50 Cent Hosts Pool Party With G-Unit

Date: 8/8/2005 3:15 pm

Yesterday, 50 Cent held a party at his Farmington, Connecticut mansion playing host to a few hundred revelers, including G-Unit, Mobb Deep, M.O.P., boxing champion Winky Wright, actress Nia Long, Lil’ Jon, Lil’ Scrappy and a host of other celebrities.

The pool party, equipped with a harem of models, doubled as a celebration for the rapper’s upcoming book, The Massacre re-issue, movie and the looming releases of Tony Yayo and singer Olivia.

“You know I wanted to do something for the people, you know. I wanted to throw a party, party,” 50 Cent told AllHipHop.com. The rapper explained that this event also acted as a makeshift birthday party as well.

“I didn’t get a chance to throw like a real party for my birthday. Yeah, my birthday was July 6 so I had different really close people and my staff, my company [at that party],” he explained. “I bought this [mansion] so I have everything put together, so I can entertain like 1,200 people.”

Black Entertainment Television was also present at the party taping an upcoming special on 50 Cent and his many projects. The G-Unit leader and company socialized with party-goers, taking pictures, eating and strolling about the rapper’s lavish compound, which was outfitted with a waterfall, lake, basketball court and pool.

The event, which ended in the early evening, was capped off by a performance by the G-Unit – Olivia, Mobb Deep, M.O.P., Young Buck, Lloyd Banks and 50. Spider Loc, the new West Coast leg of the crew, was present, but didn’t take to the stage.

A fortunate few at the barbeque were able to get a copy of 50’s new book, which was co-written by journalist Kris Ex. The semi-autobiography, "From Pieces to Weight: Once Upon a Time in Southside, Queens," is a joint venture with MTV Books. The rapper will conduct the only book signing event related to the book at 11 a.m. on Tuesday Aug. 9 at the Virgin Megastore in Union Square, New York.

Similarly, the rapper’s the semi-autobiographical “Get Rich or Die Tryin’” will chronicle his rearing in Queens, New York. The Jim Sheridan-directed movie hits theaters in November.

Finally, The Massacre re-issue is equipped with a DVD that includes videos for all 21 songs. The opus is available on Sept. 6.

50 Cent purchased the 48,000-square-foot mansion from former boxing champ Mike Tyson for $4.1 million.

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Suge Knight Fined, Charges Dropped

Date: 8/7/2005 8:45 am

Marion “Suge" Knight was fined $691 Friday (August 5) and cleared of a marijuana possession charge after pleading no contest to making an illegal U turn and driving without insurance in Barstow, California. Knight was arrested and incarcerated for more than a week after police said they found marijuana in his Ford pickup truck during a traffic stop on February 5. The Death Row co-founder was found in violation of his parole for venturing more than 50 miles from his home and ordered to electronic monitoring. He was released from parole on April 24. Both a parole agent and prosecutors decided to drop the drug possession charge, citing inadequate evidence, according to James Hill, supervisor of the Barstow district attorney's office. A case is still pending for Alexis Wilkinson, a teenage woman who was in the truck with Knight at the time he was pulled over. Wilkinson was arrested and later released, and is charged with providing false information to police.

Foxy Brown Rejects Plea

Date: 8/6/2005 5:20 am

Foxy Brown rejected a second plea deal Friday (August 5) that would have prevented her from going to jail on assault charges. According to prosecutors, the deal, offered by the Manhattan district attorney's office, called for Brown to serve 10 days of community service for attempted assault and harassment of two nail technicians last August.

The Brooklyn rapper is accused of kicking and punching the two employees after an argument over payment for a manicure.

Brown, whose real name is Inga Marchand, turned down a similar plea bargain in May. “She didn't commit any misdemeanor,” her lawyer, Joseph Tacopina, told the Associated Press. “That's the bottom line.” Negotiations with the district attorney are expected to continue, and a resolution before the trial is not out of the question, according to Tacopina. Brown has maintained her innocence and is scheduled to return to court on September 22.

Fat Joe Co-Founds Libertad Music Festival, Nore, Pitbull On Board

Date: 8/5/2005 5:00 pm

Rappers Fat Joe, Pitbull, Nore and a slew of other upcoming Latin artists are scheduled to perform at the first ever Libertad Music Festival. The festival was co-founded by Fat Joe and Catalyst Entertainment and will showcase some the unique sounds of Chicano/Mexican Hip-Hop, Reggaeton, Latin and South American beats. The Libertad Music Festival aims to help Latino acts further their fan base and give fans a closer look at some of their favorite artists.

This first ever national tour will make stops in Miami, Dallas, New York and Los Angeles.

Tickets for the event can be purchased through www.ticketmaster.com and www.latinotickets.com.

Catalyst Entertainment was founded in 2003 and is an entertainment marketing company specializing in developing events and original entertainment targeting multicultural and youth consumers. Dates include:

Miami: Sunday, August 14th 2005 at the Amphitheater at Bay Front Park.

Dallas: Sunday, August 21st 2005 at Artist Square Park.

New York: Sunday, September 3rd 2005 at Hammerstein Ballroom.

Los Angeles: Date to be announced shortly.

New Generation Of Rappers Featured In Madden 2006

Date: 8/4/2005 4:45 pm

For the past 15 years, EA Sports and John Madden have written the book on creating the perfect franchise football game. Within the last few years, the game has also become an extremely useful marketing vehicle for brand new artists that are featured on the Madden Soundtrack. Tapping new and proven talent alike, this year's Madden 2006 soundtrack looks to further the Madden name and prove that they are still on the pulse of pop culture. "Every year, the release of Madden NFL Football is a major event for gamers and music fans alike," said Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive of Music and Music Marketing for EA. "Some of today's most important acts were first introduced through the game. This year's in-game soundtrack features some amazing new tracks from artists that we believe will be next year's hottest stars." Mixtape wunderkind Papoose was contacted by EA for the soundtrack and soon thereafter the song "Born to Win" was created. “They contacted me and the rest was history," Pap said all fans can expect to hear pure talent. I think "Born to Win" is incredible. The concept is crazy and it's definitely going to stand out from everything else on the game. " New Jersey's Sam Scarfo was also courted for the soundtrack and dropped "Tear it Up" for the soundtrack. "I think they chose ‘Tear it Up’ because it’s an adrenaline type of feel," said Scarfo, who was recently signed by Jay-Z. "It has an ill energy and its real cocky just like me. "In recent years, Madden has tapped numerous Hip-Hop artists, both established and unknown. Jazze Pha and Young Wun were heard on last year's soundtrack, and in 2004 they featured the likes of Outkast, Killer Mike, The Roots, Red Café and Bonecrusher. Included this year is Chicago's Bump J with his song "Move Around.” He is an avid Madden gamer and is looking forward to not only being on the soundtrack but also playing the new game. "The new Madden is the s**t," Bump told AllHipHop.com. "It's a little harder than last year but I'm the s**t on it already! " Madden 2006 has made some slight changes to gameplay this year, which they hope will give gamers better control and a more realistic approach. The new Vision and Precision (also called Vision and Placement) has been added to the passing game allowing quarterbacks to only pass in the direction he is looking, mirroring actual NFL quarterbacks. And the new Truck Stick Control has been added as well to deliver big hits, break tackles and pancake defenders. Selling over 3.2 million copies for the Playstation 2 last year, Madden has cemented itself in the sports gaming genre as the top dog and has been a go-to for upcoming artists looking for a chance at exposure. Free Maiden, CEO of record label Free 4 All, said that landing his artist Bump J. on EA’s NBA Live proved to be successful, so Madden was a natural progression. "When it was time to start on this year's Madden, EA felt "Move Around" would be a perfect fit,” Maiden told AllHipHop.com “Several other companies want the song as well, so in a nutshell, one opportunity is definitely leading to another. "Madden 2006 hits stores on August 9th and features Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb on the cover. Look for the following artists on this year's edition

-Chamillionaire, "Hate in ya Eyes"

-Memphis Bleek, "Like That"

-REV RUN, "Mind on the Road"

-Sam Scarfo, "Tear it Up"

-Slim Thug, "Get it Started"

-Spider Loc, "When I Get Angry"

-Stat Quo, "Rock Da Party"

-Tech N9ne, "The Beast"

-Papoose, "Born to Win"

-Bump J, "Move Around"

DJ Kay Slay Coming To Sirius Satellite Radio

Date: 8/4/2005 1:20 pm

DJ Kay Slay has been tapped to host a new weekly mix show on Sirius Satellite Radio called "Streetsweeper Radio."

The Harlem native will host the four-hour mix show on the Eminem backed Shade 45 Channel every Wednesday from 8pm to 12 midnight ET. Highly regarded for his street-edged mixtapes, the Drama King is looking to bring listeners more of the hardcore music he is known for. "Being on Sirius Satellite Radio is the best thing that can ever happen to a DJ from the street like myself," Kay Slay said in a statement. "The listener gets raw, uncut, no-holds-barred hip-hop. My show is 360 degrees of the street; exclusives, freestyles, special guests, and, of course, drama. "Kay Slay started off as a DJ and graffiti artist in Harlem, New York and eventually parlayed his street connections into innovative, battle filled mixtapes.

He has won numerous Mixtape Awards and has also released three albums. In addition to the new show on Sirius, Kay Slay also serves as A&R for Shaquille O'Neal's record label, Deja34. Shade 45 is an uncensored Hip-Hop channel co-produced by Eminem and Sirius. Other DJ's on the channel include Clinton Sparks, Tony Touch, Felli Fel, Cipha Sounds, Whoo Kid and others.

50 Cent Reveals Details Of Autobiography

Date: 8/3/2005 7;00 pm

Rapper 50 Cent's has teamed up with MTV to release his autobiography, titled "From Pieces to Weight: Once Upon a Time in Southside, Queens. "The Queens bred emcee teamed with MTV Books to release an autobiography based on his life, discussing his childhood, the death of his mother and his road to stardom. "The book gives a lot more details about my upbringing," 50 Cent told AllHipHop.com. "You know, what my lifestyle was like ahead of the actual music. "50 said that the detailed memoirs were written over a three-month time span and contain tales from his upbringing in Southside, Queens. "I ended up telling so many different stories and so many different things in pieces because it's impossible for you to tell your life story in one shot and not miss something," 50 continued. At the beginning of the book, 50 Cent tells readers that he was simply giving people an account of his life prior to selling tens of millions of records and becoming one of the most well known rappers on the planet. "People want the truth," 50 writes. "Even if they can't handle it, they want it. I let you know that I survived nine bullets not to sell records, but because it's the truth. Every time I sit down for an interview, I'm asked, 'Well, 50, how did it feel to get shot nine times?' But those stories don't hold the weight, the pain, or the hope of my experience. It just can't. This is my mindset and these are the things that go on. This is why I say the rhymes that I say. This is what happened when I was trying to get rich before I died in Southside Queens." "From Pieces to Weight: Once Upon a Time in Southside, Queens" is scheduled to hit shelves August 16th. On Tuesday August 9th, 50 Cent will conduct the only book signing event related to the book Three hundred fans will receive a pass to access 50 Cent starting at 9:00 am at the Virgin Megastore in New York’s Union Square.

Game, Kanye West, Fat Joe Participate In BMI Awards

Date: 8/3/2005 12:12 pm

Organizers of the 5th Annual BMI Urban Awards have announced this year’s event will include participation from The Game, Fat Joe and Kanye West. The event will be hosted by the President and CEO of BMI, Del R. Bryant, and Catherine Brewton, who serves as Vice President of Writer/Publisher Relations. The Gap Band will also be honored with this year’s BMI Icon Award, an award honoring creators of music that have made "a unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers." The Gap Band has had their work sampled by numerous Hip-Hop artists through the years, compiling a catalog that includes such hit songs as "You Dropped a Bomb on Me," "Oops Upside Your Head," "Burn Rubber" and many others. Past honorees include James Brown, Paul Simon, Isaac Hayes, Carlos Santana, Al Green and others. Awards will also be given for Urban Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Producer of the Year and Publisher of the Year. Top urban producers and BMI songwriters whose songs have hit #1 on the Billboard Charts will also be recognized. BMI is a non-profit organization that collects license fees from businesses that use music and then distributes royalties to the music creators and copyright owners. BMI currently represents over 300,000 songwriters, composers and publishers from all genres of music. This year’s event will take place on August 26th in the Grand Ballroom of the Fontainebleau Resort in Miami.