Ja Rule News in New York

Rapper JA RULE has been reprimanded by a New York judge for failing to show up for an April (08) court date - because he was on tour in Germany.
On Wednesday (28May08), lawyer Stacey Richman blamed the error on the organisers of the German tour, arguing the dates had been booked by mistake.
Supreme Court Justice Micki Scherer told the star - real name Jeffrey Atkins - it was "no excuse", but granted him a break when she agreed to let him out of the country again for performances in Russia, reports the New York Daily News...

Akon Canadian Shows on July

Akon has 6 Canadian shows that have been announced for July.


Date - Venue - City - State - Country

7/9/2008 - Centre Bell Centre Montreal - Quebec - Canada

7/10/2008 - Molson Amphitheater - Toronto- Ontario - Canada

7/15/2008 - MTS Centre - Winipeg - MB - Canada

7/16/2008 - Creadit Union Centre - Saskaton - SK - Canada

7/17/2008 - Rexall Place - Edmonton - Alberta - Canada

7/19/2008 - General Motors - Vancouver - BC - Canada

Rap-A-Lot to release Pimp C's Greatest Hits!

On June 3rd Rap-A-Lot/Asylum Records will be releasing Pimp C's Greatest Hits. It will feature his songs as a solo artist and will include unreleased gems by the late rapper. The first single will be "Underground Thang" feat Bun B, and Chamillionaire. In a recent interview Bun B has confirmed that there will be another UGK album, a UGK greatest hits, and one more Pimp C solo album. Bun B's II trill was released on tuesday.

New MJG Solo Album "This Might Be the Day" Is the "True" New Release

404 Music, Inc., together with MJG Muzik and Push Management, are setting the record straight with respect to the new studio album from Memphis rapper, MJG.

MJG's upcoming album, "This Might Be the Day," features twelve new tracks, including the hit single, "Shades." "This Might Be the Day" is being released by 404 Music, Inc. in collaboration with MJG Muzik and Push Management...

In response to the controversy and confusion regarding the mixtape entitled, "Pimp Tight," Nina K. Easton, president/CEO of 404 Music, Inc., states, "I want to stress that 404 Music has absolutely no affiliation with the mixtape, 'Pimp Tight.' Anyone who knows me also knows of the values and the causes that I have promoted and supported through the years. Releasing questionable product is not one of them."

"404 Music has been receiving non-stop inquiries from various retailers and members of the music industry about MJG's new album, 'This Might Be the Day.' We have been telling them that the album will be available on July 1st," adds Easton. "We appreciate the great interest in MJG's new record."

8Ball, Gucci Mane, and Pleasure P (from Pretty Ricky) are featured on "This Might Be the Day."

About 404 Music, Inc.: 404 Music, Inc. is an Atlanta based record label that focuses on Urban, R&B, and Rap music. Established in 1998 by Nina K. Easton, some of 404 Music's key releases include Popa Wu's (Wu-Tang Clan) album (produced by RZA) and Young Jeezy's first album.

source: world wide connect

Akon Responds To Smoking Gun Report

Little more than a month ago, The Smoking Gun published an article claiming Akon manufactured most of his past as the ringleader of a "notorious" car-theft ring and that he didn't spend four and a half years in prison, as he has said. Instead, the Web site reported, Akon spent only a few months in an Atlanta jail for stealing a single car, according to police, court and corrections records...

The story raised some serious doubts about the stories Akon has been repeating in interviews for years about his background as a hard-hitting thug who once owned and operated four chop shops that catered to "celebrities and drug dealers." But did Akon spend years in prison, fighting off other inmates on an almost-daily basis, as he's claimed over and over again?

On Tuesday, MTV News sat down with Akon to discuss The Smoking Gun's report. And while he didn't come right out and debunk the article or corroborate his accounts of a criminal past, he said he believes the report has have done little to hurt his rep.

"It's an article," he said. "Everyone's entitled to their own opinions and views. At the end of the day, the Konvict movement is keeping me out of jail. It's nothing I want to glorify or go back to. Honestly, I'm glad something like that came out, because it opens the minds of other people who're thinking positive.

"We're doing so many positive things," 'Kon continued. "To go back and focus and put energy on negative things like that, to try to discredit an artist, it makes no sense to me. If there was a motive for it, it would be worth entertaining. I'd rather keep it the way it is and leave the article out there. It only helps me. It's not something I was trying to glorify or turn back to. It was something I was trying to forget. Actually, it worked out for me in a positive way."

Akon is still working on Acquitted, the follow-up to 2006's Konvicted. The album was originally slated for release this month, but those plans have been scrapped.

Source: MTV

Top 10 RNB and HipHop MUsic | May 2008

1. Leona Lewis "Bleeding Love"
2. Lil Wayne "Lollipop"
3. Jordin Sparks "No Air"
4. Usher "Love In This Club"
5. Ray J "Sexy Can I"
6. Madonna "4 Minutes"
7. Mariah Carey "Touch My Body"
8. Natasha Bedingfield "Pocketful Of Sunshine"
9. Sara Bareilles "Love Song"
10. Jesse McCartney "Leavin'"

Click Here for More

R. Kelly 'sTrial

A woman will testify at R. Kelly's upcoming child-pornography trial that she had a three-way sexual encounter with Kelly and the allegedly underage girl shown in the videotape at the center of the case, the Chicago Sun-Times reported on Saturday (May 3). Jury selection for the long-delayed case is scheduled to begin Friday.

n the case, prosecutors claim to have identified the girl in the videotape, who is now in her 20s. Kelly's lawyers are planning to argue — and the alleged victim will reportedly testify — that she is not the girl in the tape, according to the Sun-Times.

But the new witness could weaken that defense, since she will identify the girl — and claim the girl was underage — sources reportedly told the paper.

"She was involved in a threesome with [the girl] and R. Kelly," one source reportedly said.

Lawyers involved in the case declined to comment to the paper, citing a gag order. The witness' testimony was among the items discussed in secret hearings last month before Judge Vincent Gaughan, who closed the hearings to the public and sealed many court filings (several news organizations have attempted to unseal the proceedings and documents). At one of those hearings, Gaughan said the new testimony would be admissible at trial, sources said.

Kelly was charged with 21 counts of child pornography in 2002 (seven of which were later dropped) for allegedly videotaping himself having sex with a girl prosecutors said was 14 years old at the time; he pleaded not guilty.

If convicted, Kelly faces up to 15 years in prison.

For full coverage of the R. Kelly case, see The R. Kelly Reports.

Source : MTV

Dame Grease Is Back With A New Compilation

Multi-platinum producer Dame Grease, who has crafted hits for such artists as DMX, Jay-Z, and The LOX, has channeled his gritty and aggressive stylings into the long awaited inaugural release, "Goon Musik," due out May 27th on Vacant Lot / Babygrande. A truly novel concept album (and first of a budding franchise), "Goon Musik" not only features Grease on the boards for all thirteen tracks, but also introduces him as a veritable force on the mic, alongside "The Goon Squad" (a pairing between Meeno, Tanya "T6" and NY's renowned "Lenox Ave Boyz"), Max B. and more.

In honor of the album's release, Dame Grease is running a third installment of his Free Beat Contest. Grease will be releasing a free instrumental that would normally be valued at approximately $30,000. Unsigned artists will be able to submit a song over the instrumental with a winner to be chosen to Grease. The contest is sponsored by Gino Green Global...

Please visit myspace.com/damegreaseofficialfanpage for more information on the contest.

On May 24th, 3 days prior to the release of "GOON MUSIK," Dame Grease is set to hit the stage and perform live with Latin Superstar Tego "El Abayarde" Calderon at the UTOPIA PARADISE THEATRE in the Bronx. Dame Grease will serve as the musical director introducing the Reggaeton Superstar to the raw infectious gritty sounds of LOT MUSIK. The concert will be an impeccable collaboration between two musical trendsetters and include the announcement of the winner of the Dame Grease FREE Beat Contest. When asked about the album, Grease is both humble and appreciative as he states, "The media support has been monumental for a small independent album. It is an album that I thought was going to be underground, but y'all are taking me major! Good looking to everybody. And thank you to everyone at Vacant Lot."

Grease has also released "RESPECT THE PRODUCER: The Best of Dame Grease Instrumentals," a collection of the instrumentals to his biggest hits that is available on Sno Cap and Soul Pitch Hustle www.soulpitchhustle.com.

A hard-hitting collection of street-ready anthems, "Goon Musik" both pays tribute to the early nineties New York street-inflected hip-hop
that spawned illustrious careers from the likes of Mobb Deep, TheWu-Tang Clan and many more, and puts New York back on the map as a hotbed of flourishing hardcore street talent.

DAME GREASE - "GOON MUSIK" Tracklisting:

rack Listing
1. Goon Musik Intro
2. Lotzilla - Bigga Threat & Loose Cannons
3. 9's Out - Meeno & Tony Wink
4. Connecticut Kush - Max B & Messiah
5. Gangsta's Fairytale - Bigga Threat & Tony Wink
6. Bout To Ride - E. Snaps
7. The Tombs (Interlude)
8. Hustla Dog - Mysterious & Bigga Threat
9. Goon Luv - Fosho, Tony Wink & Tanya T6
10. Coke Talk - E-Nast
11. Lenox Ave Boys - Meeno, Messiah & E. Snaps
12. Picture Me - Meeno & Sixx Tray
13. Get Yo Hand Out Of My Pocket - Tony Wink & Messiah