An Arizona Superior Court judge ruled last Friday (May 8) that cameras will not be allowed during the weapons trial of Grammy winner Lil Wayne.

Judge Mark Wayne Reeves decreed that the press will be able to attend and report the trial proceedings.

However, Reeves added that the rap superstar’s legal right to a fair trial was paramount, and the decision was made to prevent Wayne’s trial from degrading into a media circus.

Lil Wayne, real name Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr, was arrested last year on January 28.

Border Patrol officials on Interstate 8 East allegedly discovered an ounce of cocaine, 41 grams of Ecstasy, and close to four ounces of marijuana from the rapper’s tour bus.

Wayne was also originally booked on weapons charges, but was later cleared after the .40 caliber pistol was found to be registered under a Florida concealed weapons permit.

The New Orleans star has had to battle numerous old outstanding court cases in 2009.

In New York, Wayne began a gun trial in April which stemmed from a 2007 arrest on drugs and weapons charges.

In March, a Georgia judge exonerated Wayne of felony drug charges from an August 2006 arrest in Atlanta.

It was a ruled that the search which yielded marijuana, hydrocodone and Xanas was done illegally.

At press time, a start date for Wayne’s Arizona trial has not been announced.

Critically acclaimed turntablist DJ Qbert has launched the first ever video-based online DJ school.

Now known as QSU (Qbert Scratch University), the San Francisco native brings over 20-years of experience to the online curriculum.

The courses range from basic cutting techniques, to advance classes detailing “battle” strategies to be used in competition with rival DJs.

Partnered in the project with Qbert is ArtistWorks, Inc, a company that develops Internet-based businesses for musicians by incorporating cutting edge distance learning and video technology.

The group utilizes a proprietary VMS (Video/Media Management System) for students to send their practice sessions over to Qbert.

From there, the QSU founder posts a detailed video response.

Students will have personal pages for regular peer to peer interaction for study groups and networking.

In addition, Qbert will use his network of industry contacts to have guest DJs and other professionals offer their insight into the music business, and the role of the 21st century DJ.

With scratching/cutting being a worldwide staple of Hip-Hop culture, Qbert explained to AllHipHop.com that he’s proud to have a platform to bring all aspiring DJs together.

“It’s cool that scratching has so many fans around the world and we can all be in one place now and learn from each other no matter where we live,” he stated.

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Rap star Talib Kweli cemented his relationship with DJ Eque yesterday (May 9) when the pair were married in Bel Air, California at a private residence. Kweli and DJ Eque tied the not during an intimate ceremony which included family and friends, including Queen Latifah, ?uestlove, Adam Rodriguez of CSI, DJ Rashida and others. The pair have been dating and engaged since at least 2007 and DJ Eque has produced several Blacksmith Music mixtapes. Talib Kweli is currently working with producer Hi-Tek on a new album as Reflection Eternal. Kweli can also been seen on Paris’ Hard Truth Soldiers Tour 2009. Click here for the full picture of Talib Kweli and DJ Eque at their wedding.

Despite being cleared of assaulting a fan at a 2005 concert, the man who sued rapper Snoop Dogg will still receive compensation for injuries suffered from the incident.

Snoop Dogg’s Doggystyle Records, rapper Soopafly and other unnamed parties will pay Richard Monroe Jr. nearly $449,000 in damages, a jury found on Friday (May 8) after determining that Monroe suffered major injuries from the assault.

Soopafly (born Priest Brooks) was among those involved in the incident.

“We’re very pleased that the jury found that this incident was not something to be taken lightly,” Monroe’s attorney, Brian E. Watkins, said. Friday’s decision marks the end of two weeks of testimony surrounding Monroe’s 2006 lawsuit against Snoop Dogg (born Calvin Broadus).

Although Monroe’s attorneys claimed the rapper hit their client with a microphone during the ordeal, a video shown during the trial disputed the argument.

The clip, which showed Snoop Dogg performing his hit song “Gin and Juice,” did not show rapper hitting Monroe.

Monroe is tackled by security in the video after putting his arm around Snoop Dogg.

Monroe revealed during the trial that he thought he had been invited onstage during the show, which took place at the White River Amphitheater near Seattle.

According to reports, Monroe later woke up after the assault, dazed, in a pool of blood and with his pants ripped off.

He told investigators that the men who beat him also poured their drinks, which appeared to be a mix of gin and juice, on him during the beating. Jurors were shown pictures of Monroe’s swollen face following the concert.

Snoop Doggs’ attorneys countered Monroe’s version of the incident by arguing that his recollection of events changed over time and.

In addition, the lawyers told jurors that Monroe did not immediately reveal to investigators after the ordeal that Snoop Dogg hit him with his microphone.

That rap star testified earlier in the civil trial that he did not assault Monroe as he described and identified performers and security personnel who were seen struggling with Monroe on the video.

Snoop Dogg further stated that he quickly left the stage to go to his tour bus before the incident was over.

Snoop Dogg was not in court on Friday when the verdict was handed down.

The jury’s decision to award the nearly $449,000 payment to Monroe fell short of the $ 22 million he had sought from the entertainer.

The son of legendary rapper Joseph “Run” Simmons of Run-DMC was arrested for possession of marijuana on Friday night, according to published reports.

Joseph “JoJo” Simmons Jr. allegedly bought weed and was seen rolling the illegal substance in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, according to gossip news site tmz.com.

Sources within the police department told the site that the 19-year-old was inside a car when he was apprehended.

The sources also charge that he tried to escape by reversing and almost struck a police vehicle.

Simmons Jr. was charged with resisting arrest, attempted reckless endangerment, and criminal use of drug paraphernalia in addition to the possession charge.

No statement has been issued by the Simmons family or a representative.

“You can learn many things from your Children.. (Patience for instance! :-),” Rev Run wrote on his Twitter page.

Simmons, Jr. stars on the show “Run’s House” with his father and the rest of the family.

While claiming to be “past” his on-going feud with 50 Cent, Def Jam recording artist Rick Ross continues to be vocal in the press about his disdain for his rival and those affiliated to him.

In a recent interview with Canadian television network Much Music, Ross takes more jabs at the G-Unit/Shady camp.

According to MuchMusic.com, Ross revealed that despite his recent challenge to Eminem, he remains a fan of Shady Records’ flagship artist.

However, he isn’t very impressed with Em’s latest releases.

“I’m just not impressed with the music I’m hearing,” the Miami rapper stated. “But hopefully, Imma buy his album when it come out, if it don’t disappoint me too bad. You know, we’ll see.”

The comment comes just weeks after Ross told MTV News that he would be interested in being involved with Eminem’s highly anticipated fifth major label release, Relapse, due out May 19.

While Ross did not necessarily indicate a desire to continue a rivalry with Eminem, he did continue his war of words with 50’s G-Unit camp in the new interview, which is set to air on an upcoming episode of MuchNewsWeekly.

“I done put out a number one album, and you know, I finished those guys. G-Unit was dropped from Interscope,” he added, clapping. “They still can’t dress, they’re monkeys, but that’ll never change.”

While the beef between 50 Cent and Rick Ross may not go down in Hip-Hop history for the actual rhymes exchanged, it does stand out as one of the most entertaining, employing tactics including animated videos, X-Rated videos and outings with the mother of one of Ross’ children.

Asked if he felt 50 Cent had taken things too far, the portly Slip-N-Slide recruit explained that as long as the beef did not escalate to gun violence, one could not say it had “gone too far.”

“Where I come from, you need AK-47s to go far,” he explained. “Anything short of that, we’ll label you a girl, kick you in the butt and send you home, and that’s pretty much what I did.”

Rick Ross’s third studio release, Deeper Than Rap, remains at the number four position on The Billboard 200 chart, where it debuted in the number one spot last week with 150,000 copies sold in the first week of release.