Rap duo Dead Prez has reportedly
angered the National Conference of Black Mayors by allegedly spitting profanity
during their performance before a group of teenagers at the organization’s annual
convention in Columbus, Ohio. Sticman and M-1 violated a written contract to omit
profanity in their performance, according to the convention’s executive director,
Vanessa Williams, who requested that Dead Prez publicly apologize to the organization
and the students who attended the event. Williams also said the duo will be penalized.
Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman called the performance an outrage.
UK rapper Dizzee Rascal is planning to start his own record label tentatively
called Dirtee Stank Records, the rapper announced. Dizzee said he hopes the label
will resolve the many issues urban artists encounter when dealing with major labels.
The rapper had originally set up Dirtee Stank to release his own 12" "I
Luv U," however he now has his eyes set on signing and working with up-and-coming
urban talent. Dizzee said the first act signed to his label is the rap trio, Klass
A.
Actor/rapper Will Smith and his wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith have been
tapped to host the 2005 BET Awards, which will be broadcast live from Hollywood’s
Kodak Theater on June 28. Denzel and Pauletta Washington are set to receive
BET’s Humanitarian Award, and Gladys Knight will be presented with a Lifetime
Achievement award. Nominations will be officially announced on May 16.
Mos Def has signed on to star opposite Bruce Willis in “16 Blocks.”
The movie centers around an aging police officer (Willis) who is assigned to
escort a trial witness (Mos Def) to court. The flick will be directed by Richard
Donner and is slated for a 2006 release.
