Hip-Hop legend Afrika Bambaataa and famed British DJ Mike Pickering will be spinning at the HighBar this July to kick off Manchester City Football Club’s pre-season tour. The pair will entertain the crowd in a beat battle to decide which style of beats the audience prefers – the New York styled beats from Bambaataa or the Manchester style of production presented by Mike Pickering. In addition to Bam and Pickering, DJ’s from Manchester hotspot Sanky Soaps will keep the party going into the late night hours. The event takes place on July 24th from 11:00pm – 2:00am.The latest album from Kelis has proven to be a commercial disappointment in the United States according to recently released sales data. Her album Fleshtone sold 7,833 copies in its first week in stores, landing at #46 on the Billboard charts. The album was released by world famous rapper/Black Eyed Peas’ front man will.I.am, via his record label will.I.am Music Group.Mickey Factz will headline the New Music Seminar’s opening night party on Monday (July 19th) in New York. The rapper will hit the stage at Webster Hall for the opening night event, which will also include performances by Naughty By Nature, comedian Margaret Cho, Kat DeLuna, Rana Sobhany and others. This year’s New Music Seminar has expanded into a multi-day conference event, which takes place in New York from July 19th-21st. The two-day conference includes performances, mentoring sessions, presentations from industry leaders and networking events. The New Music Seminar opening night performances start at 10:00 PM.

(AllHipHop News) A lawyer who represented Baton Rouge Hip-Hop label Trill Entertainment was in court yesterday, to answer allegations that he interfered in an attempted-murder probe involving Trill’s CEOs. Baton Rouge lawyer Peter Q. John is accused of interfering with a criminal probe, for allegedly attempting to have attempted murder charges against Trill’s Melvin Vernell Jr. and Marcus Roach dismissed. Both Vernell and Roach are accused of shooting rapper Bruce “Beelow” Moore, in face on July 4th, 2005. Beelow was the owner of Shop Smart Music and Fashions. He was shot in the face outside of his Baton Rouge store, for allegedly bootlegging recordings by Trill Entertainment artists, including Webby and Lil Boosie. Vernell and Roach allegedly harassed witnesses involved with the case and the charges against the men were dropped, allegedly at Beelow’s request. John then negotiated a settlement with Beelow and two other men injured in the shooting.Prosecutors also accuse the self-proclaimed “Thugs Lawyer” conspiracy, obstruction of justice, perjury and theft, alleging that he had access to advanced information in the grand jury proceedings.John is also accused of presenting false information designed to clear Vernell and Roach of the attempted murder charges.  According to John, prosecutors failed to present enough evidence to the grand jury, facts which would have shown that he legally negotiated a settlement with the two victims. And although the initial charges against Vernell and Roach were dropped because prosecutors took too long to try the case, the pair will stand trial for a second time. The most serious charge of attempted murder has been dismissed but the two Trill executives are still accused of aggravated battery, aggravated assault with a firearm and possession of an illegal firearm by a convicted felon.The label’s marquee artist, Lil Boosie, is also in serious legal trouble. In June, the rapper pleaded not guilty for his alleged role in the December 2009 shooting death of a man in Baton Rouge. Police are investigating Lil Boosie for as many as five murders, including the death of rapper Christopher “Nussie” Jackson. Both Vernell and Roach are currently free on $350,000 bond. Lil Boosie remains incarcerated on a 1st degree murder charge, for his alleged role in Nussie’s death.

(AllHipHop News) Ricky Rozay took the time to pay tribute to black gang members Larry Hoover and Big Meech at a recent promotional event for his album Teflon Don, in Chicago “I want to salute Chicago, before this, I want to salute Mr. Larry Hoover, I want to salute Big Meech” Rick Ro$$ said prior to performing his hit single “B.M.F.” live to thousands of fans.”I want you to tell Larry, I salute you, we real n#####, tell the streets they can think what the f### they want,” Rick Ro$$ replied to detractors.In the chorus of his hit song Rick Ro$$ says “I think I’m Big Meech/Larry Hoover/Whippin’ work/Hallelujah/One nation under God/Real n##### getting money under stars.”While in Chicago, Ross ran into Larry Hoover Jr., the son of Larry Hoover, the jailed leader of the Gangster Disciples gang he referenced in “B.M.F.” Rumors swirled that son of the gang leader came to one of Ross’ in-stores to “check” the Don, but those rumors were laid to rest after a picture of the pair embracing surfaced later that night.  In a recent interview with Coco, Foolish And Chase In The Morning from the Detroit radio station FM 98 WJLB, Ross commented on his status as a “certified gangster” in the streets despite his past as a correctional officer. “For one, it ain’t about what people think in the streets. That all comes in time. I salute all the G’s that are locked up and no longer here.  As far as dudes in entertainment, that’s exactly what it is,” Rick Ross commented.  “What a lot of people don’t know is that I have extended my hand and you know, I have got caught up in it emotionally and made advances where we take it to the streets and when that’s the case, you stooping to their level.” Teflon Don, Rick Ross’ forth studio album,  is due out in stores next week.

(AllHipHop News) Ricky Rozay took the time to pay tribute to

black gang members Larry Hoover and Big Meech at a recent promotional

event for his album Teflon Don, in Chicago “I want to

salute Chicago, before this, I want to salute Mr. Larry Hoover, I want

to salute Big Meech” Rick Ro$$ said prior to performing his hit single

“B.M.F.” live to thousands of fans.”I want you to tell Larry, I

salute you, we real n#####, tell the streets they can think what the

f### they want,” Rick Ro$$ replied to detractors.In the chorus

of his hit song Rick Ro$$ says “I think I’m Big Meech/Larry

Hoover/Whippin’ work/Hallelujah/One nation under God/Real n##### getting

money under stars.”While in Chicago, Ross ran into Larry Hoover

Jr., the son of Larry Hoover, the jailed leader of the Gangster

Disciples gang he referenced in “B.M.F.” Rumors swirled that son

of the gang leader came to one of Ross’ in-stores to “check” the Don,

but those rumors were laid to rest after a picture of the pair embracing

surfaced later that night.  In a recent interview with Coco,

Foolish And Chase In The Morning from the Detroit radio station FM 98

WJLB, Ross commented on his status as a “certified gangster” in the

streets despite his past as a correctional officer. “For one, it

ain’t about what people think in the streets. That all comes in time. I

salute all the G’s that are locked up and no longer here.  As far as

dudes in entertainment, that’s exactly what it is,” Rick Ross

commented.  “What a lot of people don’t know is that I have extended my

hand and you know, I have got caught up in it emotionally and made

advances where we take it to the streets and when that’s the case, you

stooping to their level.” Teflon Don, Rick Ross’ forth

studio album,  is due out in stores next week.

Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory is now 41 years old and is expected to released in December of 2031. He and his brother Terry “Southwest T” Flenory, 39, were convicted in 2008 for running a continuing criminal enterprise.

Houston Williams contributed to this report.

(AllHipHop News) Swizz Beatz’ wife Mashonda has revealed details about the couples split and how she found out hit making producer was having an affair with R&B star Alicia Keys. In a new interview with Vibe.com, Mashonda reveals that Swizz Beatz admitted to having an affair with Alicia Keys on Mother’s Day in 2008, six months after she had already learned of the relationship. “I didn’t sleep for a whole year. I had to take pills to sleep because I’d wake up in the middle of the night crying,” Mashonda stated. “I couldn’t even look at my son some days because I didn’t have the strength and I never wanted him to feel my bad energy. It was a battle.”Alicia Keys is currently about five months pregnant with Swizz Beatz child. According to reports, the couple is engaged to be married. And despite a very public breakup and divorce from her ex-husband, Mashonda claims that she has never even spoken to Alicia Keys about the situation.“I wished we could have done it a different way. If she would just acknowledge me… I was begging for this person to just talk to me, woman to woman,” Mashonda lamented. As for Swizz, born Kaseem Dean, things in his new romance could not be better. In addition to being a father again with Keys, the pair seem to have chemistry in their careers as well. “Me and A.K., we just love music…when we in the studio, we work on a lot of things that ain’t planned,” Swizz Beatz told MTV News. “We was just in the studio vibing on some stuff for her album, vibing on some stuff for my album.”To read the full interview with Mashonda visit Vibe.com.

(AllHipHop News) Rapper Lil’ Wayne recently wrote to fans from jail and described his life behind bars on Rikers Island.”I wake up around 11 a.m. Have some coffee. Call my kids, and my wonderful mother. I then shower up. Read fan mail,” Lil Wayne wrote in a letter posted on weezythanxyou.com.After that, the hip-hop star has lunch, gets back on the phone, reads a book or jots down his thoughts.  After dinner, he makes one more trip to the phone and does some pushups.  “Then I listen to ESPN on the radio. Read the bible, then sleep. That’s my day,” he wrote.  The 27-year-old rapper, whose real name is Dwayne Carter, is serving a one-year sentence for having a loaded gun on his tour bus in New York City after a concert July 22, 2007.Cops who boarded Lil Wayne’s tour bus said they saw him toss the .40-caliber Springfield Armory semiautomatic handgun into a Louis Vuitton knapsack. There was no question the knapsack was his, cops said — it had his stuff in it, including a prescription bearing the name Dwayne Carter.Wayne also said that he had been listening to the radio a that he is still diligently working on his lyrics.“I’ve been writing and let me be the first to tell you that the lyrics that I’m writing are… well there’s no word that I can think of that properly defines them,” Lil Wayne wrote. “Amazing would be too typical and perfect would be unfair. I listen to the radio sometimes, emphasis on sometimes, and I hear the new music. I like some.”In addition, Wayne congratulated his fellow Young Money counterparts on their recent success. “I applaud my Young Money family for what they’re doing… this is what we’re supposed to do. Congrats to Drake and Nicki for all their recent success. Those 2 are going to have me retiring early,” Wayne confessed.  “I love my team.” According to reports, Lil Wayne will be released from prison in November.

(AllHipHop News) Rapper Jay-Z will headline Alicia Keys’ annual Black Ball charity event this September at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York.  Jay-Z will be joined by Alicia Keys and Sade during the event, which will raise funds for Keys’ charity Keep A Child Alive. The organization has been holding the Black Ball fundraiser since 2005. The charity event has raised over $10 million dollars since its inception. Keep a Child Alive is a non-profit dedicated to providing life-saving anti-retroviral treatment, care and support services to children and families whose lives have been affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India.

(AllHipHop News) Rock from the acclaimed group Heltah Skeltah has been found not guilty in an attempted murder case stemming from a shooting incident that left a pimp paralyzed.

Dru Ha, the CEO of Duck Down Records, made the announcement.

“Exhale for Rock & congratulations to his attorney Kenneth Montgomery for the NOT GUILTY VERDICT! Incredible job,” Dru Ha said via Twitter.

Rock was accused of being a moonlighting as a pimp at night and shooting a rival in January of 2008. He was eventually released on $125,000 bail and proclaimed his innocent in the alleged shooting, assault and the assertion that he is a pimp.

Despite the legal matters, Rock refused to sensationalize the case and released D.I.R.T. (Da Incredible Rap Team) with Heltah Skeltah rap partner Sean “Ruck” Price later in 2008.

Rock was party to a recent celebration of Duck Down’s 15th Anniversary on Tuesday at BB King’s Club in New York.

(AllHipHop News) Cam’ron has announced an August release date for his upcoming album Gunz N’ Butta featuring the Harlem native’s newest protégé, Vado. Vado, who is also from Harlem, co-wrote the 16-track album with Cam’ron, including the lead single “Speaking in Tungs.””It’s our first album and I promise it’s so much of a classic,” Vado told AllHipHop.com in a statement. “It’s like all the Boss of all Bosses tapes put together. We hit y’all from all angles—we hit y’all from the streets, for the ladies, for the club… It’s five stars, man.” After the August 31st release of Gunz N’ Butta, Vado will drop a solo mixtape titled Slime Flu. Gunz N’ Butta is being distributed by E1 Entertainment.

(AllHipHop News) Missy Elliott arrived in Jerusalem today (July 14th) for a controversial performance in Israel, despite an international boycott and a new standoff with a Libyan ship trying to deliver aid to Gaza.According to publicists for the platinum selling rapper and critically acclaimed producer, Missy Elliott is in town for two days. During her trip to Israel, Missy will visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem, followed by a trip to the Dead Sea.Missy Elliott is slated to hit the stage tomorrow night in Tel Aviv, alongside popular funk/Hip-Hop group Hadag Nahash at Gane HaTaarucha.Elliott’s performance in Tel Aviv has condemned by a variety of human rights groups, because of Israel’s ongoing dispute with the Palestinian government over land. Additionally, a variety of artists have cancelled their performances in Israel, which was intensified in six-weeks ago, when commandos raided a foreign aid ship headed for Gaza and killed nine Turkish activists. Missy Elliott’s trip comes amidst more tension in the Middle East, as Israeli warships are following the Amalthea, a Libyan aid ship heading to Gaza, vowing to defy any Israeli Navy orders change course. Artists who have canceled performances in Israel over the past four months include  Elvis Costello, Gorrillaz, Carlos Santana, the Klaxons and others. A variety of artists have ignored the boycott as well, including Elton John, Madonna and Paul McCartney.

(AllHipHop News) Will Smith’s Overbrook Entertainment is developing a movie for Sony that will be based on modern-day explorer/neuroscience professor Dr. S. Allen Counter. Counter is currently the director of the Harvard Foundation of Harvard University and has authored and produced a number of books about African’s and African-Americans.According to Variety, Will Smith is attached as a producer along with James Lassiter, Ken Stovitz and actress Debbie Allen. Will Smith has worked with Dr. Counter in the past and in recent months, the pair worked together to assist victims of a devastating earthquake that leveled the city of Port-Au-Prince and killed over 300,000 people in January. Dr. Counter is noted explorer who is also responsible for discovering a group of African-descended people in the Andes in 1993. Will Smith’s Overbrook Entertainment recently scored box office success with the release of The Karate Kid, which starred his son Jaden and has pulled in over $150 million dollars worldwide, since its release on June 11th.