(AllHipHop News) Lil Wayne has released a statement to fans as he prepares to be sentenced to prison in a New York courtroom today (March 2).

Judge Charles H. Solomon was scheduled to sentenced the rapper to one year in prison for attempted possession of a weapon, after police found a loaded .40 caliber handgun inside a Louis Vuitton bag on his tour bus in July 2007.

The sentencing was delayed again, after a fire broke out in the basement of the court house today (March 2). “Yesterday i smiled, today i smirked, tomorrow i stop,” Lil Wayne Tweeted. “Thanks for your thoughts and prayers, they’re needed. The F is for family, friends, and fans……….thank u………..your love and prayers are felt. They kant lok up my heart bekuz y’all already have it on lok. ……thank u.”

After months of legal wrangling, which included a fight between prosecutors and defense attorneys over a controversial method of collecting DNA, Lil Wayne pleaded guilty to the charges in October.

Lil Wayne, born Dwayne Michael Carter, was originally due to be sentenced on February 9th, but the date was postponed so the rapper could remove his platinum “grillz” and have dental work done.

During his absence, the 27-year-old rapper will still maintain a presence in the entertainment industry.

According to MTV, Lil Wayne shot nine videos over a 48-hour-period last month, in addition to another seven videos in one night last week. Lil Wayne shot videos with Sean “Diddy” Combs, Rick Ross, Drake, Travis McCoy from Gym Class Heroes and a number of solo videos.

Additionally, Lil Wayne is planning to release his eighth album Tha Carter IV, in early 2011.A new sentencing date was not available as of press time.

(AllHipHop News) Wu-Tang’s Method Man will treat his overseas fans to an extensive 2-month European tour starting on March 16.

The tour has been arranged by Wu-Tang affiliate Cilvaringz’ Ringz & Partners Entertainment group. Cilvaringz will handle opening act duties, with additional appearances from Street Life and DJ Allah Mathematics.

According to a spokesman for Method Man, each performance will span the popular Wu member’s 17 year catalogue, which features memorable singles such as the Grammy winning “All I Need,” “Method Man,” “Release Yo Delf,” and Break Ups 2 Make Ups.”

The tour is sponsored by clothing designer Karl Kani, whose brand has remained popular in Europe’s urban fashion market.

The tour will coincide with the March 30 release of Wu-Massacre, a joint album between Method Man, Raekwon, and Ghostface Killah.

Below are the verified tour dates:

16 March Madrid, Spain @ Sala Old School

17 March Barcelona, Spain @ Sala Apolo

18 March Amsterdam, Holland @ Paradiso

19 March Zwolle, Holland @ Hedon

20 March Tilburg, Holland @ 013

21 March Antwerp, Belgium @ 5 Voor 12

22 March Hamburg, Germany @ Ubel & Gefährlich

23 March Aarhus, Denmark @ Train

24 March Oslo, Norway @ Rockefeller

25 March Copenhagen, Denmark @ Vega

26 March Stockholm, Sweden @ Göta Källare

28 March Helsinki, Finland @ The Circus

29 March St.Petersburg, Russia @ Glav Club

31 March Warsaw, Poland @ Stodota

01 April Budapest, Hungary @ PeCsa

02 April Prague, Czech Republic @ Sasazu

03 April Munich, Germany @ Backstage

04 April Zurich, Switzerland @ X-Tra

05 April Lausanne, Switzerland @ Les Docks

06 April Nancy, France @ L’Autre Canal

07 April London, United Kingdom @ Matter / O2

09 April Toulouse, France @ Le Phare

10 April Nantes, France @ La Carriere

11 April Paris, France @ Elysee Montmartre

12 April Groningen, Holland @ Oosterpoort

(AllHipHop News) Gangstarr founding member rapper Guru is recovering from a successful surgery yesterday (March 1) , after suffering a massive heart attack over the weekend.

Sources close to Guru told AllHipHop.com that the rapper is doing “fine” and should make a full recovery, despite chatter on the Internet that the 43-year-old artist had died. “Guru is alive and recovering from his surgery. Doctors are expecting a full recovery luckily,” a source told AllHipHop.com.

Guru’s partner DJ Premier also confirmed the news on his official Twitter page. More information will be released to AllHipHop.com today (March 2) regarding Guru’s health condition.

(AllHipHop News) A promotional billboard for Atlanta rapper T.I.’s AKOO clothing brand has encountered less than positive reaction among residents in Newark, New Jersey.

The billboard, which is prominently displayed on the corner of Market and Washington Streets, features a woman knelt down in front of a guy whose jeans are unbuckled with his underwear exposed and the woman’s hands grabbing his jeans. Those noticing the advertisement did not hesitate in expressing their disdain as they deemed it “offensive.”

Founded by T.I. and fellow Grand Hustle Entertainment co-founder Jason Geter, AKOO offers various types of clothing that include blue jeans, jackets and shirts. The clothing brand’s name is an acronym that stands for A King of One’s Self.Newark major Cory Booker echoed the concerns of onlookers over the suggestive advertisement while vowing to take a stand against questionable images that are present in his city.

“So often when I am out in the community I see kids wearing their pants too low and others using inappropriate language in public,” Booker said in a statement. “I will work with my city council to see if we can address it so we don’t see these types of advertisements displayed in our city in the near future.”

News of the controversy triggered an immediate reaction from AKOO, which issued a statement on the controversy and criticism surrounding the billboard.

“The AKOO brand has always aimed to inspire individualism and creativity. Our advertising campaign was not created to offend or insult anyone but to simply provoke dialogue and thought regarding male/female sexuality within urban culture,” the company said as it alluded to exposing more sides of the brand in future promotions. “We hope that as more of the campaign is debuted, people will see the multifaceted personality of AKOO.”

Despite AKOO’s statement, the company attempt was not enough to say Newark City Council President Mildred Crump, who feels the AKOO billboard is an example of a lack of regard over the impact of images that paint a negative picture of the city.

“I’m so sick of people seeing Newark as a place where they can do whatever they want,” she said. “They think they can put it in a Black community and nobody is going to say or do anything,”

(AllHipHop News) Guru’s partner MC Solar has released an official statement regarding the health of Gangstarr founding member, Guru.

The rapper, born Keith Elam, suffered from a massive heart attack over the weekend and is in a comatose state according to sources. “Guru is struggling with a serious health issue. We, the whole 7 Grand Records family, appreciate all your love and well wishes,“ Solar said in a statement. “We continue to hold out hope that Guru will make a full recovery from this. We ask that his privacy on this matter will be respected. Again, thank you for all your support through this trying time.”

Guru, who is one of the first rappers to represent Boston, before moving to Brooklyn, New York, released a series of classic albums with DJ Premier as Gangstarr beginning in 1989, with the debut album No More Mr. Nice Guy.

In addition to being one of the most vocal and religious rapper’s during the past 20 years, over the years, Guru has collaborated with a who’s who in every genre of music.

His breakout 1993 album Jazzmatazz was the first album to solidify Hip-Hop and Jazz, by not just sampling, but actually playing with legends in the Jazz world.

Guru’s collaborations include features with artists like Herbie Hancock, Bob James, Jamiroquai, Macy Gray, Damien Marley, Issac Hayes, Ramsey Lewis, Brandford Marsalis, The Roots, Common and others.

(AllHipHop News) Floyd Mayweather and Sugar Shane Mosley will hit the Nasdaq tomorrow (March 2), where the two rivals will unite to ring the opening bell to promote their May 1st boxing match in Las Vegas. The event is part of a tour the two boxers are on to promote their highly anticipated bout two months from today. Mayweather recently checked in with AllHipHop.com, where he discussed a number of topics, ranging from the failed match with Manny Pacquiao, his decision to take on Sugar Shane Mosley, and his former Hip-Hop rival with rapper Rick Ross. Mayweather trashed Manny Pacquiao during the interview for not taking a “$25 million dollar” random blood, urine and drug tests.“I felt that in today’s time, there’s too much cheating going on in all sports, I’m not just making a stand in boxing, I’m making a stand in all sports. It’s about being fair,” Mayweather told AllHipHop.com. “We got athletes that live in our own country that lie to American citizens about taking certain enhancing drugs. Manny is not even from this country, he doesn’t live in this country. Imagine what he would tell the American people.” Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) , who has won seven out of his last eight fights, had no issues with taking the tests and has agreed to the Olympic-style random blood testing. During the interview with AllHipHop.com, Mayweather shot down Mosley’s comments that he was “stronger, faster and better” than Mayweather. “I wouldn’t have chose the fight with Shane if it wasn’t a good fight, a solid fight. But I’m an A-lister, and Shane Mosely is a C-lister,” Mayweather told AllHipHop.com. “But when you involve yourself with the Mayweather brand, it takes you to the next level in the sport of boxing.”Outside of the ring, Mayweather and rapper Rick Ross squashed their growing feud, although the boxing champion took issue with Sean “Diddy” Combs’ proclamation that rapper Rick Ross was the next “Biggie Smalls.” Ross, who is featured on Diddy and Dirty Money’s remix to “Angels,” has had a well documented feud with rapper 50 Cent, in addition to Floyd Mayweather. The pair buried the hatchet last month, after a New Year’s celebration almost turned violent when their respective entourages clashed at a party hosted by Diddy at new nightclub, Vanity, inside of the Hard Rock Hotel. “I hear lately that Puff Daddy has been saying Rick Ross is the next Biggie Smalls. That’s not true,” Mayweather told AllHipHop.com. “He’s a good artist but he’s not the next Biggie Smalls. There’s only one Biggie and there’s only one Pac. The thing is this, rap is story telling. It’s not true. If somebody had those many guns, done that much killing or sold that much work or hustled that much, of course they would be in prison.”Mayweather admitted that Rick Ross is a good Hip-Hop artist, but stated that he has no plans on supporting the rapper’s releases. “A lot of times people think I’ma downplay somebody because we may not get along or we may not see eye to eye,” Mayweather told AllHipHop.com. “He’s had songs that’s been cool. I’m not saying that I’m a fan or I’m gonna go buy his album. The only thing I can say is Floyd Mayweather is in his lane. I stay in my lane and I want everyone else to stay in their lane. Period.” Mayweather and Mosley will hit the road to promote their May 1st boxing match starting tomorrow (March 2nd) in New York. Dates are listed below: Tuesday, March 2: Nokia Theatre, Times Square, New York City Wednesday, March 3: The Lincoln Theatre, Washington, D.C. Thursday, March 4: Nokia Plaza’s L.A. Live, Los Angeles

(AllHipHop News) Atlanta rapper Rocko Da Don and DJ Scream have teamed to release a new mixtape featuring all new material.

The mixtape, titled Wildlife, features production from a number of top name producers, including Zaytoven, Drumma Boy and The Honorable C Note. The mixtape is Rocko’s first since 2007’s underground release Swagg Season. His last official album was 2008 debut, Self-Made.

“I named this s**t Wildlife because out here in these street you got the snakes, you got the rats, you got the leaches… You really gotta be a beast to even survive, We out here amongst these lion and tigers,” Rocko told AllHipHop.com.

Rocko, whose best known hit to date is the single is “Umma Do Me,” was signed to Island Def Jam by the late Shakir Stewart himself.

“At that time I was in the process of closing a deal somewhere else but Shakir was like, ‘Roc, you gotta come up here, LA Reid wants to meet with you,’” Rocko recalled. “My first time meeting with Def Jam we closed the deal the same day. There were no negotiations. They had their mind made up. I couldn’t even leave the building.”

Wildlife will drop for free today (March 1st) on Rocko’s official website, itsrocko.com.