Nas has joined
the Guitar Center music store to present the "Get Down with Nas" sweepstakes,
offering his fans a host of prizes. The winner receives an entire autographed
catalogue of Nas’ albums on vinyl, tickets to one of his concerts, and a backstage
pass to hang out with the Queensbridge rapper after the show. Always one to
choose his promotions carefully, Nas explains that his decision to work with
Guitar Center is because of their devotion to music. "You don’t find too
many companies that maintain the beliefs that originally got them into the business"
says Nas. "Guitar Center has been loyal to musicians from the start. They
do what’s best for music and for those involved in music. That’s rare and the
reason why we wanted to partner with them on this promotion."
The first episode
of ego trip’s "Race-O-Rama" series is set to premiere February 21
on VH1. The collective brains behind VH1’s "TV’s Illest Minority Moments"
(last February) partnered with the station again to promoise another humorous
look at race in America. The "Race-O-Rama" series features three one-hour
shows –"Blackaphobia," "Dude, Where’s My Ghetto
Pass" and "In Race We Lust." This year’s guest list includes
Rappers RZA, Talib Kweli, Too Short, MC Lyte, and Baby. Ego trip, consisting
of hip-hop journalists Sacha Jenkins, Elliott Wilson, Chairman Mao, Gabriel
Alvarez and Brent Rollins, self-published ego trip music magazine from 1994
to 1998, featuring comical coverage of hip-hop and other genres.
Marion "Suge"
Knight has signed with Beaux Carson’s Carson Signature Films to allow his version
of the events surrounding the shooting of rap legend Tupac Shakur to materialize
on big screen. Knight was driving the BMW where Shakur was murdered in a drive-by
shooting in Las Vegas. The 1996 shooting remains unsolved. Carson, describing
the film as "Training Day" meets "The Godfather," said he
has pursued Knight for two years to get rights for the movie. "We’re not
pointing any fingers, just telling a story," Carson told the Long Beach Press Telegram. Knight is
also planning a collaboration album featuring rappers from Tupac’s time in conjunction
with the film, according to Carson. Portions of the proceeds would benefit programs
for underprivileged youth. In related news, Knight remains under 24/7 surveillance
by the California Department of Corrections in his Beverly Hills home. The rap
mogul will serve out the rest of his parole there, following his arrest this
month on suspicion of parole violation after marijuana was reportedly found
in his vehicle at a traffic stop. The detention requires that Knight submit
to random drug testing and stay in his home from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. every day.
In a case of art
imitating life, homicide detectives in Tulsa, Oklahoma claim that a new gang
called G-Unit, apparently crafted after 50 Cent’s rap crew, has been allegedly
responsible for several recent shootings in the area. Tulsa Police Sergeant
Van Ellis, who heads the gangs unit, says his officers first heard of G-Unit
emerging in Tulsa about 18 months ago. The department is uncertain how many
members exist. "There have been some minor and more violent crimes, assaults,
disturbances around school and community events and at schools and just bad
behavior," Ellis told Tulsa’s News on 6. The Tulsa gangs unit is tracking
about 3,700 people, nearly 1,300 of those certified gang members.
Wyclef Jean and
Chaka Khan will headline the sixth annual concert to benefit Children Uniting
Nations, a program in Los Angeles that mentors foster children. The black-tie
gala will be held February 27, the night of the Academy Awards. The event includes
a formal dinner and live auction. "American Idol" judge, Paula Abdul,
will serve as the master of ceremonies, and Jamie Foxx is also expected to attend.
Further information is available at www.ChildrenUnitingNations.org.
