NEWS IN... 16TH JAN 2004

As of two weeks ago Micheal "Mystikal" Tyler was sentenced to 6 years in jail for Sexual Battery. Rapper Mystikal was sentenced by a district court judge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to a six-year prison term for sexual battery for attacking his former hairstylist.

Judge Anthony Marabella also required Mystikal to register with the state as a sex offender. Under Louisiana state law, Mystikal will be eligible for parole after two years behind bars.

THIS IS HOW IT ALL BEGAN...

Mystikal had originally been charged with aggravated rape and extortion on July 18, 2002, after police arrested him and two bodyguards for threatening to turn his former hairstylist in to police                               for cashing $80,000 worth of unauthorized cheques from the rapper's bank account if she did not have oral sex with them 

On July 19, police revealed that they had found a videotape of the assault

MYSTIKAL CHARGED WITH RAPE!

Mystikal was arrested Thursday (July 18) on charges of aggravated rape and extortion.

The rapper and two other men surrendered to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, authorities in the morning, and Mystikal was released in the afternoon on $250,000 bail, according to the Associated Press.

Bail has not been set for the other men.

Mystikal, Leland Ellis and Vercy Carter are accused of threatening to turn a 40-year-old female acquaintance in to police for cashing unauthorized cheques from the rapper's bank account if she did not have sex with them.

The police report alleges the rapper, demanded oral sex from the woman at his house at approximately 8 p.m. on July 3 before inviting the men over. Each of the three men then had sex with her, the police report says.

"During the attacks, the victim was repeatedly threatened with prosecution of the cheques and great bodily harm," according to a statement from police. "The victim was allowed to leave the residence after the attacks. She was treated and released at a local hospital."

If convicted on the rape charge, Mystikal would face a mandatory life sentence, a police spokesperson told AP. Extortion carries a prison term of one to 15 years.

The rapper's lawyer was not available after the sentence hearing, nor was his Jive Records spokesperson.

JAY-Z UNVEILS THE BLACK PHONE

Photo: The Black Phone   Nokia and Jay-Z team up to create a music and wireless industry first with the Black Phone Available in stores exclusively at Sam Goody and Media Play, the special edition Nokia 3300 music phone comes with the entire Black Album preloaded on a Multimedia Card connecting Jay-Z with fans IRVING, TX – On the heels of the recently released, chart-topping Black Album by superstar rapper and hip-hop artist Jay-Z, Nokia will produce a special edition of the Nokia 3300 music phone called the Black Phone. The Black Phone comes preloaded with the entire Black Album on a Multimedia Card for MP3 playback. Also exclusive to the Black Phone are Jay-Z True Tones (ring tones that sound like real music) and wallpapers. Registered owners of the Black Phone will receive weekly text messages and monthly voice messages from Jay-Z for a limited time. The Black Phone will be available for approximately $124 (after mail-in rebates) beginning Friday, December 19 at select Sam Goody and Media Play locations nationwide. "Technology now provides us with the opportunity to deliver music in new ways. The Black Phone is at the forefront of the future which includes buying music instantly and taking it with you wherever you go," said Jay-Z. "Teaming with Nokia to develop the Black Phone provides me with a deeper connection to my fans through my music and mobile messaging." An entrepreneur at heart, Jay-Z has risen to the top of the rap genre since starting his own record label, Roc-a-Fella Records, which was a risky strategy at a time when the practice simply wasn't done or on such an ambitious scale. His debut album, Reasonable Doubt, became a critical favorite and received gold single status. But it wasn't until his third album, Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life, that Jay-Z transcended critically acclaimed status and achieved mainstream success. By the end of the '90s, he was among the world’s most recognized rappers. With the much-anticipated recent release of the Black Album, Jay-Z has hovered in the number one spot on the Billboard charts for several weeks. "The Black Phone represents Nokia’s commitment to music and developing devices that match the lifestyles of consumers," said Nada Usina, general manager of Nokia’s Entertainment and Media business unit. "This relationship pairs the leader in mobility with a leading artist to deliver music and the full fan experience in a unique new way. Jay-Z has always been a trendsetter and he is continuing that by being the first artist to distribute his music and connect with fans in a mobile environment. This is a move to watch." The Black Phone will be available exclusively in stores at Sam Goody and Media Play starting Friday. Sam Goody, the mall-based music retailer, and Media Play, the music, movies, books and games superstore, will carry the Black Phone in approximately 400 retail locations. "The Black Phone bridges the music and lifestyle preferences of our trend-conscious customers. This is an innovative beginning to how Musicland will build relationships with our customers on the go," Musicland CEO Eric Weisman said. About the Black Phone The Black Phone is a special design of the Nokia 3300 music phone, which has a digital music player (supports MP3 and AAC), stereo* FM radio and a music hot button to instantly access music. It features a horizontal design with a full messaging keyboard optimized for quick text input in messaging and browsing. It supports multiple ways for text chatting including instant messaging (IM), e-mail, multimedia messaging (MMS) and text messaging. Built for stylish and trendy music lovers who need to message on the go, the Black Phone is meant to show the personality of its users with True Tones, multimedia message templates and color wallpapers. The dual band (850/1900MHz) Nokia 3300 music phone also has a high-resolution color display (128 x 128). For more information about the Nokia 3300 music phone, visit  www.nokiausa.com/phones/3300.

***Jay z is rumoured to be starting another record label with Def Jam's Russel Simmons***

Russell Simmons sold his part of DEF JAM almost 5 yrs ago, although he has been the company's face, he actually has no ownership of the label.

as part of his terms and conditions of sale of his ownership, Mr Simmons had to sign a contract saying he could NOT start up another record label within 5yrs of handing over control.

we all know Jay Z aint gonna give up the rap game and we all know Russel Simmons is missing running hiphop's hottest label.

i suspect Jay Z is gonna quit making albums and just 'exec' produce them as well as start a joint venture with Russell Simmons.

i'm just waiting to see what happens - i'm looking to get me contract if thats the case!

i'll keep you posted.

send me any music news on: knowl-edge@02.co.uk

Jay-Z - 06.11.2003

A copy of what's supposed to be Jay-Z's last LP has made its way onto the Internet, so Roc-A-Fella has moved the album's release date up two weeks, from November 28 to November 14.

Jay blamed the theft of his music on a security breakdown at the plant where it's sent to be pressed.
"Once it hits the plant you have no control over it," he explained.
"If they want it, they get it.
It touches too many hands not to get it."
Jay said that while the pirating has hurt the album's set-up, he has a few tricks up his Roc-A-Wear sleeve so sales don't slack.

Like Obie Trice and the G-Unit, he too is including three golden tickets in three different copies of The Black Album.
"I got a golden ticket giveaway going on too," Jigga explained.
"I got three Mercedes Benzes, not one, not two ... BUT Three Mercedes. They can't get the Maybach, let's not get crazy, but it's something nice though. I did something with Mercedes where they used some of my lyrics in their ads, so I already had some dealings with them.

The album was coming up and I was like, 'Give me three of those joints, let the people have them.' That's how simple it was."
As second-place prizes, Jay is giving away 10 books with all his lyrics printed in them.

send me any music news on: knowl-edge@02.co.uk

A young cat from the heart of brixton has exploded into the underground, going by the title masthieve,

This innovative and gritty young'n shouts out his motherland - Ghana, Africa, with conviction thus crippling any talk of him being fake on the account of his rich american accent.

His sophemore debut album is very professionally put together and polished, nothing has been spared but the beats,

on body cd printing, professionally printed inlay and crystal clear mix down and mastering.

to purchase his album; "renovation pt.1" click here

Prodigy - 06.11.2003

Prodigy of Mobb Deep and members of his group's entourage were arrested over the weekend after officers found marijuana, crack cocaine and an illegal handgun in two vans they were using, police said.
Albert Johnson, AKA Prodigy, was charged Saturday with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and marijuana possession.
Johnson was taken to Albany County Jail with bail set at $25,000.
Dave St. Bernard, 46, a driver for the group, was charged with felony and misdemeanor counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance.

He was awaiting bail to be set.
Police made the arrests after responding to a call about two suspicious vehicles parked on the side of a road.
Inside the customized vans, officers found "various amounts of marijuana."
Police said they also found a fully loaded .25-caliber handgun hidden in one of Johnson's boots, and ammunition and powder and crack cocaine inside a bag belonging to St. Bernard.

Alan Daniel Maman, 26, of New York City; Brett Brandon Edward, 38, of Bridgeport, Conn.; Javier Vazquez, 22, of Stratford, Conn.; Fred E. Allen Jr., 39, of Freeport, N.Y.; Derrick Johnson, 28, of the Bronx, N.Y.; Jamal Abduiraheem, 26, of Jersey City, N.J.; and Tajauw Akem Perry, 28, of Annapolis, Md.; were all charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation, and released without bail.
The group was in Cohoes, near Albany, for a performance.

send me any music news on: knowl-edge@02.co.uk

50 Cent - 21.10.2003

A tabloid reports 50 Cent cheated on girlfriend Vivica A. Fox with a stunning clubber named Leila at Chinawhite's on Wednesday night.

(50 CENT & VIVICA A FOX @MTV VMA'S)

50' handpicked her out to join him at a exclusive party at a pal's plush £12million Mayfair house afterwards.
50' looked really smitten.
He grabbed her hand and led her downstairs where the gym was," a spy revealed.
"They disappeared for ages.

He looked flushed but had a big smile on his face when he re-appeared with her later.
50' then chatted to a lot of other girls who were all throwing themselves at him.

But it was Leila who he only had eyes for.
He even asked her for her telephone number and said he would like to keep in touch

send me any music news on: knowl-edge@02.co.uk

50 Cent - 29.10.2003

Rapper 50 Cent said he will not meet with The Nation Of Islam's Minister Louis Farrakhan, despite an offering by the spiritual leader to mediate tensions between Ja Rule, 50, Murder Inc. and G-Unit.
"As far as me meeting with Farrakhan...it's not happening," 50 told Washington D.C.'s 93.9 WKYS.

"I respect [Farrakhan] and all that but it ain't going down. Ja put himself in the position he's in and he's doing whatever he can for publicity."
Ja Rule met with Minister Farrakhan last Thursday on a farm owned by The Nation Of Islam. Sources say a meeting took place at the urging of Murder Inc. CEO Irv Gotti.

The contents of their conversation was taped and is scheduled to run on 85 Clear Channel radio stations across the U.S.A. on November 4th, the same day that Ja Rule's latest album, Blood In My Eye is released to retail stores.
The interview will reach over 40 million listeners.

50 took a swipe at "Clap Back," Ja Rule's latest release in a series of verbal shots the men have been taking at each other.
"As far as 'Clap Back,' the beat's ok, but there's no clappin going on there.
You can't even understand his vocals."

50 Cent Photo: MTV News
"I feel [Ja's interview with Farrakhan] was a promotional stunt. That wasn't an attempt to bring any type of peace." — 50 Cent

"It's tired," 50 Cent said last week about the back-and-forth beef between him and Ja Rule.

The MC with the protruding pecs proclaimed he's done making records about his longtime foe, but don't expect to see them sharing turkey and stuffing this Thanksgiving.

"Everybody out there knows I don't like him and he doesn't like me," 50 lamented. "I'm not stuck on him. I just made an entire album [Beg for Mercy] and didn't mention him. I gotta move on. If you pick up his album [Blood in My Eye], it's about 10 references [to me] on 10 of the songs. The success I'm having is eating at him.

"I would never speak on Ja Rule if the [media] didn't ask me about him," he continued. "In the music business you're only as hot as the material you put out, and his material ain't hot. He sucks right now."

	Ja Rule On 50 Cent, God And Hip-Hop

Rule sat down with Nation of Islam leader Minister Louis Farrakhan in late October to discuss a possible resolution to his strife with 50 (see "Ja Rule On 50 Cent, God And Hip-Hop"). The conversation between the two — which included Ja's recounting of his war of words and physical altercations between himself and his number-one rap foe — aired November 3 on MTV and BET, one day before the release of Blood in My Eye.

50 said he was extended an offer by Murder Inc. to participate in the sit-down, but he found the invitation to be insincere.

"When they set up the time to have that meeting, I wasn't notified until that meeting was already in progress," 50 explained. "[Murder Inc.] was already in Chicago when they reached out to me. It wasn't planned for me to be there until after the fact."

50 said no one from the Nation of Islam has reached out to him since the interview aired, but he wouldn't mind meeting with Minister Farrakhan because he felt the Muslim leader legitimately wanted to help solve the conflict. There is no way, however, that he will ever have a heart-to-heart with Ja.

"I'm not interested in it," he scoffed. "I feel [Ja's interview with Farrakhan] was a promotional stunt. When I sat there and I was watching it, in the middle of it, the break comes and here comes a commercial for his album. His album actually came out seven hours later. That wasn't an attempt to bring any type of peace. You hear the records that are being released at the same time on the street, I can't see you putting that out and you feeling the same way you say you felt with Minister Farrakhan."

For a feature on 50 and the G-Unit, check out "50 Cent & G-Unit: Expect The Unexpected."

send me any music news on: knowl-edge@02.co.uk

P.Diddy - 03.10.2003

Kirk Burrows, a former business partner of Sean 'P.Diddy' Combs, has made a number of sensational claims against the Bad Boy mogul, implicating him in the murder of Tupac Shakur and the 1995 slaying of Suge Knight's bodyguard.
In a story, which was broken by the New York Post , Burrows filed a $25 million lawsuit in a Manhattan federal court, in which he accused Combs of cheating him out of millions and threatened to cause him extreme physical harm with a bat.

In addition, court documents, filed in June, say that the music executive's business relationship with Mary J. Blige was damaged.
In the legal documents, Burrows, the ex-president of Bad Boy, charges that Combs's business was designed "to gain power, recognition, fame and financial gain through acts and threats involving murder, mayhem and extortion via the enterprise."
Burrows, who is also godfather to Combs's son, Justin, said he and his adversary experienced a "very close, family-like relationship" before their business falling out.

Furthermore, the documents state that Combs and his company financed the shooter than went on to murder Tupac.F
"With the consent, approval and ratification of the [Bad Boy] enterprise, Suge Knight's chief bodyguard, "Big Jake," was murdered in 1995," he says in court papers.
Nothing more was released about the slaying of Tupac.

Burrows's lawyer said that his client is one of many that have been victimized by the Bad Boy mogul.
"My client appears to be the victim of a corrupt group that 'thugs its way through it,' and I am here to help him get justice," Bostany said to The Post.
"The organized group, led by and captained by Combs, used a champagne bottle to strike Steven Stoute repeatedly," Burrowes concurred.

The plaintiffs are referring to a champagne-bottle assault of Interscope Records mogul Stoute in April of 1999, a crime that Combs admitted to guilt.
Combs' lawyer dismissed the charges as one of many accusations "without merit."
"This is one of many entirely baseless lawsuits that Mr. Combs and other superstars like him must contend with on a regular basis," he said.

Ironically, Steve Stoute is one if the directors of Combs's new charity, Diddy Runs the City.
The report didn't explain the nature of their dissolved personal and business relationship.

send me any music news on: knowl-edge@02.co.uk

• TOP 10 HIPHOP/R'n'B TUNES: • Type your title here. LUDACRIS: "Stand Up" MISSY ELLIOT: "Cop That Disc" JAY Z ft PHARREL WILLIAMS: "Change Clothes" MISSY ELLIOT: "Pass That Dutch" JAGGED EDGE: "Walked Outta Heaven" THA RAYNE: "Didn't You Know" MARY J. BLIGE: "Love At First Site" TYRESE: "Signs Of Love Making" 50 CENT ft G-UNIT: "Stunt 101" LIL' JON/BUSTA/ELEPHANT MAN: "Get Low"   • TOP 10 REGGAE/DANCEHALL TUNES • Type your title here. WARD 21 ft WAYNE MARSHALL: "New Millenium" BABYCHAM: "Vitamin S" ELEPHANT MAN: "All Out" ELEPHANT MAN: "Pon Di River, Pon Di Bank" KEVIN LITTLE: "Turn Me On BEENIE MAN: "Dude" SEAN PAUL: "Feel Alright" BEENIE MAN: "Row Like A Boat" ELEPHANT MAN: "Genie Dance" ELEPHANT MAN: "Bun Dat Down" WAYNE WONDER: "Bounce Along"

 

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