Chicago rapper/actor Common has joined an all-star lineup of performers taking part in the 4th Annual Jazz In the Gardens in Miami Gardens, Florida this March.

Common is among the evening’s headlining acts, which will be hosted by radio personality Tom Joyner.

Other headlining artists are Anthony Hamilton, Erykah Badu, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Kenny G., Roy Ayers, Jonathan Butler, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Angelique Kidjo and others.

“Four years ago, we were just another jazz festival, now it is really amazing to know that nationally and internationally, we are a well-known and respected music festival. ‘Jazz in the Gardens’ has become an economic resource; infusing a new stream of revenue into the South Florida area; creating business opportunities for local businesses and sponsors; and driving tourists into South Florida and the local community. In 2009 we will exceed our past attendance records and continue to make Miami Gardens the winter-break destination for adults,” said Mayor Shirley Gibson.

Over 30,000 people are expected to attend this year’s concert, almost double the amount that were present in 2008.

The 4th Annual Jazz in the Gardens concert takes place March 29 at Dolphin Stadium.

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or by visiting the Dolphins Stadium’s box office.

Today (February 7) marks the 9 year anniversary of the sudden and premature passing of Christopher Rios, better known to the world as Big Pun.

After enduring a rough childhood growing up in the Bronx, Pun sought refuge in rhyming to deal with his mother’s drug addiction and an abusive step father.

By the late 80s, he had met lifelong friends Cuban Link, Triple Seis, and Prospect. Together, they formed a music click coined the Full a Clips Crew.

During this time, Pun would be known to fellow local emcees by his first stage name, Big Moon Dawg. Years of work paid off in 1995 when Pun met fellow Bronx rapper Fat Joe.

Impressed to find such a raw talent in his own borough, Joe featured Pun extensively on what many consider his best LP, Jealous One’s Envy.

After building a strong buzz with underground hits such as “You Ain’t a Killer,” Pun dropped his seminal 1998 debut Capital Punishment.

Celebrated for its varied displays of lyricism, flows (“The Dream Shatterer,” “Beware”) and powered by the hit single “Still Not a Player,” the album became the first platinum album ever from a Latino emcee.

Also, the LP scored a Grammy nomination for 1998’s Hip-Hop Album of the Year.

Pun’s stardom was short-lived, as the Bronx native could not gain control over his weight issues, even after ballooning to over 500 pounds and several attempted interventions from family and friends.

On February 7, 2000, Pun succumbed to a fatal heart attack at the age of 28.

Since his death, two posthumous albums (Yeeeah Baby, Endangered Species) and a controversial documentary (Still Not a Player) from his widow Liza Rios have been released.

Sometime this year, Pun’s life will receive further examination with a new documentary entitled Big Pun: The Legacy.

The tribute project was originally announced last summer, but was delayed over post-production and distribution issues.

The film is reported to contain never before seen interviews and performances from Pun.

Additionally, the documentary features reflections from industry colleagues who Pun inspired personally or through his music, such as the Wu-Tang Clan, DMX, Snoop Dogg, Chuck D, Rosie Perez, Mobb Deep, and Cypress Hill.

At press time, a release date has not been set for the film. This year, Big Pun would have celebrated his 38th birthday.

50 Cent may have a new adversary within a day’s time. The G-Unit leader has drug in rapper Foxy Brown’s name into this beef by mentioned her name in the ballooning war of words with Miami heavy weight Rick Ross. Foxy Brown says she is granting 50 Cent 24 hours to retract the line where she is briefly mentioned on “Try Me.”On 50 Cent’s diss track, he says, “The cop f**ked a fox.” The line, although scant, refers to a brief, personal relationship Rick Ross and Brown had. It also refers to Ross’ past as a correctional officer. Foxy Brown’s camp issued a statement that proclaims that she has no involvement in the conflict between the two rap titans. In a statement to AllHipHop.com, Brown’s representative stated, “Foxy is giving that n***a 24 hour [period] to retract that statement or she’s going handle [him] Brooklyn Style.”Ironically, after 50 Cent wrote the initial song, Rick Ross gave 50 Cent 48 hours to offer a more substantial response. 50 Cent returned with a number of insulting videos, including cartoons and a taped shopping spree with the mother of Ross’ child. Currently, Brown is working on her new album Black Roses, which is expected to be in stores this summer.Rumors swirled that Foxy Brown and Rick Ross were to be married, but those proved to be false.

Rapper Mistah Fab was recently involved in a terrible car accident that has left the rapper hospitalized and his manager with a broken back.

The incident allegedly occurred as the rapper was traveling in California. He was in a town called Bakersfield after performing with Glasses Malone and headed to Los Angeles.

Fab gave fans an update on his twitter page.

From a mobile phone he wrote, “THANK U GOD!!!!!!!!!! yall LOve LIFE. Man I LOVE LIFE..I’M Happy To B here.”

The rapper is presently unable to walk, his manager Stretch broke his back and his DJ Tito sustained lung damage.

Fab said that the accident occurred while he was sleep. His manager drove and hit a puddle and the vehicle began to hydroplane.

“I’m still n the hospital but I’m cool. The shock of every thing is what’s killing [me],” he said. “[It] just keeps flippin’ over in my mind.”

With questions still lingering from the damaging 50 Cent clip with his son’s mother, Rick Ross is now launching a legal offensive against the serious accusation not handling his fatherhood responsibilities.

Ross’ attorney Allan Stephen Zamren told AllHipHop.com that the claims made in court and in the recent viral clip by Tia Kemp are without merit.

“As a matter of fact and for the record, every month on or about the first of the month Mr. Ross pays a substantial amount of money, in excess of State of Florida, Child Support Guidelines to this child’s mother for the support of the child,” Zamren explained to AllHipHop.com. “This child support money is in addition to money Mr. Ross pays the mother for clothing and other expenses for the child. Mr. Ross has also established a pre-paid college fund for the child and paternity of this child has not yet been determined.”

In the clip, 50 and Kemp discussed the allegation of Ross “repossessing” a truck following a heated child support hearing where the Miami rapper was questioned extensively about his assets.

Kemp further explained that Ross’ alleged actions have deprived her of the ability to adequately care for their son.

According to Zamren, the video masks the real reason for Kemp’s loss of the vehicle.

“A motion to return the motor vehicle that has been the subject on various internet websites was provided to the mother prior to 2009 for various reasons including but not limited to being charged for aggravated battery, battery and contributing to the delinquency of a minor when the mother used the vehicle as a deadly weapon,” Zamren told AllHipHop.com. “The mother failed to put the child in a car seat and purposely drove the vehicle into another while the young child was in the car.”

While Zamren does not expect these revelations to stop the sensationalism around the 50 Cent-Rick Ross drama, the attorney hopes fans will at least remove the opinion of Tia Kemp from the situation.

“The mother is currently unemployed and has (2) other children from another man whom she receives limited child support for. Statements made by or on behalf of the mother to disparage, defame, libel and slander Mr. Ross as to the child to obtain additional child support payments are untrue,” he stated. “Mr. Ross is an excellent charitable member of the community. I have known him for years. It is my pleasure to represent him and to know him.”

At press time, Tia Kemp could not be reached for comment.

Undeterred by 50 Cent’s stunt with his child’s mother, Miami’s Rick Ross has made a promise to end the Queens mogul’s career next month, via the release of Deeper Than Rap.

Appearing today on the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, a confident Ross explained his plans for his newfound hated rival.

“I’m setting up the biggest album of the year on March 24. It will forever change the game,” Ross stated. “I’m offering the biggest monkey in the business a challenge. You got Dre. Go get the best beats you can get, monkey, since they all flopped in the last year. His album has only been pushed back a year, his MTV show was canceled before the season even went through. The monkey is playing right into our trap.”

Regarding the ante being up for this beef outside the booth, Ross argues that it’s the only recourse for 50, since he is far removed from his lyrical prime.

“This Curly is not the ’03 Get Rich or Die Tryin’. This monkey I’m dealing with is barely holding on to a musical career,” Ross quipped. “Kanye murdered this man a year and a half ago. No one sees him on that level [anymore]. He should’ve been retired. But I have the opportunity to do that. Hopefully he’ll accept my challenge.”

Previously, both albums were scheduled to drop a month apart: 50’s Before I Self-Destruct in March, and Ross’ Deeper Than Rap in April.

Now with the media and fan frenzy involving the two, Rick Ross appears focused on engaging 50 in another album battle to decide the feud’s ultimate winner.

“He hasn’t come with fire in 4 years. His singles been struggling for the last 4 months,” Ross continued. “This is my inauguration into the White House. You’re gonna have your Reverend Wrights.” Finally, Ross brushed off the video of 50 with his child’s mother, denying that he doesn’t take care of his son and that he never had an actual “relationship” with the woman beyond employment. “I done dressed over 10,000 kids [through my charity foundation]. She was a maid of mine,” Ross revealed. “And the child is being taken care of. It [the video] didn’t offend me. That’s what I expect from her.”

At press time, 50 Cent could not be reached comment. Early today, the G-Unit head appeared on Miami radio and derided Ross as an embarrassment.

Rick Ross’ Deeper Than Rap is now expected to drop March 24, a week before 50 Cent’s tentative March 31 date for Before I Self-Destruct.

A viral marijuana smoking contest featuring Yukmouth and Raider’s running back Justin Fargas has been shut down across the web.

The clip showcases Yukmouth and Fargas at an undisclosed home explaining the rules for this weekend’s “Smoke-A-Thon” contest, which is scheduled to primarily showcase rappers competing against each other.

Although Fargas was not shown smoking marijuana or handling any drug paraphernalia, the Raider could still face disciplinary action from the NFL.

According to the league’s drug program, players can be fined or suspended even for “behavioral” or “psychological signs” of drug violations.

Possibly anticipating this, Yukmouth made a point to declare during the video that Fargas does not smoke marijuana.

Justin Fargas, the son of Huggy Bear (“Starsky and Hutch”) actor Antonio Fargas, has been with the Raiders since 2003.

For the last 3 years, the California native has also been the team’s leading rusher.

Yukmouth, who is also the CEO of the Rap-A-Lot distributed Smoke-A-Lot Records, is preparing this month to release his fifth studio album, The West Coast Don.

The album is set to host guest appearances from T-Pain, Ray J, Mistah F.A.B., Dru Drown and C-Bo.

To date, the NFL is declining to speak on the matter, and will not elaborate on if they took any action to have the video removed.

At press time, Justin Fargas could not be reached for comment.