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Pharoahe Monch Album On The Way Via New Deal With Steve Rifkind's New Label

Pharoahe Monch has joined forces with Loud Records/SRC founder Steve Rifkind to release Monch's first album since his 1999 debut Internal Affairs, on Rawkus Records.

Pharaohe Monch will release his highly anticipated album, Desire, on a new unnamed label Rifkind has founded and runs, after a bidding war which is also distributed by Universal.

A bidding war for Pharoahe's new album was reportedly between Sony, Bad Boy and Eminem's Shady Records.

Rifkind eventually signed the rapper after hearing what he dubbed "the album of the year."

"On a creative and business level, I've never been this excited," Monche said in a statement. "I've had the time to work on this album, and being a perfectionist, it's really come to fruition. It's very soulful, very gospel, a fresh, new sound for me. It shows so much growth spiritually, almost as if I'm a new artist. When I play the record for people, that's how they hear it."

Pharoahe Monch was a member of the renowned group Organized Konfusion.

After releasing his critically acclaimed album Internal Affairs, label politics slowed down the rapper's career.

Rawkus signed a distribution deal with MCA and later, the label was absorbed into Geffen.

Monch recorded an album for Geffen but the recording was never released as the rapper attempted to free himself of the Geffen deal.

"There's an element of obvious patience, but that's just who I am," he said. "I've learned that it was best for me to wait for the best situation. Everything happens for a reason. This is my expression and creation. I know people are waiting for this album, and I respect my fans enough to put out quality music."

The first single from the album will be the white labeled "When the Gun Draws," which will be accompanied by a short film.

"It's a concept record," said the rapper. "About life from the perspective of a bullet."

The first commercial single will be "Push."

No release date was available for the album as of press time.

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T.I. Flies Southern Hip-Hop Flag On CD, Film



Three days after releasing his fourth album, "King" (Atlantic), Atlanta rapper T.I. will make his film debut in "ATL," also co-starring Big Boi of OutKast. Due March 28, the album features appearances from Pharrell, Young Jeezy, Common, Kanye West, Paul Wall and Jamie Foxx, with production by Swizz Beatz and Just Blaze, among others.


"King" will be the follow-up to 2004's "Urban Legend," which peaked at No. 7 on The Billboard 200 and has sold 1.3 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The album yielded the top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hit "Bring Em Out."

"I feel like it's more open and more open-minded," T.I. tells Billboard.com of his new effort. "It's an extreme amount of growth, but [at the same time] I kept everything I knew people would like. Your favorite dish is just as good as the first time you ever had it. You just keep doing what you do, but better."

When released, "King" will mark another progression in the southern rap movement that T.I., the self-proclaimed "King of the South," says is currently dominating hip-hop. "It's in the best place it's been in as far as strength and power and numbers are concerned," he adds. "I think we've really got a stronghold on the game."

In the meantime, T.I. has released the mixtape "Gangsta Grillz: The Leak," featuring several tracks originally intended for "King." He drummed up the CD after bootlegged songs appeared on the Internet.

Several songs from "King," including lead single "What You Know," will be featured in "ATL," due March 31. In the MTV Films movie, T.I. plays the lead role of Rashad.

"It's basically a coming-of-age story about teenagers who grow up in [Atlanta], their conflicts and their situations, and how they have to overcome certain things to get from where they are to where they would like to be in life," says T.I. "Once I got into [character], it was cool. It was definitely insightful and a learning experience. I'm looking into becoming part of a few [more projects] but I have to keep it to myself until I get things finalized."

T.I., a spokesperson for Jay-Z's S. Carter sneaker line, is also in the midst of developing his own clothing and sneaker collections. "It's in the works," says T.I. "But I gotta make sure when I do it, I do it right and with the right people."

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C-Murder Aims For New Murder Trial


C-Murder recently requested a new trial with the Louisiana Supreme Court.

C-Murder (born Corey Miller) had his second-degree murder conviction reinstated last year. The New Orleans rapper was convicted of killing 16-year-old Steve Thomas back in 2003.

Recently, his defense lawyers, Robert Glass and Ron Rakosky, are filing for the Supreme Court to overturn the Fifth Circuit of Appeal's ruling. If the decision sticks, C-Murder will face a mandatory life sentence in prison.

Should the Supreme Court stick to the Fifth Circuit verdict, C-Murder's legal team will be able to appeal the conviction. He was denied a new trial in March of last year.

In April 2004, State District Judge Martha Sassone ordered a new trial stating that prosecutors were keeping information that some key witnesses had criminal records. However, two out of three judges in Gretna, Louisiana's Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal panel disagreed. Judges Sol Gothard and Clarence McManus wrote that the key witnesses' testimony wouldn't be relevant because "there was an abundance of other evidence which fully established Miller's guilt."

On the other hand, Judge Thomas Daley said the appeals court makes decisions based on the judgment of the trial judge.

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Lil' Jon Preps Crunk Rock



After enjoying double-platinum success off his Crunk Juice album, Lil' Jon now wants to introduce Crunk Rock to the world.

Whaaat!? Crunk Rock? Yeeeeeahh!

The boisterous producer and rapper from Atlanta, is prepping Crunk Rock to be released later this year. The album will mark the King of Crunk's first venture as a solo recording artist on TVT Records. This announcement comes after Jon said he would "never record for TVT Records" last year, due to differences.

After reconciling with TVT, Jon, who is currently touring in Australia with 50 Cent, promises Crunk Rock "is going to be some next level sh--."

Jon's first single off the album, "Snap Yo Fingers" features E-40.

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Lake Signs With Suge Knight’s Death Row East



Former Nas associate Lake has signed to Suge Knight’s Death Row Records subsidiary, Death Row East.

“I’m the flagship artist [of Death Row East],” Lakey the Kid said on DJ Kay Slay’s Hot 97 radio show today [Feb. 24]. “We doing this for the streets. Death Row is back. The streets is ready, the penitentiary is ready. The foundation of what we doing [starts with] the music.”

Lake was once affiliated with many of the artists out of the Queensbridge area, but said that many of the relationships weren’t fruitful to him.

“The dudes that I was with weren’t supporting me so my career was at a stalemate. A lot of dudes didn’t want to support me coming up,” he lamented without citing specific rappers. Lake has been associated with fellow Queensbridge rappers like Cormega, Mobb Deep and has lyrically berated former friend Nas.

Big Delson, the VP Death Row East, was also on the show and said that he and Lake, a Queens native, have many commonalities that extend far beyond mere music.

“Me and Lake, we been in it together, we did time together, I got love for him,” said Delson. “And I really believe in his ability. I’ve watched him grow as a person, as a person and as a man. And there is no way I could turn my back on his, because loyalty and integrity is everything to me. I don’t know how to be crooked. I only know how to be straight up – 6 o’ clock.”

Suge Knight told the listening audience that Lake’s street creditability was extremely important. “Everybody knows Lake is hot. It speaks for itself. It’s really important for me to sign somebody that can go back to their own neighborhood.”

Also, Knight weighed in on the changes in the music industry since his beginnings in the early 90s and alluded to some of his run-ins with the law.

“My whole thing is that, far as the music business, it used to be fun. Its time for me to deal with people that don’t tell on me and I don’t tell on them,” Knight said. “Don’t tell the police. Everybody did they time. One of the things that I am excited about the [Kay Slay] show is the show gives to the penitentiary”

Lake expressed that he felt a unique kinship with Suge Knight, deceased rapper Tupac and Death Row as an organization.

“To the people that don’t know, you gotta understand what this is – its Death Row East – but its Death Row. Death Row had the best,” Lakey said. “I couldn’t go no where else.”

At the show’s conclusion, Suge Knight also revealed was also attempting to contact and sign incarcerated rapper Shyne.

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Gab es bei uns schon vor fast 6 Monaten zu lesen:

http://www.ugrap.de/forum/viewtopic.php ... row#185934

Audio Tape Of Busta Rhymes Video Shooting Emerges



An audio tape recorded before the slaying of rapper Busta Rhymes' bodyguard has surfaced and is reportedly being offered to the media for $50,000.

The 53-minute tape has not been given to police or prosecutors.

The New York Daily News reported that the tape includes the argument that set off the shooting of Israel Ramirez, as well as the voice of the suspected killer, who is believed to have called Rhymes a "b***h."

In addition, a transcript of the tape appears to confirm that G-Unit rapper Tony Yayo was a central figure in the argument.

According to a source familiar with the tape, the fight resulted when G-Unit members were excluded from an onstage lineup at the video shoot.

The source further stated that Rhymes appeared to be playing peacemaker on the tape during the argument and that the voice of a third man, whose identity is not clear, is believed to be the shooter. On the recording, that man is heard calling another man, apparently Rhymes, a b***h, according to the transcript.

Although the fatal shots aren't heard on the tape since the argument moved outside the studio, the source told the Daily News that the reaction afterwards was included. "You can hear screaming and the chaos and the 911 call," the source said.

Brooklyn district attorney spokesman Jerry Schmetterer hopes whoever possesses the tape or video "would cooperate with authorities, especially if it provides evidence in this case.

"It's totally irresponsible of this person to withhold what could be a vital piece of evidence in an active homicide investigation," added an NYPD spokesman who spoke to the Daily News yesterday (Feb. 23).

Ramirez died Feb. 5 during the filming of the remix to Rhymes' single "Touch It." No one has been charged in the slaying.

Rhymes and others have garnered criticism from NYPD commissioner Raymond Kelly for remaining mum on the details surrounding the shooting.

Witnesses could be called to testify in front of a grand jury or face contempt charges.

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Busta Rhymes Flies To L.A. To Finish Video; Police Still Investigating



Busta Rhymes flew to Los Angeles over the weekend to complete the star-studded video to his "Touch It" remix.

The filming of the video has put the rapper in the headlines, because of the shooting death of his bodyguard during the portion filmed in New York.

Rhymes' bodyguard Israel Ramirez was shot and killed on Feb. 5, during a celebrity filled video shoot in Brooklyn, New York.

Police suspect that an argument between G-Unit's Tony Yayo and Ruff Ryders president Swizz Beatz sparked the deadly shooting.

The rapper, along with several other alleged witnesses, has refused to cooperate with authorities, leaving the case in limbo.

Late last week, reports surfaced that an audio tape detailing the minutes leading up to the murder had emerged, but the unidentified owner was selling the tape for $50,000.

According to sources, the tape reveals the argument that led to the shooting and the voice of an unidentified man calling Busta Rhymes a "b***h."

Police believe the man heard on the tape is the gunman, who is allegedly an associate of Tony Yayo.

A spokesperson for the Brooklyn district attorney's office has gone on record requesting the audio tape and pleading for any persons to come forward with information.

A high-ranking police source told the New York Daily News the Flipmode leader's trip to California was done in order to avoid a subpoena.

[He's] afraid to come back to New York," the source told the newspaper. "And get served."

Meanwhile, New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly continues to criticize those who were present at the time of the shooting for not coming forward to help solve the murder.

Busta Rhymes was unavailable at press time, but a music industry source revealed Busta is currently back in New York.

No details regarding the video's airdate, nor the rapper's whereabouts, has been made public.

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Chino XL "Poison Pen" Competition!



Chino XL’s upcoming release, “Poison Pen,” has been now scheduled for release on March 21. The album will not only show off the skills of one of the most highly regarded MC's in the business, but it will give a chance to undiscovered MC's to have a chance to be heard. The Activate label & Foundation Chi is releasing “Poison Pen” and searching for the best new hot MC. Chino XL, will choose the winner from submissions...

The highly anticipated album contains 16 tracks, 4 secret bonus tracks, an enhanced music video playable on computers, and a special link to Chino’s lyrics. Packaged in a Special Silver Metallic foil cover, and includes a second DJ Mix disc of the album with commentary by Chino XL (with LA Radio DJ Power 106 FM/Beat Junkies - DJ Mr. Choc) is autographed by Chino XL in the Limited initial edition.

The 3rd Bonus track is an accappella track of Chino’s vocals on the track “All I Wanna Do…(Bout Nuthin’),” so listeners can hear every nuance of the Wordsmith’s often studied lyrics. The 4th and final bonus track on the CD is the interactive mix of the contest track, with Chino’s verses taken off.

Fans can write and add their own verses to the track and submit them to the label (address & details in the CD package) within 90 days of the March 21 street date to the label.

The chosen MC will get their own song released. The Winner will be announced at the Pro-Am B-Boy Finals in Las Vegas.

Additional guests on Chino’s “Poison Pen” include Wu Tang family member Killah Priest, Psycho Les of The Beatnuts, and Eminem’s hype man/D-12 leader Proof, among others. Album in stores, on I-Tunes, and available by mail order through Activate’s e-commerce site, www.bestdealonmusic.com http://www.bestdealonmusic.com on March 21st.

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