By Morris Moore
Nominees for the 50th annual Grammy Awards were announced today (December 6). Hip-Hop star Kanye West led all artists, earning 8 nominations, including Album of the Year for his blockbuster release, Graduation. West was also nominated for Best Rap Collaboration for his single "Good Life" which features T. Pain, Best Rap Song (for "Goodlife and "Can’t Tell Me Nothing") and Best Rap Album. Jay-Z, Timbaland and T. Pain followed with five nominations each. Other Hip-Hop artists nominated include 50 Cent, T.I., Soulja Boy, Queen Latifah, Common, Fat Joe and UGK. The Grammy Awards honor recordings released during the months of October 1, 2006 through September 30, 2007. The Grammy’s air February 10, 2008 at 8PM EST from Los Angeles.
A judge refused to dismiss witness-tampering and gang-assault charges against Bronx, New York rapper Remy Martin yesterday (December 5) in court. Remy Ma, born Remy Smith, is accused of ordering a man to assault the boyfriend of a potential witness in her attempted murder. Two men were badly beaten and hospitalized after the altercation the Players Club in the Bronx in August. "We were hoping that we wouldn't have to deal with those charges in this case," Remy Ma’s lawyer Ivan Fisher told the New York Post. "That [decision] makes it a longer trial by a significant amount." Remy Ma will appear in court on January 3 and Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Rena Uviller will set a trial date. Remy Ma is accused of shooting her friend Makeda Barnes-Joseph twice in the abdomen in July, after the women argued over $2000 in cash which went missing from the rapper’s purse. Remy Ma faces up to 25 year in prison if she is convicted.
Internationally known DJ Clinton Sparks has joined E! Entertainment as the music correspondent for The Daily 10 on E!, one of the network’s most popular shows. Sparks , who hosts the internationally syndicated Smash Time Radio Show, will be featured on the "Get Familiar" and "Now Hear This" segments of the show, which is broadcast to over 600 million homes in 122 countries around the world. "This is a great opportunity for the recording industry and artists of all genres of music to gain exposure on a widespread network like E!" says Sparks about working for the celebrity-driven network. "I want to help brand the show's popularity outside of just celebrity gossip and this is the perfect stage to do that. Through this platform I feel that I can help the entertainment world 'Get Familiar' with the many talented artists and incredible music being created around the world." The Daily 10 On E! airs every Tuesday at 7:30 pm EST. Sparks
Hip-Hop star Xzibit continues to build his acting resume and has joined the cast of The X-Files movie. While Fox has not made a formal casting announcement, reports stated that Xzibit, Billy Connolly and Amanda Peet have also signed on to star in the brand new film, which is scheduled to start shooting this month in Vancouver, Canada. Xzibit will play an FBI agent that works with David Duchovny’s Mulder and Gillian Anderson’s character Scully.
