Chris Brown has issued a statement in response to the dramatic rollout of events that started with alleged attack of one-tiime girlfriend Rihanna. “Words cannot begin to express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired. I am seeking the counseling of my pastor, my mother and other loved ones and I am committed, with God’s help, to emerging a better person,” the statement states. Brown also took time to dunk and diffuse much of the speculation that his occurred in the media and the blogs. “Much of what has been speculated or reported on blogs and/or reported in the media is wrong. While I would like to be able to talk about this more, until the legal issues are resolved, this is all I can say except that I have not written any messages or made any posts to Facebook, on blogs or any place else. Those posts or writings under my name are frauds.” The statement never refers to Rihanna directly. Brown’s father recently stated that his son was concerned for Rihanna’s well-being. Clinton Brown, his father, said, “He’s reflecting on this situation. He’s very remorseful. He’s very concerned about the situation he wants to make sure that (Rihanna is) okay.” The younger Brown was arrested on suspicion of making criminal threats and released on $50,000 bail. He is expected to appear in court on March 5.

Rapper/producer Wyclef Jean is continuing efforts to give back to his native Haiti with plans to build a new school.

The Yéle Center is among a string of projects the entertainer is involved in that pave the way for a better life for Haitian youth.

The construction of the center represents another chapter in Jean’s connection to Haiti.

Last year, Yéle Haiti partnered with the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) and the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) in May to launch Together for Haiti, an effort designed to respond to Haiti’s food crisis by providing jobs and food.

Jean’s humanitarian efforts continued in September with the creation of the Haiti Storm Relief Fund.

The venture, which was launched in response to severe storms that plagued Haiti at thetime, supplies food, water, purification tablets, tents, blankets, medical supplies and hygiene kits to storm victims.

Jean, who serves as a Goodwill ambassador to the country, hopes to start raising money for the Yéle Center in six months.

It has been 10 years since the tragic loss of Harlem’s “Big L,” but the revered wordsmith ‘s legacy continues to live on.

Born Lamont Coleman in 1974, L began writing rhymes at the age of 16 in 1990.

“Lamont was a funny little boy, a jealous little boy. ‘Come on mama, let’s race.’ When I’d win, he’d get mad. One Christmas I bought [Lamont and his brothers] turntables and a mixer. [Lamont] would be the MC. Leroy would be the DJ,” Big L’s mother Gilda Terry told AllHipHop.com in a previous interview. “Donald would be the dancer. I’d laugh at them. It was the worst thing I could’ve done. It made so much noise. That’s how he got into music and stuff. He really, really was into it. After a while, the newness of that went. But Lamont stayed right with it. He just loved it. He was a good kid. He always had a mind of his own. When he set his mind to do something, he just did it.”

Even though he was still cultivating his craft as a teenager, his natural talent drew the attention from members of the famed collective Diggin’ In the Crates (DITC).

Lord Finesse then placed the young emcee on the 1992 song “Party Over Here.”

Later in that year, L went on to further build his name on critically acclaimed LPs from Diamond D (Stunts, Blunts, and Hip-Hop) and Showbiz and A.G. (Runaway Slave).

In 1993, L signed with Columbia Records and created a minor buzz courtesy of the blasphemous single “Devil’s Son.”

He released his embryonic debut Lifestylez ov da Poor and Dangerous in 1995.

The project featured appearances from then largely unknown future stars Jay-Z and Cam’ron.

Despite mostly positive reviews and buzz around his native New York through the Lord Finesse produced single “M.V.P.,” the album did not receive the promotion and attention of his contemporaries like the Notorious B.I.G., Wu Tang Clan, Nas, and others.

After being dropped, L sought out fellow Harlem emcees Mase, Cam’ron, McGruff, and Bloodshed to form Children of the Corn.

Although the group recorded over 30 songs while shopping for a record deal with producer Digga, the collective rapidly fell apart after the death of Bloodshed in a car accident.

Starting in 1997, L began working on what would be become his final album, The Big Picture.

Through his very own label Flamboyant Records, Big L scored an underground hit in the summer of 1998 courtesy of the single “Ebonics (Criminal Slang).”

L would follow up his momentum with other underground favorites such as “Size ‘Em Up” and “Flamboyant.”

The innovative lead single caught the ear of former collaborator Jay-Z, who was in the process of finalizing terms to bring L to Roc-A-Fella before tragedy struck in February 1999.

At the age of 24, Big L was shot repeatedly in the head and chest on February 15, shortly after leaving his home in Harlem.

The brutal slaying yielded an early arrest of a childhood friend, but the suspect was subsequently released due to lack of evidence.

The murder remains unsolved, and speculation has ranged from the execution being a case of mistaken identity to retaliation against L’s brother Big Lee, a street figure who was in prison at the time.

Lee was also murdered shortly after his release from prison.

Big L’s final album The Big Picture was released in August 2000 via Rawkus Records.

L’s tragic death and the reverence bestowed on him from various Hip-Hop stars helped push the project well past gold at over 600,000 copies sold.

Today, Big L remains well respected in Hip-Hop culture, and a shining albeit somber example of unfulfilled potential.

This year, Lamont “Big L” Colman would have celebrated his 35th birthday.

“He loved the neighborhood,” Mrs. Terry said. “He loved 139th Street. I loved 139th Street until he got killed, because before that, it was a close-knit block.”

Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter broke his silence on the Rihanna/Chris Brown alleged domestic violence case on Saturday during the highly trafficked NBA All-Star Weekend.

“This is a real situation. You have to have compassion for others. Just imagine it being your sister or mom and then think about how we should talk about that,” Jay-Z said while at “Sprite Green presents the Third Annual Two Kings dinner with Jay-Z and Lebron James.”

The mogul made no mention of guilt or innocence, but simply offered words of encouragement.

“I just think we should all support her. She’s going through a tough time. You have to realize she’s a young girl, as well. She’s very young,” he stated.

Jay-Z was not as open when asked if he had seen Rihanna since the alleged incident and replied, “I don’t want to go into it.”

The remarks of compassion are far different than the US magazine report that Jay-Z labeled Brown a “walking dead man.”

Rihanna’s father, Ronald Fenty, told People magazine that his super start daughter is bruised, but “she will be all right.” He said he spent time with her on Thursday in Barbados.

Chris Brown’s father also spoke to People and said that his son is apologetic about the matter that has marred the singer’s entertainment persona. Clinton Brown of Toppahannock, Virginia said, “He’s reflecting on this situation. He’s very remorseful. He’s very concerned about the situation he wants to make sure that (Rihanna is) okay.”

Ronald Fenty also said that he was happy, the couple’s relationship was over.”The relationship is over and I am pleased. She doesn’t want to speak

to Chris. She is being very brave about things and said that she will

be back on stage performing soon,” Fenty said.

The 20-year-old Rihanna was allegedly attacked on Feb. 8 in Los Angeles by Chris Brown, 19. Brown was subsequently arrested and faces several years in jail. Authorities have yet to formally reveal that Rihanna is actually the victim of the attack.

Oscar nominated rapper/actress Queen Latifah has been recruited to honor deceased actors and actresses during this year’s Academy Awards.

The entertainer will sing the standard “I’ll Be Seeing You” while movie clips and photographs of stars that have passed away in the last year are shown on a huge screen.

Latifah first attracted the attention of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences through her role as Matron “Mama” Morton in the Oscar-winning film adaptation of the hit musical Chicago.

The portrayal of Morton garnered the entertainer a best supporting actress nomination for her work in the 2003 feature.

As a result, Latifah joins Will Smith as the only rapper/actors to receive an Oscar nomination by the Academy.

Smith collected a nod for best actor for playing boxing legend Muhammad Ali in 2001’s Ali and his turn as homeless salesman turned stockbroker Chris Gardner in the 2006 film The Pursuit of Happiness.

The Brad Pitt film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button leads all films for this year’s Oscar ceremony with 13 nominations, including Best Picture.

Pitt’s co-star, Taraji P. Henson, received a best supporting actress nod for her work as “Queenie”, a nursing home worker who discovers a baby who has the features of an old man on her doorstep.

She will square off against fellow first time Oscar nominee Viola Davis, who is being considered for her role as the mother of an abuse victim in the film Doubt.

Davis and Henson’s nomination mark the first time in several years that two African-American actresses have competed against each other in the same category.

History was made the first time when Oprah Winfrey and Margaret Avery were both nominated for best supporting actress for 1985’s The Color Purple.

The 81st annual Academy Awards will air live at 8 p.m. ET Feb. 22 on ABC.

M.I.A. has given birth to a baby boy, a move ceremoniously announced by way of her MySpace blog. M.I.A.’s baby missed his due date on Sunday, which allowed the eccentric entertainer to perform “Swagger Like Us” at the Sunday Grammys with Kanye West, Jay-Z, T.I. and Lil Wayne. He eventually arrived on Wednesday. The child’s father is fiance Benjamin Bronfman. The boy, whose name wasn’t revealed, didn’t miss the mark by far. The singer/rapper went into labor about 2 am on Monday morning.On her blog, M.I.A. humorously detailed her joy by writing: “MY BABY WAS BORN WEDNESDAY , HE IS HEALTHY , FINE , BEAUTIFUL AND THE MOST AMZING THING EVER ON THIS PLANET, OF COURSE IM HIS MUM!!! ME AND BABY ARE PUTTING OUR TOUR DATES FOR 2010 TOGETHER AND MAKING MIX TAPES AND FIGURING OUT A WAY TO BREAK OUT OF THE HOSPITAL ! HOPEFULLY THE WORLD IS BEEN TICKING ALONG AND I AINT MISSED MUCH!