(AllHipHop News) Founding Roc-A-Fella Records member Kareem “Biggs” Burke was arrested today (October 15th) with 42 other people in a ring that allegedly controlled the marijuana market in New York City. According to The New York Daily News, Burke has been a part of the ring since 1992. Federal prosecutors claim that Burke was part of a network that was headed up by Geovanny (Manny) Rodriguez Perez aka “Shorty.”Police accused Shorty’s network of growing the pot down south, shipping it up north in tractor trailers and returning the proceeds to South Florida, according to Jim Hayes, a special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations For Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Police arrested Burke at his home in North Bergen, N.J. In addition to Burke, an advertising executive for High Times named Matthew Stang was arrested in an 18 month operation, which was dubbed “Operation Green Venom.”Agents confiscated $1 million in drug profits and 177 pounds of marijuana from the suspects as well. “This isn’t just a group that controlled one block, one neighborhood,” Hayes said. “They dominated the wholesale marijuana market in New York for 20 years.”Burke helped co-found Roc-A-Fella Records in 1996 with Jay-Z and Damon Dash, after the pair had been turned down by several record labels. They landed a distribution deal with Priority Records and released Jay-Z’s classic debut album, Reasonable Doubt. Kareem “Biggs” Burke and the others face 10 years to life in prison for allegedly distributing over 1,000 kilos of the drug.

(AllHipHop News) Hip-Hop producer Swizz Beatz and R&B singer Alicia Keys gave birth to a baby boy named Egypt Dauode Dean late last night (October 14th) in New York’s St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital. Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys became romantically involved around May of 2009 and announced their engagement in May of 2010, when it was also revealed that Keys was pregnant. “I’m so thankful for everything I been blessed with in my life wowwwwww,” Swizz Beatz tweeted. The child the first for Alicia Keys and the fourth for Swizz Beatz, who also has three other children. Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz were married in August, in a lavish ceremony on the Mediterranean. 

(AllHipHop News) A variety of rappers will unite to show their support for incarcerated Hot Boy group member Turk, who is slated to appear in court today (October 15th) in regards to his 12-year prison sentence. While the details about his court-date today are scarce, the New Orleans rapper is planning the “Hip-Hop Unity Conference Call,” that will be open to the public this Sunday (October 17th) featuring a variety of rappers, including former group member/Cash Money artist B.G.According to Turk’s manager Steve Williams, he hopes to share some exciting, important updates about Turk’s pending release from prison, after serving over seven years for shooting at members of the Memphis S.W.A.T. team during a raid of an apartment in Memphis, Tennessee in 2004.In addition to updating fans and artists about Turk and his career, The purpose of the call is to foster unity among artists in the South. “There are a few influential people that are in the process of forming change and bring culture to the forefront through unity, and that is this team of people and Turk as a soldier. The Hip-Hop Community needs to jump on and pay attention,” Turk’s manager Steve Williams told AllHipHop.com.In addition to B.G., Turk’s artist Dr3d, Soulja Boy’s artist Calico Jonez, Waka Flocka, Blood Raw, Pastor Troy, Tiffany Davis of First Class PR and hundreds of DJ’s, producers and radio personalities will join the call. Young Turk’s “Hip-Hop Unity Conference Call” Sunday, October 17th at 3:00 PM. To call & listen in, dial (559) 546-1000 Access Code: 421510#.

(AllHipHop News) The booking agents for rap star Waka Flocka Flames has been hit with another lawsuit, claiming the rapper’s manager raised his asking price for a show twice, and then failed to show up for the performance. Promoter Walter Conwell DBA as G.D.B. Promotions is suing Debra Antney, Johnnie Cabbell, Hitt Afta Hitt Entertainment and So Icey Ent for over $1,000,000 dollars. The lawsuit claims that G.D.B. spent over $20,000 dollars to book Waka Flocka Flame for an under 21 show in Birmingham, Alabama in June of 2009. According to the lawsuit, which was filed in Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama, G.D.B. Promotions sent a $1,800 deposit to secure Waka Flocka, with another $1,500 due when the rapper arrived at the venue. After the wire was sent, G.D.B. claimed that he was contacted by Hitt After Hitt and told that Waka Flocka would no longer honor the agreement, because  the rapper was booked by JAMZ FM, a local Hip-Hop station. G.D.B., which purchased advertising time with JAMZ, attempted to reach Hitt Afta Hitt with reps from JAMZ, but couldn’t contact a representative for Hitt Afta Hitt to resolve the issue. According to the lawsuit, Waka Flocka’s mother, Debra Antney confirmed that the radio request was false and agreed to honor the date – if D.G.B. paid the new asking price of $4,000. Additionally, the rap star wouldn’t honor the original date and set a new performance date of November 28th. The week of the show, his road manager allegedly demanded another $2,750 instead of $1,750. G.D.B. claims they honored the new agreement and sent additional monies to Hitt Afta Hitt, in addition to spending extra money for fliers, tickets and the new venue. “After hearing both sides of the story Ms. Antney called the artist and told them to turn around and do the show, but because it was a teen show, the Birmingham curfew had already set in and the Plaintiff’s venue had closed. Walter Conwell and G.D.B. seek over $60,000 in damages and $1,000,000 dollars in punitive damages in addition to attorney fees. 

(AllHipHop News) Young Money rap diva Nicki Minaj will be in good company in the next couple of months as she shows appreciation for U.S. troops as part of this year’s VH1 Divas special.  The entertainer will join singers Keri Hilson, Katy Perry and music groups Sugarland and Paramore for the event, which will be taped at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego.  In addition to performing via satellite, Paramore will visit Marines, soldiers, airmen, sailors, coastguardsmen and reservists at an undisclosed military base in the Middle East Minaj’s appearance on VH1 Divas Salute the Troops comes as the rapstress gears up for the release of her forthcoming debut album, Pink Friday. Media sources report the offering, originally scheduled to hit stores Nov. 23, will now arrive a day early on Nov. 22. The new release date will place Pink Friday among a string of albums coming out the same day, including Jay-Z’s The Hits Collection Vol. 1, Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Ne-Yo’s Libra Scale and Akon’s Stadium. With three BET Hip Hop Awards to her credit,  Minaj is riding a wave of momentum leading to Pink Friday. The femcee recently made Billboard history by becoming the first female rapper to top Billboard’s Rap singles chart since 2002 with her hit song, “Your Love” as well as garner the most entries at one time on the Billboard Hot 100 with seven singles on Nielsen Soundscan’s 200 best-selling songs of 2010. VH1 Divas Salute the Troops featuring Nicki Minaj will air Dec. 5 on VH1. The Armed Forces Network will broadcast the show internationally.