Rapper/activist/reality show star Fonzworth Bentley has teamed with Jet Magazine for a column with the upcoming relaunch of JET Magazine.

Today (February 3), JET revealed a brand new strategy and unveiled a new logo, new sections and a new layout for the magazine, which will feature Trey Songz on the cover of the relaunch.

The changes are the most significant the magazine has made to its layout since its original launch in 1951.

Bentley’s JET column will touch on topics that directly impact Black America, along with new columnists Dr. Ian Smith and Warren Ballentine.

“As a world-class media company, we will solidify JET’s position as an innovator and leader in the African-American marketplace by offering expanded content that will entertain, inform and extend our readership footprint of the brand in a smart way,” Linda Johnson Rice, chairman and CEO, told AllHipHop.com in a statement.

“We will continue to build our communication platforms to engage our audiences and address evolving consumer needs,” Rice added.

JET Magazine is the #1 African-American newsweekly in the world, with over 9 million readers each issue.

The newly designed JET Magazine will go on sale on Monday (February 8).

(AllHipHop News) Independent filmmaker Curtis Scoon has revealed details behind an upcoming documentary on the earthquake in Haiti, which devastated the tiny island nation last month and left over 200,000 people dead.

Scoon, who is noted for directing episodes of BET’s American Gangster (Fat Cat, Shower Posse), utilized native filmmakers on the ground, who began shooting seconds after the earthquake struck.

The documentary, titled Cries From the Silent Quake, will focus on the aftermath of the earthquake, as told by the residents who experienced the horror first hand.

The film is being shot by pioneering Haitian director Jaques Roc.

“This is a project I’m Executive Producing about the current crisis in Haiti,” Curtis Scoon told AllHipHop.com. “It is my honor and privilege to help the voices of the Haitian poor and underclass get heard. It is also my hope that this documentary will help the world understand the gravity of the suffering the Haitian people have endured, but at the same time provide a glimpse of the strength and resilience that Haitians are known for.”

The island is currently bracing for more chaos, as seasonal rains are expected to pour down on over 700,000 displaced people living in, or around the capital city of Port-Au-Prince.

“Hear from the people most affected and see for yourself with footage shot within 10 minutes of the biggest tragedy to ever hit the Island,” Scoon stated. “Currently my people are filming night and day to add to our extensive library of exclusive footage.”

Scoon is also in the process of developing a full-length feature movie on Jamaica’s notorious Shower Posse, which was responsible for thousands of murders in Jamaica and The United States.

Cries From the Silent Quake will air on a major network, that is yet-to-be announced.

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(AllHipHop News) Atlanta artist Shawty Lo and his foundation L.O.L.O (Loving Our Little Ones) will again be participating in the American Diabetes Association’s Step Out and Walk campaign this year.

This is the second year that Shawty Lo has participated in the event, which is one of the American Diabetes Association’s biggest fundraisers.

This year, the rapper, who is a diabetic, will be featured in the public service announcements for the cause as well.

“It was a great walk last year. It was a good look, so I’m here and I’m ready to do it again,” an enthusiastic Shawty Lo told AllHipHop.com. “I’m doing great now. I found out I was a diabetic in 2001; I just had a hard time to coping with it. Like I was in denial like ‘I ain’t no diabetic.’ It took time getting used to stuff like getting on a new diet and watching my sugar and stuff like that. Once I got the hang of it, it was no problem, good exercise and you’re fine.”

Health intact, Shawty Lo is focusing on getting back into the rap game via his new mixtape with DJ Scream featuring all original music.

“I ain’t gonna say that I let my fans down musically, but I just feel like I let my fans down with not working as consistently and producing like I’m supposed to be and putting out music,” Shawty Lo told AllHipHop.com. “This was my first run doing shows like that, I was gone so much. I was doing like six shows a week. I didn’t really have time to go to the studio produce the music like that for my fans.”

Shawty Lo’s official album I Am Carlos will also feature an guest appearances from major rappers like Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane, Bun B., D4L, Trey Songz and others.

Production is handled by a variety of new talent, with producers G-Fresh, Mike Will, KE on the Track, Meal Ticket and Pauli Paul crafting the album’s sound.

“The album is real fresh, but it’s really like two albums with the mixtape,” Shawty Lo stated. “It’s going to be unbelievable when you hear the mixtape. It’s like an album, I record over original beats on the mix tape.”

Shawty Lo is also jumping into the fragrance world, with the launch of LO Seduction, which will be available in the winter of 2010 and will be available at all major department stores.

(AllHipHop News) The man who Los Angeles authorities believe is responsible for the death of Michael Jackson is expected to surrender to them this week, according to CNN.com.

Although prosecutors have not announced any charges, Miranda Sevcik, a spokeswoman for the legal team of Dr. Conrad Murray, says the physician has not been told how or where he should surrender.

Nevertheless, Murray’s attorney, Ed Chernoff tells CNN that his client is “more than ready to surrender and answer to any charges.”

Murray has been at the center of the ongoing investigation surrounding the death of Jackson, who died unexpectedly on June 25. The music pioneer’s passing was ruled by the Los Angeles County coroner as a homicide resulting from a combination of drugs that included propofol and lorazepam.

Murray has kept a relatively low profile since the tragedy after proclaiming his innocence via a YouTube video that was posted last year. In anticipation of possible charges against him, Sevcik revealed that Murray traveled to Los Angeles from his home in Houston, Texas last week.

Murray expects the charges will be announced within 24 to 48 hours, she added. Murray’s anticipated surrender marks the latest chapter in the ongoing aftermath of Jackson’s death. At the time of Jackson’s passing, Murray had been treating the singer for insomnia for six week. A police affidavit noted that Murray told investigators he had given Jackson three anti-anxiety drugs to help him.

It wasn’t until Jackson finally began sleeping that Murray said he left the bedroom for “about two minutes maximum.” The affidavit further stated that “upon his return, Murray noticed that Jackson was no longer breathing.” As he crooner was rushed to a UCLA Medical Center, Murray was with him. Jackson was later pronounced dead, despite attempts to give him CPR.

The newest development in the Jackson investigation comes just days after the King of Pop received a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Grammy awards on Sunday (Jan. 31).

Prior to his two oldest children accepting the award, Jackson was honored with a heartfelt tribute that included the premiere of a video for his 1995 single, “Earth Song” as well as a live performance featuring Usher, Smokey Robinson, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson and Celine Dion. Jackson’s philanthropy continues to make news as the world celebrates the 25th anniversary of the release of the song, “We Are the World.”

The1985 single, which was co-written by Jackson and Lionel Ritchie, featured the two singers as well as an all-star roster of artists that came together to raise money for famine relief in Africa. A new version of “We Are the Word” featuring an all new line up of entertainers was recorded Monday (Feb.1) in the same studio where the original song was made.

Those participating in the remake included Usher, Hudson, Dion, Faith Evans, Miley Cyrus, Akon, Justin Bieber, Anthony Hamilton, Harry Connick Jr., Tyrese Gibson, Natalie Cole and Keri Hilson as well as rappers Snoop Dogg, LL Cool J, Drake, Kanye West, Kid Cudi and Lil Wayne.

Proceeds from the updated version of “We Are the World” will go toward relief efforts in Haiti.

(AllHipHop News) Because of label politics and the current overall state of the music industry, Chamillionaire has decided to drop a new 18-track mixtape entitled Major Pain.

Despite a previous declaration not to make any further tapes, Chamillionaire realized that mixtapes serve to give him the creative freedom denied him in a structured, major label environment.

“I felt it was time to take it back to the original grind that made these major companies pay attention in the first place,” Chamillionaire told AllHipHop.com in a statement. “I don’t think there is any reason why any artist with real knowledge of independent hustle, should sit and wait for any major system to work for them, but, because I am signed to a major recording label, there are still a lot of things that I would like to be able to do, that I’m not really allowed to do. Politics in this business often stand between a creative mind and the grind but I’m gonna try my best to feed my fans without getting into too much trouble.”

Part of that independent hustle will be a long-awaited tour with early collaborator Paul Wall.

The duo released several popular albums early in their careers, such as the Source Award nominated Get Ya Mind Correct.

“The lack of marketing and promo budgets in a weak economy isn’t going keep me from touring to different cities and releasing music to fans that still demand it, “he explained. “That’s why I decided to start the Major Pain series and tour with Paul. It’s what the fans want.”

Paul Wall’s first appearance will be in Austin, Texas as headliners on March 17 for the South By Southwest tour .

Other emcees slated to appear at SXSW include Trae the Truth, Dorrough, and Chalie Boy.