Police in Baton Rogue have accused rapper Lil Boosie of offering a bribe to an officer who arrested him on marijuana and gun charges.

During a pre-trial hearing yesterday (August 24), State District Judge Chip Moore refused to suppress statements Boosie made, which could effect the outcome of his trial on the charges, which takes place September 28.

Deputy Nicholas Locicero testified that he and another officer in an unmarked unit stopped Boosie’s 2007 Dodge Challenger, after they noticed the rapper submerged in a could of smoke.

They found the rapper smoking a cigar filled with marijuana and he was also in possession of a large amount of cash.

Once Boosie was stopped he allegedly said to the officer “This is Boosie. How much do you want?”

The officer found a gun in Boosie’s vehicle, in addition to a bag of marijuana, which fell off of his lap as he exited the Challenger.

Boosie’s lawyers have argued that since he was not given a field test, he may have been intoxicated when he made the statements to arresting officer.

Lil Boosie, born Torrence Hatch, is charged with his third charge of possession of marijuana which could land him up to 20 years in prison, while he faces a mandatory minimum of five years for the gun charge.

Lil Boosie is scheduled to stand trial September 28.

Boxer Floyd Mayweather was cleared late last night (August 24) in a criminal investigation involving a shooting incident at a Las Vegas skating rink.

The altercation occurred at the Crystal Palace Skating, when two unidentified men became involved in a shouting match.

According to police, one of the men then fired seven shots, and several witnesses claimed that Mayweather’s Rolls Royce was present and involved in the crime.

The suspect, known only as “O.C.,” is an alleged associate of Mayweather and authorities immediately issued a search warrant for the boxer’s home.

Mayweather cooperated with the police, and it was then established that the returning pugilist was not a suspect as the home search did not yield the gun or any incriminating evidence.

According to representatives from Mayweather’s camp, the fighter was simply present at the skating rink because of a weekly recreation ritual of taking his children there on Sundays.

After resolving the matter, Floyd Mayweather made an appearance last night as guest host of WWE’s Monday Night Raw entertainment program.

He assisted wrestlers Mark Henry and MVP in defeating champions The Big Show and Chris Jericho in a non-title tag team match.

At press time, Mayweather will make his long-awaited return to the ring on September 19 against lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez.

Police have raided an apartment leased to rapper Jadakiss and seized 5 grams of heroin, 6.5 pounds of marijuana and $40,000 cash from the Yonkers New York residence, say published reports.

According to sources, Jadakiss was not at the home at the time of the raid and he is not wanted by police.

The cash and drugs were found in a Van der Donck Street apartment and the police executed a search warrant after an incident on Friday. The police said they saw an individual in a car that smelled like marijuana. They arrested 25-year-old Alberto Lajara and charged him with fifth degree criminal possession of marijuana and disorderly conduct.

 A passenger, Gabriel R. Henriquez, 39, attempted to allude police and was subsequently charged with felonious second-degree criminal possession of marijuana and second-degree assault as well as second-degree obstructing governmental administration, a misdemeanor.

After the Friday encounter, the police searched Jadakiss’ apartment, where they found the illegal substances. The case remains open.

Jadakiss was unavailable for comment at press time.

“Brutal” pressure to deliver a guilty verdict for No Limit rapper Corey “C-Murder” Miller could possibly work in favor of the recently imprisoned entertainer.

Despite casting the deciding vote twice in Miller’s much publicized murder trial, Mary Jacob now admits that she was not entirely convinced the 38-year rapper was guilty of killing Steve Thomas in the now-closed Platinum Club on Jan. 12, 2002.

According to reports, Thomas, 16, was shot through his heart while being stomped by a group of men during an event at the nightspot. A 10-2 verdict, the minimum required by state law for a second-degree murder conviction, was delivered on August 12 to seal Miller’s fate.

The rapper was sentenced to serve a mandatory life sentence in prison on August 14. Jacob’s decision to change her vote from innocent to guilty came after witnessing the emotional breakdown of a young juror who she felt was pressured by other jurors to side with those who believed Miller was at fault.

“This thing had to come to an end for this girl’s health, her sanity,” Jacob told The Times-Picayune about the 20-year-old Xavier University student who voted for the rapper’s innocence. “I believe what happened to Steve Thomas on the floor of the Platinum Club happened to her verbally. “I was more worried about this little girl than I was about Corey Miller,” added Jacobs, who still believes that prosecutors did not prove their case “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

“Corey Miller will survive whatever happens to him,” she said.

As jurors deliberated over the case, Jacobs noticed the physical toll the situation took on the student. The group was firmly split 9-3 in favor of conviction on their second day of deliberation.

However, the student’s condition ultimately swayed Jacob’s opinion as she chose the quickest way to end the young woman’s ordeal.

“They literally made this 20-year-old girl so violently ill,” Jacob said. “She was shaking so bad. She ran into the bathroom. She was throwing her guts up. She couldn’t function anymore. That’s when I decided, the judge don’t want to listen to me, doesn’t want to listen to us? I told them, ‘You want him to be guilty? He’s guilty, now let’s get the hell out of here.”’

At this time, no comment was made by Miller’s family, his former attorney, Ron Rakosky or the Jefferson Parish district attorney’s office on Monday (Aug. 24) regarding the latest on the Miller/Thomas murder case.

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Jay-Z will play a benefit concert at Madison Square Garden on September 11, to help raise money for the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund.

Fans who don’t make the actual show can watch the special live, as cable channel Fuse will air the concert “Fuse Presents: Jay-Z Live from Madison Square Garden: Answer The Call.”

The special will air on the same day as the release of Jay-Z’s highly anticipated album The Blueprint 3.

“This charity and concert encompass the true spirit of New York City,” Jay-Z told AllHipHop.com in a statement. “We are asking everyone to ‘answer the call’ and support and honor the families of those that lost their lives in the line of duty. There was true camaraderie and resiliency that this city showed the world in 2001, and we continue that today by taking care of our own.”

The New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund has distributed over $114 million to the families of police and firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

“On behalf of New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund’s Board of Directors and the families of our fallen heroes, we are truly grateful for Jay-Z’s choice to support our charity and ‘answering the call’,” added Stephen J. Dannhauser, president and CEO of the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund.

The concert is underwritten by Absolut, Live Nation and Jay-Z himself.

“Fuse Presents Jay-Z Live from Madison Square Garden: Answer the Call” will air live on September 11 at 9:00 PM.

The “Thug Queen” associated with rap group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is suing the group for $22.5 million dollars, claiming that she was never paid royalties for his contributions to a 1998 album by the group.

Kamilha Greer filed the lawsuit against Mo Thug Records, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and Ruthless Records in the Cuyahoga County Court in Ohio.

Greer claims that she wrote Mo Thugs Family Scripture Chapter II: Family Reunion, which was released in May of 1998.

Greer claims she contributed lyrics to the songs “Mighty Mighty Warrior,” “The Queen” “Otherside/Outro” and “Ghetto Cowboys,” which was the album’s lead single, that also struck #1 on the U.S. rap charts.

Greer, who also appeared in the “Ghetto Cowboys” video, claims she has not received any royalties for her contributions to Mo Thugs Family Scripture, which has sold over 1 million copies.

Greer is seeking $2.5 million dollars on multiple counts, including Breach of Contract, Conversion, Negligence, Fraud, Breach of Fiduciary Duty.

The total amount Greer seeks is consequential and compensatory damages of $20,000 million and quantum merit relief in the amount of at least $2.5 million dollars plus attorney fees and court costs.

Greer is represented by one Jazmine Greer, of Cleveland, Ohio.

With just two weeks left until the release of his highly anticipated Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Vol. 2, Raekwon debuts the album’s fist official video today (August 24).

IceH20 Entertainment has offered AllHipHop.com an exclusive first look at the clip for the posse cut “House of Flying Daggers,” featuring Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah, and Method Man.

The J. Dilla- produced track, named after the 2004 cult-classic martial arts film, was released online on July 31 as the last of several authorized leaks from the album.

Just last week, Rae raised the anticipation level by releasing an animated teaser for the video, illustrated by 1000styles.

Now, with the video’s official release fans can be assured that there would be no more delays until OB4CL2 hits stores.

“Just want y’all to know, we counting the days down with y’all,” Raekwon told AllHipHop.com over the weekend. “Shout out to everyone that’s been supporting the records we’ve been leaking. It means a lot to me, it means a lot to the crew. All I recommend is to have a strong system, have a clear quality system and it’s gonna work out for you.”

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II has been nearly half a decade in the making.

Back in 2005, six years since the release of his classic debut Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Raekwon announced that he was working on a second volume.

The album, which was originally executive produced by Busta Rhymes, was reportedly complete in January 2006, with RZA added as a second executive producer. Still the project did not see the light of day. In 2007, Raekwon explained that he was determined to set the release up properly.

“I did a lot of hard work on this record,” Raekwon said during an interview. “And I refuse to throw it out and people be like, ‘Yo Rae, I ain’t know your s**t was out.’ Nah, I can’t afford that to happen no more. That happened to me on The Lex Diamond Story. That happened to me on Immobilarity. I’m not going for it on this one.”

Despite having lost the support of Aftermath/Interscope Records, as well as executive producers Busta Rhymes and Dr. Dre, OB4CL2’s independent release has garnered a great deal of fan and media support.

The 21-track album features production by Pete Rock, Marley Marl, Dr. Dre, and longtime Wu-Tang collaborator Scram Jones, and appearances by Beanie Sigel, Lyfe Jennings, Jadakiss, and Styles P.

The album also features contributions by six of the surviving original members of the Wu-Tang Clan: GZA, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, Method Man, Masta Killa, and of course, production by RZA.

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Queens, New York rapper Ja Rule has been given permission to perform in Australia at an event next weekend, after a dispute with Australian immigration officials.

Australian officials announced their decision to allow the rapper to perform today (August 24).

Immigration officials came to the conclusion that Ja Rule is not a threat to national security, and finally cleared his visa.

Last month Ja Rule was forced to cancel a scheduled performance in Sydney on July 31 because he wasn’t able to get his visa cleared.

Australia has been known to impose strict regulations on who they allow to perform in the country, and have banned numerous politicians and celebrities who don’t fit the country’s moral character guidelines.

Speculation about Ja Rule’s visa being held up in Australia stems a 2007 incident, in which Rule was arrested for illegal gun possession.

However no official explanation for the hold up has been given, which was considered strange due to the fact that the rapper was previously allowed to perform in the country twice since.

Ja Rule will be performing in an event at Luna Park on Saturday, August 29.

Rapper Sadat X will headline the 12th Annual Hip-Hop Project this Sunday in New York. Sadat, a founding member of legendary rap group Brand Nubian, will be joined by special guests that include DJ Bobbito Garcia, DJ Beverly Bond, A-Alikes, Rebel Diaz, Blitz the Ambassador and Shadia Mansour. Black August was started by the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement in 1998, to spread awareness about U.S. political prisoners incarcerated worldwide. This year’s event takes place at BB Kings on Sunday (August 30), starting at 8:00 PM.

Talib Kweli, MC Lyte, DJ Premier and DJ Reborn will be featured as part of “A Labor Day Weekend Explosion” taking place in Brooklyn over Labor Day weekend at Sputnik. On Friday, September 4, MC Lyte will headline a show, will rapper Talib Kweli will grace the stage on Saturday (September 5). “We know that people typically bolt out of town during the Labor Day Weekend. But we also know, especially given the state of the economy, that many will be stuck in town looking for something to do. We’re excited to be able give music fans affordable options for a live show during the holiday weekend,” said event organizer, Vic Black. Tickets for the show start at $18.

Lil Wayne and 50 Cent will be the subject behind the newly re-launched Behind the Music series that will air on VH1. The re-tooled series will premiere on September 10 with a look at the life of Lil Wayne. The special will discuss Wayne’s childhood upbringing and his road to became one of the most sought after artists in the world. Other Hip-Hop artists that will be spotlighted include T.I. (October 8) and 50 Cent (October 13). VH1’s Behind The Music featuring Lil Wayne will air September 10 at 10:00 PM ET.

Police arrested an employee of 50 Cent’s last week, after a woman accused the man and a woman of assaulting her on the rapper’s property. Police received a 911 call from a distraught woman last Sunday (August 16), claming Dwayne McKenzie, 28, and Michelle Kryzykowski, 21, assaulted her on the property. The woman said she was struck over the head with an unknown object, before she managed to pepper-spray the assailants and get away. The woman had a head injury and other lacerations, according to police. McKenzie was arrested last Thursday, while Kryzykowski turned herself in the same day. McKenzie was also arrested in 2007 for carrying a weapon and again in May of 2008 for striking a woman he had been dating with a belt on 50 Cent’s property.

Lauren Raysor, the attorney responsible for prosecuting rapper Remy Ma, has called a press conference today (August 24) New York challenging record labels to curb the violence in Hip-Hop culture.

Raysor will use the press conference to request that all labels create a morality clause in their contracts, which means an artist’s deal would be terminated for any acts seen as objectionable to society.

Two years ago, Raysor represented Makeda Barnes-Joseph against her former close friend Remy Ma (Reminisce Smith).

Remy was sentenced to 8 years in prison on assault, illegal weapon possession, and attempted coercion after shooting Joseph in the abdomen.

According to a representative for Raysor, the “morality clause” concept would not be a device to target Hip-Hop artists, but a contract item to ensure all musicians consider the career ramifications for any violent acts.

“Lauren P. Raysor is asking all record companies to insert a ‘morality clause’ in their contracts with all artists, not just rap and Hip-Hop artists, as a way to show them there are consequences for their actions,” the spokesman said.

Accompanying Raysor will be Nicole Bailey, principal of the Learning Tree Multi-Cultural School.

At press time, attorney Raysor also plans to present an extensive timeline displaying all the major violent confrontations pertaining to Hip-Hop artists