The Rev. Al Sharpton
has cancelled plans to honor Island Def Jam CEO Antonio "L.A." Reid,
as Hip-Hop music continues to bear the backlash for racist comments made by radio
jock, Don Imus. Sharpton was to honor Reid with the James Brown Memorial Cultural
Impact Award during the National Action Network’s annual four-day convention,
which started today (Apr. 18) at the Sheraton in New York. According to Sharpton,
he has withdrawn the award for Reid, in the wake of criticism over the content
of some rap lyrics. Sharpton said he intends to name and target corporations that
support "gutter" rap. Artists under LA Reid’s watch include Jay-Z, Ludacris,
Young Jeezy, Fabolous and others.A
new wrongful death lawsuit has been brought against the city of Los Angeles and
two LAPD officers for their alleged involvement in the slaying of Christopher
"Notorious B.I.G." Wallace. The latest legal action, filed in Los Angeles
Superior Court on Monday (Apr. 16), claims that officers Rafael Perez, David Mack
and Nino Durden helped coordinate the murder of B.I.G., who was gunned down Mar.
9, 1997 in front of the Petersen Automotive Museum. The lawsuit involves state-related
crimes and also claims that in addition to working for the LAPD, both Mack and
Perez were members of a violent street gang "associated with Death Row Records."
The lawsuit asserts that the LAPD "consciously concealed Rafael Perez’s involvement
in the murder of … Wallace" and seeks general, compensatory, and punitive
damages. According
to the New York Post, Hip-Hop mogul Damon Dash filed a $3.5 million lawsuit
against an accounting firm, claiming the company made errors on Dash’s tax returns,
filed them late and miscalculated his 2005 tax obligations. The lawsuit, which
was filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, accuses Barry Klarberg and accounting firms
Loring Ward and Assante Business Management of committing professional malpractice.
The lawsuit alleges that the accounting errors cost him millions. The
Royalty Network filed a lawsuit against Beyonce Knowles and her company B-Day
publishing in Manhattan Federal Court, over the song "I’m Kissing You."
The song, which was originally performed by singer Desree and featured in the
updated movie version of Romeo And Juliet‘, was written by Timothy Atack
and Desree. The lawsuit claims that Knowles violated the copyrights of Westbury
Music, which is administered by The Royalty Network. Also named in the lawsuit
are Columbia Recording Corp., Sony BMG Music Entertainment and EMI April Music.
Desree is best known for her 1994 hit single "You Gotta Be." Beyonce
covered "I’m Kissing You" on the re-release of her album B’Day.
