50 Cent heard The Game tell Hot 97's DJ Funkmaster Flex in an on-air interview that he respected rapper Nas, one of 50's growing list of enemies, and was considering recording with him.

"50's beef is his beef," The Game said. "I'm not going to get in the middle of that. When I have beef, seems like I'm always by myself."

During his interview with Funkmaster Flex on Monday night, 50 Cent said The Game had been disloyal.

"He went overseas and he heard people saying, 'Game' and he bugged out on us," 50 Cent said, adding that he had not received proper credit for his contributions to The Game's album. "He's gone."

Hip-hop historian and DJ Davey D. said 50 Cent may have genuine disagreements with the artists he is battling, including The Game. However, he said 50 is also using a "tried-and-true formula" of starting beefs in order to get attention for his album.

A spokesman at Interscope, 50 Cent and The Game's label, said there would be no comment on Monday night's shooting. Label officials were trying to determine the fallout from 50's decision to kick The Game out of G-Unit and how that affects his album. The label did decide, however, to cancel a planned in-store appearance tomorrow at the Times Square Virgin Megastore celebrating the release of 50's new album, "The Massacre."

The hype surrounding the new album centers on a controversial track, "Piggy Bank," in which 50 Cent insults top rappers Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Nas and Kelis, and other tracks where he continues his beef with his longtime rival Ja Rule.

"He's just trying to sell records," Yonkers rapper Jadakiss told Hot 97's DJ Clue on Monday night after the shooting, adding that he does plan to respond to 50's insults on an upcoming album. "He ain't got shot no more, so he don't got nothing else to talk about."

By creating so many enemies, some experts say, 50 Cent should be concerned about his security.

"50 should make sure he has people around him," said Derrick Parker, a security consultant and retired detective who specialized in gathering intelligence on hip-hop artists for the NYPD. "There's talk about people going after him."

50 Cent has said he dealt crack while growing up in Jamaica and financed his early career as a rapper with drug proceeds. He is known for surviving nine gunshot wounds in his drug-dealing days.

Since 50 announced his decision to drop Game, he has been discussing what he says were Game's problems with finishing his debut album. 50 said that until he agreed to work on the album, Game was about to be dropped by Interscope Records, adding that he turned over songs from his own "Massacre" album to Game in order to complete the project.

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Rapper Houston try kill his self dame fool all he needed was a gun 2 da brain but he wasnt able 2 do it he failed but i aint gon show u, i mat as well wel look blad = copy da pic 2 c it biga if ya cnt c.Bushwick Bill of the multi-platinum Houston-based rap group, The Geto Boys, knows what its like to feel suicidal, and as a result, to lose an eye. Upon hearing that Capitol Records hiphop artist Houston gouged his eye out during a suicide bid on Thursday, Bushwick felt compelled to speak out. After all, while hoping for death, himself, one fateful evening in 1991, Bushwick Bill forced his girlfriend to assist his suicide attempt, and she shot him in the eye, but miraculously, he survived. That night, June 19, 1991, would become immortalized on the cover of the groups platinum-selling album, We Cant Be Stopped, which pictures a graphic photo of Geto Boys members Scarface and Willie D pushing a bandaged, incoherent Bushwick Bill on a hospital gurney. I wouldnt wish that on anyone else, to force the hand of death, he contends.

50 Cent to Hit Springfield

50 Cent will bring his game to Springfield when he guest stars on "The Simpsons." In an episode called "Pranksta Rap," Bart sneaks out of the house to attend a 50 concert and then fakes his own kidnapping to avoid being grounded. The episode airs February 13 at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

Photo: FOX

Posted on 02.02.2005 @18:50 by deejekyll | 24 comments Post a comment Print

Master P, Silkk The Shocker Arrested On Gun Charges

Master P and Silkk the Shocker are out on bail after being arrested on felony gun charges Thursday in Los Angeles.

The rappers, who are brothers, were arrested after an officer from the University of California Police Department discovered two loaded guns in a leased Chrysler 300M they were driving at UCLA shortly before midnight. One weapon was near the driver's seat where Shocker was sitting, and the other was underneath P in the passenger seat, according to the arrest report, posted on the Smoking Gun.

P and Silkk, whose real names are Percy Miller and Vyshonne Miller, respectively, were pulled over for failing to have a license plate. Two other men were in the back seat but were not arrested.

The 37-year-old P and 29-year-old Silkk were arrested for investigation of unlawfully carrying firearms and then transferred to the West Hollywood Sheriff's station, where they were booked. The rappers spent three hours in custody before being released on bail.

Master P has been living in Los Angeles recently, producing a TV show starring his son, Lil' Romeo, as well as directing movies for the two of them. "Uncle P" is due in the spring.

Credit: Corey Moss for MTV News
Photo: Tim Alexander/Castle Studio

Eastsidaz's Tray Deee Sentenced To 12 Years

Tray Deee of Tha Eastsidaz was sentenced to 12 years in a California state prison on Wednesday for his role in a 2003 shooting.

Appearing in Long Beach Superior Court, the rapper, born Tracy Lamar Davis, pleaded no contest to shooting at an occupied vehicle and remains in county jail awaiting transfer to an as-yet-undetermined prison, according to prosecutor Cynthia Barnes.

In a plea agreement, prosecutors agreed to drop two charges of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and one firearm-possession charge in exchange for Davis admitting to personal use of a firearm and assistance to a criminal street gang. According to Barnes, the latter charge came in light of evidence that Davis threw a gang sign at two unidentified men seated in a car before opening fire. Neither man was injured in the shooting.

Davis, who formed Tha Eastsidaz with Goldie Loc and Snoop Dogg in 1999, had been in county jail for more than a year awaiting trial. Prior to the incident, Davis and Goldie Loc had accused Snoop of failing to pay them back royalties for their two albums.

Tha Eastsidaz are still signed to TVT and have a handful of songs recorded for their third album, but it is not yet scheduled for release, according to a label spokesperson. It's unknown how Davis' incarceration will affect the completion of the album.

Credit: Gil Kaufman for MTV News
Photo: TVT

With the promise of more lyrical beatdowns on his March release, The Massacre (formerly the Valentine's Day Massacre), the G-Unit general feels compelled to spread a little love around. So, we paired 50 Cent with a few fans who were "patiently waiting" for some helpful tips for their pressing relationship questions. Our lovelorn subjects came with a variety of issues -- from jump-offs gone bad to coping with their man's short "magic stick." Here, 50 provides the cure straight from his "candy shop." The ~~'love doctor'~~ is in...

TODAY'S DILEMMA:

Former Fatty Gets Love From The Ladies

Dear 50: I recently lost weight and all the girls that didn't like me now like me. Should I bag all of them and then kick them to the curb afterwards?

Game Allegedly Assaults Radio DJ; Rapper's Compton Properties Shot Up

Just as his debut album, The Documentary, hit shelves and then the top of the albums chart, G-Unit rapper the Game found himself at the center of two alleged incidents of violence one involving an assault on a Washington, D.C., radio personality and another that ended with several of Game's Compton, California, properties being shot up.

Game (whose real name is Jayceon Taylor) and his entourage allegedly assaulted WKYS DJ Zxulu in the Lanham, Maryland, station's lobby on January 21 after he made a remark about a mobile-phone earpiece that Game's manager was using, according to a source close to the situation.

A spokesperson for Prince George's County Police Department said that an investigation into the alleged assault is under way, but that no further information could be provided.

As a result of the alleged assault, WKYS' parent company, Radio One, banned the rapper's music from its 69 stations last week. While sources close to the radio group's owner have confirmed that a ban is in effect, calls to WKYS and Radio One's corporate headquarters were not returned.

Jimmy "Henchmen" Rosemond, one of Game's managers, says that the ban is no longer an issue. "We've cleared up the Radio One misunderstanding by going to the [security] tape, and the tape showed that Game and his management had nothing to do with the 'beating' or fight as I understood it to be," Henchmen said. "Radio One has rescinded the 'ban' and we're back to selling records as usual."

Meanwhile, the Compton headquarters of the Game's company, The Black Wall Street, were targeted last week. The six adjacent homes owned by the rapper were fired upon on Thursday, a source close to that situation said. Details of the shooting are still vague, though Game was not there at the time.

Rosemond would not comment on the shooting.

Dame Dash Announces New Ventures With N.O.R.E., RZA, Beanie

Damon Dash officially began life after Roc-A-Fella on Wednesday (January 26), holding a press conference to unveil new ventures in music, sports, fashion, film, jewelry and electronics.

At first it felt more like a party than a press conference as freestyles from Dame's new mixtape blasted through club N/A by everyone from Joe Budden and Raekwon to Beanie Sigel and Memphis Bleek. Industry tastemakers, athletes and artists all filled the club as Dame and company took the small stage.

Dash's biggest announcement was the formation of the Dash Music Group, which will be distributed by Universal Records and will incorporate several smaller labels under its umbrella. Included under the Dash-led group will be N.O.R.E.'s Militainment Musica, producer 7 Aurelius' Dream Factory, M.O.P.'s First Family and an unnamed label spearheaded by the RZA that will release a posthumous LP by ODB. Dame also said Beanie Sigel has a label within his structure and strongly hinted that the Dash Music Group may be the new home for Diplomat Records.

"I was thinking to myself, 'What can I do to compare to what we just did with Roc-A-Fella as far as being a label and empowering people who deserve to be empowered?" Dash said after the conference. "I affiliated myself with people who deserve to be empowered. I affiliated myself with people like 7, Noreaga and RZA and gave them labels."

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