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Young MC Files Lawsuit Seeking Royalties

Rapper Young MC filed

a lawsuit against Varry White Music in Los Angeles Federal Court, alleging that

the publishing company failed to pay royalties for two hit songs the rapper wrote

for Tone Loc.

Young MC, born

Marvin Young, is best known for the 1989 hit "Bust A Move," released

on Delicious Vinyl. The song earned a Grammy Award for Best Rap Record.

The rapper, who

holds a degree in economics, also co-wrote "Wild Thing" and "Funky

Cold Medina." Varry White Music administers songs by Young MC and Tone

Loc, and various works from Delicious Vinyl’s catalog.

Young authored

the songs while under contract with the company. According to the original agreement

made in 1988, Young assigned the copyrights to Varry White Music for $500 to

collect royalties on his behalf.

The rapper claims

Varry White Music has failed to provide an accurate account of the records’

royalties, which have been included in various films and commercials.

Young also contends

that Varry White refused to open their books during an independent attempt to

audit the company earlier this year.

He is seeking unspecified

punitive and compensatory damages.

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Smokey Fontaine Steps Down As Editor-In-Chief Of America Magazine, Heads To Giant

Smokey Fontaine

stepped down as editor-in-chief of America magazine to fill the editor-in-chief

position of mens bi-monthly, Giant magazine.

America,

billed as the first-ever high-end Hip-Hop publication, was established in 2004

by Smokey Fontaine, an accomplished author and former editor at The Source.

The upscale quarterly

was intent on capitalizing on Hip-Hop’s lavish terrain and was immediately considered

"the world’s first urban luxury publication."

"I’m so proud to have fulfilled the dream of America. [It] competed

creatively with some of the finest magazines in the world," Fontaine told

AllHipHop.com. "Working with entertainment’s biggest artists was a real

privilege, because like Vanity Fair does for the wealthy elite, America showed

Hip-Hop at its best."

The New-York based magazine was an oversized publication, platinum-leafed and

extremely glossy, an attraction to those in the music industry.

Mariah Carey, 50 Cent, Usher, Kanye West, Lenny Kravitz, Pharrell Williams,

Alicia Keys, R. Kelly and Sean "Diddy" Combs have all graced the cover.

America also covered actors, lifestyles, fashion, technology and other facets

for readers who "lust for the finer things in life."

Damon Dash, a former partner in Roc-A-Fella Records, bought into America

and Fontaine’s vision, but he and the journalist had a tumultuous relationship.

In September, police filed a report against Dash after he allegedly struck Fontaine

in a dispute about the magazine.

Now, Fontaine has

been hired as the new editor-in-chief of Giant, a mainstream publication

with a circulation of 300,000

"I appreciate all the overwhelming support shown to me over our six issues

and fifteen covers," Fontaine continued. "Now I move to Giant

and it’s time for the next big thing."

A veteran journalist, Fontaine has penned several books, including EARL:

The Autobiography of DMX. Dash, America’s co-CEO, was not available for

comment at press time.

T.I. Unveiling New Clothing Line, Album

Atlanta rapper T.I., the self-proclaimed King of the South, recently unveiled plans to launch a new unnamed clothing line.

“I’m working on my fashion line right now; we’re just looking for the appropriate distributor to team up with,” T.I. told AllHipHop.com.

“I’m stepping into another industry that I really don’t know much about. [So] I just keep doing what I do. I individualize [myself] from others but continue to give them what I think they may like to wear and what I would like to wear and just keep giving to my fan base.” 

Although the particulars have not been finalized, including the name of the line, T.I. assures that his collection will rank amongst those with a more grown-up appeal.

“My fashion would be considered upscale urban,” he says. “It will be [in] competition with Sean John and Ralph Lauren–the big boys.”

T.I.’s fourth album, King, is slated to hit stores March 28, three days before his film debut in ATL.

The album features appearances by UGK, Jamie Foxx, Young Jeezy, Young Buck, Pharrell Williams, and P$C, among others.

Carmelo Anthony Launches New Label

NBA basketball star Carmelo Anthony has launched a new label, Kross Over Entertainment.

Anthony, who was recently selected for the USA Basketball team, has signed Atlanta rapper Berg.

The label’s first single is Berg’s “Hold UP,” which features Houston Hip-Hop group UGK,.

In addition to Berg, Kross Over Entertainment has signed producer/artist “Soundz,” and R&B songstress “Alesia Miller.”

The news comes on the heels of Anthony being selected to play for the 2008 Olympic USA basketball team, along with Amare Stoudemire, Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, Gilbert Arenas and others.

Anthony has also invested in a forthcoming wireless communications firm.NBA basketball star Carmelo Anthony has launched a new label, Kross Over Entertainment.

Anthony, who was recently selected for the USA Basketball team, has signed Atlanta rapper Berg.

The label’s first single is Berg’s “Hold UP,” which features Houston Hip-Hop group UGK.

In addition to Berg, Kross Over Entertainment has signed producer/artist “Soundz,” and R&B songstress “Alesia Miller.”

The news comes on the heels of Anthony being selected to play for the 2008 Olympic USA basketball team, along with Amare Stoudemire, Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, Gilbert Arenas and others.

The baller recently released his Jordan Carmelo 1.5 sneaker, which hit stores in Nov. of 2005.

Anthony has also invested in a forthcoming wireless communications firm.

Shyne Changes Name, Heads To Court For Frozen Assets

Three days after legally changing his name, currently incarcerated rapper Shyne will head to court for the first day of his civil court trial.

Attorney Oscar Michelen will represent the former Bad Boy rapper when he appears before Judge Howard Ruditzky tomorrow (March 7) at Kings County Supreme Court in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Shyne, born Jamaal Barrow, officially changed his name to Moses Michael Leviy on Saturday (March 4).

The rapper is currently serving 10 years on various charges for his role in a 1999 shooting at Club New York.

In November 2004, a judge granted a preliminary injunction that froze all of Shyne’s assets, including a $500,000 recording advance he received after signing a five-album deal with Island Def Jam.

The decision also allowed Shyne to collect $100,000 for past and current attorney fees and family expenses.

The injunction was granted under a special prong of the Son of Sam law, which prevents inmates from profiting from their crimes.

Michelen, who has made a motion to free the frozen money belonging to Shyne so he can defend the rapper, will argue that the law is unconstitutional in Shyne’s case because it interferes with the lyricist’s right to an attorney, as well as his freedom of association, meaning he can’t contract with recording companies because of the possibility of frozen assets.

As a result of the freezing, Shyne, who has been without legal representation for more than a year, is unable to financially support his family, including his mother and grandmother, Michelen contends.

“The Son of Sam law was designed to accomplish two goals: prevent convicted felons from profiting from their crimes and protect the victims of crime by securing assets so that they may be available to pay any judgment won in a civil lawsuit,” said Michelen, who will also dispute a motion to hold Shyne in contempt of court for spending about $185,000 after the injunction was granted.

“The court’s decision and the preliminary injunction are serving neither purpose. In fact, they are doing the exact opposite because Mr. Barrow never profited from the incident and the in junction effectively guarantees that he will not be able to earn assets that could be used to pay the plaintiffs should they win their lawsuit against him.

“The law also should not be used to prevent a person from having access to an attorney of their choosing,” Michelen continued. “Mr. Barrow’s right to an attorney and the presentation of a defense overrides the right of the plaintiffs to freeze these assets.”

Turntable Timmy Cartoon To Debut On The Internet

Children’s author

Michael P. and illustrator Doug Cunningham, along with animation house Rebel

Static, are launching a new Hip-Hop cartoon series based on the critically acclaimed

children’s book Turntable Timmy.

The online micro-series

will revolve around Turntable Timmy and his crew, The Arrowtown Rockers, as

they battle a corporate crook named Chip Staka, and his conniving cronies, in

an attempt to save Hip-Hop from the clutches of "wackness."

By using the power

of the 5 Elements and staying true to themselves, Timmy and his crew are able

to combat the evil forces in the music industry.

"The series

was created out of the necessity to educate the youth and bring forth awareness

regarding the foundation of Hip-Hop culture," said Michael P. "Through

modern technology, we have the ability to produce and distribute, to a worldwide

audience, our visions and interpretations regarding the current state of the

culture."

Turntablist Mike

Relm will serve as the music director for the series, which features 90-second

full motion-animation films.

"His turntable

skills are a valued asset to the Rebel Static team," said executive producer

Otto Grajeda. "When the question was asked, ‘what producer do we get to

perform the task of sound engineer for the series?’ only one name came to mind,

Mike Relm. He’s an amazingly innovative producer, as well as a dope DJ. I’m

sure he will bring a lot to the series in terms of audio quality and style."

The Turntable

Timmy micro-series will debut this summer. To view the trailer, visit

http://www.turntabletimmy.com.

National DJ Awards Show Coming To Canada

Sony Ericsson and

DOSE Magazine are teaming up with The Stylus Group to present the first-ever

Canadian nationwide DJ Awards show.

The 2006 Stylus

DJ Awards will take place May 29 at 8 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.) at the York

Event Theatre in Toronto, Canada. The event will be hosted by Mark Strong of

Flow 93.5 and internationally renowned soca DJ Dr. Jay.

The affair is being

billed as the first of its kind to honor urban spin doctors holding down the

turntables in Canada. Flavor Record Pool fonder Mike Zafiris created the awards

show to focus on the success of urban DJs, artists, musicians and record labels.

"The urban

music scene has exploded nationwide, and the awards show honors the efforts

of Canada’s finest DJs and celebrates their craft," said Zafiris.

The show will also

pay homage to the top urban DJs that make an impact on the Canadian music industry.

Winners will be

selected by a group of tastemakers and all-star DJs. Judges include Canadian

DJs Beat Matrix (Calgary), J-Swing (Vancouver), Starting From Scratch (Toronto)

and Kwite Same (Montreal).

The DJs will compete

in 24 categories, such as Club DJ of the Year and College Radio Hip-Hop DJ of

the Year. In addition, two DJs will be inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame.

Advance tickets

for the event are $25. For tickets or a complete listing of categories and nominees

for the 2006 Stylus DJ Awards, visit www.stylusgroup.ca.

Kirk Franklin: After The Rain, Pt 1

He has sold over 10 million records. He has three Grammy awards, 33 Stellar awards and nine Dove awards. He is the biggest selling Contemporary artist in soundscan history. Who is this man that has had such a profound impact upon the gospel music industry, while gaining substantial criticism from many of his colleagues and ministries from across the country?

Multi-platinum recording artist Kirk Franklin has made history with his vivacious sound and miraculous style. His phenomenal success and public acknowledgements about past sexual related addictions has raised eyebrows across America. Bound by the Word of God, he has remarkably overcome each difficult situation that has come his way. His latest album, Hero, which features musical guests such as Yolanda Adams, Stevie Wonder, Sheila E, and TobyMac, represents significant spiritual growth.

Known for his down to earth attitude, his ingenious grace, poise, and southern hospitality have notably contributed to his success. We recently sat down with the talented songwriter and discussed his life, homosexuality in the church, his past addiction to pornography and his current tour.

AllHipHop.com Alternatives: You’re an ordained minister, a multi-platinum recording artist, a husband, a father, a businessman, and now a new record label CEO; do you find it difficult in balancing roles?

Kirk Franklin: First and foremost, I try to keep what is most important first. I try to surround myself with people around me who know what they are doing. In other words, I try to stay in my lane. Just like with the label, I hired someone who knows how to run a label. I’m not trying to run a label. I just try to put people in the right position. When it comes to being a husband and fathering, that’s my passion. That is most important to me. That gets a lot of my attention.

AHHA: Since you’re debut in 1993, you’ve probably gone through just as many trials and tribulations as successes and accomplishments. You have had to deal with media criticism, criticism from other ministries, and ministers of the Word. If you could go back to 1993, would you change anything? Do you have any regrets?

Kirk Franklin: I wouldn’t change anything boo. I wouldn’t change a thing. I have no regrets.

AHHA: How do you handle criticism?

Kirk Franklin: I really don’t handle it. I try not to give them any time or attention. I don’t try to make people like me. If people don’t like what I do or for what I was called to do, then that’s their right. They have a right to not like me.

AHHA: Congratulations on your new album, which is certified gold. How is Hero different from your past albums?

Kirk Franklin: It’s a different season in my life. It’s speaking about where I am now. I personally love the record.

AHHA: Your single “Let It Go” tells a story. What inspired you to do the song?

Kirk Franklin: Well, in 1999, the idea for the song came to me but I just didn’t have a record to put it on. I thought this record would be a good match. The song was inspired by my life – it is basically my life story. It’s about things I picked up as young kid and how those habits tried to follow me. It talks about how bitter I was with my father not being there and having a sister with a crack cocaine addition who was in prison. It talks about all of that.

AHHA: Now I know that you have talked about your past pornography addiction for years prior to the Oprah Winfrey Show. But when you did Oprah, it seems like it was even more public than before. Do you ever regret doing the program or was it therapeutic for you to speak about it publicly with her?

Kirk Franklin: Well, when the Oprah show contacted me about my testimony, they had heard that I had been talking about it, especially within the church environment, for the last three or four years. I had been on the cover of Christian magazines with it as part of my testimony. I had always talked about how I got introduced to a lot of things that were not healthy for kids. I took a lot of those things into my teenage years and my twenties, so when they asked to do the program, I was only continuing what I had been doing.

That’s my story and it has helped so many other men. I get so many responses from both men and women about my testimony. There are so many others going through similar situations. Sex is a big problem in marriage and relationships whether its internet pornography that guys are getting into or whether its adultery. Cats just are dipping out on their girl. There’s a lot going on man.

AHHA: Is it still a healing process for you?

Kirk Franklin: Not at all. That is something that was in my past and the Lord took it away. That’s when I started talking about it and telling other men my story. Oh no, not at all. That just shows the power of God and the power of prayer. It shows what God can do when we sincerely ask God to change things in our lives. We have to trust in God that he will do it.

AHHA: How do you feel about homosexuality in the church? [It’s being discussed] more and more every day.

Kirk Franklin: We have to stand for what’s right. We have to stand for what the Word says and the Word is very clear about homosexuality, adultery, lying, and bigotry. I do think we have not done a good job of ministering to men and women who may be struggling with their sexuality. I think in the church we hear those Adam and Eve sermons, “God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.” That’s cool but that is not helping that person walk through the change. They want to preach against it, but nobody wants to hold that person’s hand and walk through the change process with them because we don’t want to be called gay. We don’t want others to look at us crazy. Therefore, these people die spiritually.

AHHA: Has anybody ever questioned your sexuality?

Kirk Franklin: Well yes, because I was small and I was a church boy. I always had problems.

AHHA: You have had major success and a number of hit records. Your music is uplifting and it makes you feel like you can overcome anything. However, when you did “Why We Sing,” in 1993, you were dealing with pornography and sexual promiscuity. When you did the hit “Stomp” in 1997, you were still struggling with pornography. That struggle never came out in your music. Did you feel like you were living a double life?

Kirk Franklin: Well, the music came from God, it didn’t come from me. It’s almost like how we hear in the Bible how David was a man of heart but he committed adultery. He was a murderer. God has always used men who has had struggles and used them for his Glory. He broke them and used their struggles as testimonies. See, I think the difference is you have somebody like me who has struggles just like any other man in the pulpit or any other man in gospel music, but I didn’t like mine. Now because I didn’t like mine, I was very open about it. This was something that I was not happy with. I remind you that back in 1993 and 1994 when I did “Why We Sing,” there was a lot of gospel artists and even preachers that were wilding out. You live in Atlanta! You see it. There is a whole lot going on in the ATL! I didn’t like my situation and I wanted to change it. I would do the gospel, and people would get blessed through the music – but I was not getting blessed. It made me feel like a hypocrite.

Kirk Franklin: After The Rain, Pt 2

AHHA: You have stretched the boundaries of gospel by adding elements of Hip-Hop and R&B, but the lyrical content has always been gospel. Was it one of your goals to change the traditional face of gospel?

Kirk Franklin: No, I was just doing what the Lord called me to do. I was doing what was in my heart to do. I wasn’t trying to change anything and I wasn’t trying to be different.

AHHA: You did a lot of charity work after Hurricane Katrina. How did Hurricane Katrina affect you personally?

Kirk Franklin: It made me mad. Matter of fact, it pist me off. How can we live in one of the most powerful countries in the world and we can’t even fix a wall? It was a very frustrating thing to see happen, especially to people of color down in New Orleans.

AHHA: What are your thoughts on the state of the Black church today?

Kirk Franklin: I think the jury is still out for me. Just because we are getting bigger does not mean we are getting better. The jury is still out. I am still waiting to see.

AHHA: Your Hero Tour just kicked off, and it features Mary Mary. Tell us about the tour – what can we expect?

Kirk Franklin: The tour is incredible. The biggest problem now is that it is too long, because we have too much music. We are trying to cut it down now, but it’s a great tour. Mary Mary is doing incredible. We have a new artist on the tour called Da’ T.R.U.T.H. He’s opening up and it’s great. It’s wonderful.

AHHA: Some of your music so upbeat and has featured Hip-Hop artists. How do you feel about people dancing maybe suggestively to your music? Just the same, how do you feel about your music being played in clubs?

Kirk Franklin: I really can’t change how they dance, nor can I change where they play it. My prayer is that the message is so powerful and has Christ in it so much, that even in the midst of them playing it, they will hear Him in it.

AHHA: How is the Kirk Franklin today different from the Kirk Franklin 10 years ago?

Kirk Franklin: My appetite for Christ is deeper.

AHHA: There are a million men in America who have a deep love God and His Word. They believe in the things that He can do for you and some of them are heavily involved in the Church but they are dealing with sexual promiscuity, sex before marriage, and pornography. What advice would you like to give them?

Kirk Franklin: I would just tell them that they have no idea how much of a cancer that can be and how dangerous it is. These are things that you can carry into your marriages and into your relationships. It is very important to have friends and people around you that are trying to be the same way that you are and that are trying to go the same places that you are.

AHHA: You are now head of your own entertainment venture, Fo Yo Soul Entertainment, Inc. What is your vision for your company?

Kirk Franklin: We want to be a voice in the culture. There are a lot of people who love the philosophy of Hip-Hop and the music of Hip-Hop, but we don’t like the images or the message. We are striving to live for a higher life and a deeper relationship with the Lord. Fo Yo Soul wants to create products, whether it’s television, music, or anything that can service that community who are now believers.

AHHA: How do you deal about critics who capitalize on your absence vocally from your albums? You don’t sing, but you do albums.

Kirk Franklin: It’s weird right. It’s crazy. Sometimes I wonder myself, “How in the world did I get here? How does this dude do records and can’t sing?” I think that what I do is actually what’s done in gospel music. You know the choir director usually leads the congregation through a song. It’s not like the worship. Somehow my direction started to sound very clubbish and somewhat of a DJ, but I was not intentionally doing that. I was just trying to move the church!

AHHA: Are there any R&B and Hip-Hop artists today that you would like to work with?

Kirk Franklin: Well, there are a lot of Hip-Hop artists that I think are talented and creative, but their philosophy on life, their mission statement, and how they speak about women, sex, and materialism is something I can’t surround myself with. I think it is unfortunate, because I do think some of them are talented.

AHHA: Well, how do you feel about state of Hip-Hop today?

Kirk Franklin: I am very disappointed in Hip-Hop because I was raised with her. When she was a baby, I was a baby too. We went to daycare together. We went to the prom together. She’s changed.

AHHA: What artists have actually had an influence upon you?

Kirk Franklin: Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Thomas Whitfield, and the early Hip-Hop such as Eric B and Rakim. When God saved me, he didn’t take my swagger. He just continued to use those resources and those references.

AHHA: What type of music do you listen to?

Kirk Franklin: I listen to everything. I love the ‘80s.

AHHA: How Do Alligator’s Praise the Lord?

Kirk Franklin: Ah man! They praise the Lord with the trumpet and…..all the other little critters..

AHHA: What inspired you to do a children’s book?

Kirk Franklin: Well, they approached me about doing a children’s book and I thought it was cute to do because I have kids. I incorporated my kids in the process and it was fun. My kids had fun too.

AHHA: What inspired you to do your biography, Kirk Franklin, Church Boy: My Music and My Life?

Kirk Franklin: I was approached. When I do most of the stuff like that, I am usually approached about doing it. I accepted it. I thought it was a good idea.

AHHA: How do you deal with being away from your family for long periods of time when you are touring and working?

Kirk Franklin: Well, we have a one week and a half rule. We don’t go without seeing each other no longer than a week and a half.

AHHA: You were caught up in some lawsuits with God’s Property and The Family. Can you enlighten us on that?

Kirk Franklin: Sure. Well, neither one of the suits went to court, but I am not saying that to make myself look good. I think gospel music wasn’t built for worldly success. When a world of success comes in, I think it starts making things grey. When two people both start out struggling and one benefits more than the other person, it gets hard on that relationship. God’s Property blew up real quick before The Family. Even though people knew the Family, God’s Property was huge. The Family felt like they were in the shadow.

At that time, if you have the right person in your ear telling you that you can sue for this or that, it can get to you. Unfortunately, when people are hurt, they do things. The God’s Property lawsuit was really about God’s Property and the record label, and because I took them to the label, they felt like I had something to do with them not being treated right by the label. But at the same time, I was spending a lot of my time trying to defend myself when it comes to stuff like that. God has always worked out in my defense. When things get big, things get ugly. Unfortunately, the group broke up and we are not together anymore.

I have learned that everyone is not built for the vehicle. It’s different when you are all in a small church singing for the Lord than when you are on BET, MTV, and the Grammy’s. It’s another game and everyone is not built for that transition. However, they are not bad people. They are great people. God gave me the gift of a songwriter and in the business, a songwriter will get paid before anybody else gets paid. And if you are not taught that, you will get real bitter.

AHHA: Is there anything else that would like to say to your fans?

Kirk Franklin: No, I just thank you for allowing me talk to you so late, and thank you guys for the interview. Thank you so much.

Three 6 Mafia Win First Oscar; Make Hip-Hop History

An uncharacteristically exuberant Three 6 Mafia won an Oscar Award at The 78th Academy Awards last night (Mar. 5) in Los Angeles, California.

The awards took place at the Kodak Theatre and were televised with a 5-second delay on the ABC network.

Three 6 Mafia, made history as the first rap group to ever perform at the Academy Awards.

The group also won an Oscar for Best Song, for "Its Hard Out Here For A Pimp," a tune they wrote and produced for the movie Hustle & Flow. Hustle & Flow star Terrence Howard originally recorded the song under the rap name D-Jay, but declined to perform it at the Academy Awards.

Three 6 Mafia performed in their normal Hip-Hop garb, but the stage scene was set in the Memphis streets with actors and dancers sashaying as pimps and prostitutes across the stage. The performance also featured a cameo by actress Taraji P. Henson, who sang the hook on the original song and during the live performance.

The group bested stiff competition in their field, beating out "In The Deep" from the movie Crash, which won Best film of the Year.

Group members Jordan "Juicy J" Houston thanked Jesus, while Paul "DJ Paul" Bauregard "thanked everybody," including their mothers, distributor Select-O-Hits, the Academy, Ludacris, actor George Clooney and others. Darnell "Crunchy Black" Carlton and others were on stage as well.

The crowd gave the Hip-Hop group a rousing round of applause and a few quips came from in the aftermath of the show.

"You know what? I think it just got a little easier out here for a pimp," Stewart joked after the group accepted their award. "How come they are the most excited people here? They are thrilled. That’s how you accept an Oscar.”

"Martin Scorsese [the legendary filmmaker] zero Oscars – Three 6 Mafia, one!" Stewart joked.

Later in the evening, talk show host Jimmy Kimmel cracked his own jokes on a special edition of his ABC late show. “I guess those guys are gonna melt the [Oscar] statues down and make [gold] teeth," he said.

Hustle & Flow revolves around the life of a small-time Memphis, Tennessee pimp, who aspires to be a rapper amidst a mid-life crisis.

Worst Fears Confirmed

Artist: VakillTitle: Worst Fears ConfirmedRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: illseed

Darkness is what’s missing from Hip-Hop and that isn’t in reference to the complexion of the rappers doing it. These days, Hip-Hop is one big happy-go-lucky circus of confection, whether your love is killing your own people, doing drugs or just ignoring social issues.

Vakill isn’t a clown and he’s certainly not one to visit the circus.

The Chicago rapper is just one of the many MC’s blowing out of the Windy City with a variance that begs to be called the new home of Hip-Hop. Vakill’s sophomore album, Worst Fears Confirmed, (Molemen Inc.) is a testament that all isn’t sweet, despite the love of “Laffy Taffy.”

Production first. Panik and Memo, the chief beat maestros of The Molemen, immediately set the dark tone of Worst Fears Confirmed and produced the majority of Vakill’s tracks. So, when Vakill rap’s about a preacher’s plight after the murder of his family by drug dealers on “Acts of Vengeance,” the beats are as haunting as anything Freddie and Jason ever did. A similar example is the Chi-Town anthem “Cold War,” where Vakill boasts, “[Chicago is] a place where you can’t wear Lotto, where tomorrow hammers will turn you into a milk cartoon print model.” Vakill continues to paint his blackened motif on songs like “Man Into Monster,” which features Vizion, “Heart Bleeds” and “No Mercy,” among others.

Lyrically Vakill runs circles around his peer group. At times, he sounds like a younger mixture of Rass Kass and Royce Da 5’9”, both of which ironically appear on Worst Fears Confirmed. He’ll probably destined to be pigeonholed a “backpacker” or a “punchline emcee,” but there is more to this self-proclaimed “beast,” exemplified on “Flow Fever,” “King Meets The Sickest,” which features Royce. And, while he never truly lightens up, he and Rass Kass showcase a more jovial being on “Introducin’”. An opposite notion could be said for the somber sentiments of “Farewell to the Game” and “When Was The Last Time,” both of which counter the aforementioned stereotype.

Some may critique that Vakill is one-dimensional or not that of the masses, but that’s gift in disguise for this reviewer. Hip-Hop has more than enough so-called versatile rappers that attempt to cover all markets in one album only to create a soggy version of their former selves. Vakill expands his creativity enough to pull in more people, but not enough to cry corny or sell out.

Here’s to colder, darker days.

Jimmy “Henchmen” Rosemond: Out of the Shadows Part One

J

immy Henchmen’s name has been met with equal parts fear and contempt since Tupac venomously barked the emerging mogul’s name on “Against All Odds,” a creative highpoint of the rapper’s Makaveli album. A decade later, Jimmy Rosemond attempts to shake the negative notions about him in exchange for the numerous positive strides he’s made as a businessman and person.

As the CEO of Czar Entertainment, The 40-year-old manages the careers of The Game, Mario Winans, Brandy, Smitty, Trillville, Sharissa and has recently visited his native Haiti to help underprivileged children from the L’Athletique d’Haiti soccer program. Henchmen’s aspirations, which include feature films, may be stunted if a recent conviction doesn’t go well at sentencing. In January 2006, Rosemond was found guilty of beating a Washington D.C. disc jockey during an appearance with his artist The Game. He maintains his innocence, but admits to facing a jagged crossroads on his road to resurgence.

Find infamy, insight and inspiration in the ever-changing story of Jimmy “Henchmen” Rosemond.

AllHipHop.com: Ethan Browne’s book, Queens Reigns Supreme came out last year, what were your thoughts on that, you were interviewed for the book, right?

Jimmy Henchmen: Nah, I was interviewed for [another] article, and they used some of my statements from that in the book. I’m really upset that I’m portrayed in the light that [the author] portrayed me, and that was a small issue that we dealt with. I’m learning more and more that if this is what writers really want to write about, this ain’t what I’m really about. I don’t make the kind of money I make yearly from beef – really, it hurts my image you know what I’m saying.

AllHipHop.com: Right, right.

Jimmy Henchmen: I’m not the East Coast version of Suge Knight. I’m far from it. In fact, I’m trying to find somebody right now who can say I hung ‘em out a window or made them sign a bad contract, so that some of these rumors could at least be somewhat factually true. I mean, outside of this [Washington DC] radio incident, – which was all lies – outside of that, there was nothing on my record to show that I’m that kind of person that people are really trying to portray me to be. And I just attribute that ‘cause people want a villain in the business, and I guess then that I became that villain.

AllHipHop.com: You had a comment for Suge Knight at one point, “Suge didn’t want any problems with me,” or something along those lines. Do you remember saying that?

Jimmy Henchmen: Yeah, I remember saying that. Back then, I should be n***as’ hero for saying that, you know what I’m saying. You got the schoolyard bully, and you got one guy is not only willing but able to pass it to him. And I have always been confronted with the situation, and he’s never, ever [done anything]. I’m a small dude [too]. I came up fighting the bully. I’m always with the underdog. I’ve never liked the way he did his, I’ve never liked it. Our paths have crossed several times and that’s been the vibe always, you know the bully never wants to fight the n***a back, who’s ready to fight him. But those are the battles I’d rather fight, you know, [than] f**king [DJ] Zxulu. I need 15 n***as to whip yo’ ass, come on, come on, man. It ain’t even in my demeanor till a n***a say something to me, and then I just go off and just whip his ass like that, that ain’t even what I’m about man. [When] I grew up in the late ‘70s, early ‘80s, at least a f**king punk just stood in a punk’s place.

AllHipHop.com: Yeah, do you think that image of a villian has helped you at all, in some other ways?

Jimmy Henchmen: I think that image has got me convicted in the state of Maryland. It’s cool and fun, and it’s like it’s wrestling, but it ain’t cool and fun when this n***a is being prosecuted and persecuted for that image. I believe the government has been trying to do to me all my life since I’ve been a kid, a troublesome kid coming up.

AllHipHop.com: How do you look back on the radio station incident now?

Jimmy Henchmen: You know, I don’t even hate [DJ Zxulu]. I’m just a little upset that he let himself be used like that. Because if he wanted to sue, that was one thing. But him trying to send me to the penitentiary, that’s a whole other issue. We agreed to fight, and I don’t know how a fight turns into an assault.

AllHipHop.com: Right, right. Now what does this mean to you legally? I know you have a previous record, I heard you’re facing about ten years but aside from that —

Jimmy Henchmen: I’m not facing 10 years. See that’s the thing that people fail to realize you, the charge carries up to 10 years, but I’m not taking 10 years.

AllHipHop.com: Okay.

Jimmy Henchmen: If the kid had a broken rib, if the kid had a broken jaw, if the kid was pissing blood like he had claimed he was in his initial statement, – then I may have to face 10 years. But [from the] evidence that came out, he was given two Motrin’s, and sent home. [He was] in the hospital for three hours, and I’m sure two hours of that was waiting on the doctor, you know. And you know medical reports show that nothing was wrong with him.

AllHipHop.com: There seems to be a perception that you know, everybody that went to jail is now coming in to the game, either as a rapper or an executive. Is this true or is this just a misconception, you know how do you feel about that?

Jimmy Henchmen: I definitely feel there’s a misconception. It’s the industry’s responsibility of how they market the artists – and I mean, I may be to blame of that also for Game. I mean, there’s other people to blame for 50 [and other artists]. It worked for ‘Pac. It worked for 50, and then it worked for Game as a gang-banger. People have tried to use those things to market and promote their artists. We are in a time of reality TV, where people are going into people’s homes, and wanting to see real life.

AllHipHop.com: So moving on, what’s good on The Game’s album?

Jimmy Henchmen: We’re trying to slate for June 6, 06, 2006 [or 6/6/06] Because the name of the album is Doctor’s Advocate, not The Devil’s Advocate. We’re looking to destroy all haters and non-believers. So that’s why 666, 06/06/06 is an opportune date for the “Doctor’s Advocate.” You know so we’re hoping for that and we’re hoping to complete a Brandy’s album we’re working on right now. We’re also looking at a Smitty record on J Records.

AllHipHop.com: Do you think there’s a perception that people believe that a sophomore slump may hit The Game? Plus, there were a lot of the forces that were behind him initially?

Jimmy Henchmen: We’re looking to dispel all of those messages, and all of those [beliefs] on that date. I wish I could give you a good [taste] of what the kid’s album sounds like because it’s definitely, it’s definitely the making of a classic all over again, without some of the elements that was involved before, you know. In fact, when you got the good [Dr. Dre] it’s hard to really know what’s the real element behind this whole album anyway. We’re just waiting for Dr. Dre to sprinkle some of his medicine on it.

AllHipHop.com: Now, will Game chill on the G-Unit stuff?

Jimmy Henchmen: Yeah, absolutely. It’s taken its course. You know one of the bigger fears that Game had in the beginning when the whole G-Unite campaign started was that, we’ve all witnessed what 50 was allowed – and you know, I say that with exclamation mark – that’s what 50 was allowed to do. At that time, Ja Rule was running things and Murder Inc. was running things, and then there’s a little outbreak in one of the parish, but you get wind of it, but you don’t even really pay it no mind. And you don’t know that, that little rumble can turn into the overthrow of the whole empire. And we watched how 50 was allowed to do that to Murder Inc. So all we did was take the lesson that 50 taught us, and we seen how easily he can mash a person. We didn’t allow him to do that with Game. Game is a viable artist. And it would have been easy for him to do that so we went on a campaign too. And so we didn’t go, you know for 50, we just went after the brand.

AllHipHop.com: Did you ever have any issues with Interscope? At one point, there were rumors that 50 commanded them not to mess with The Game anymore…

Jimmy Henchmen: The rumors were all from 50. Those wasn’t real rumors, you know? My conversations with the head of Interscope always was “How could we drop a guy who sold four million records?” Come on, [Game] generated $40 million dollars for us, says drop him and give him to somebody else because of 50, come on? It was almost like everybody was saying, Jay-Z was gonna diss Game at his [“I Declare War”] concert, and [meanwhile], I’m having conversation with Jay-Z and he’s like, “Man, what? I ain’t doing that s**t, man, f**k,” you know what I mean? People put those rumors out there. It was never no real rumors. But I believe that you know 50 and his crew put those rumors out there to try to weaken Game, and in fact, it only has made this kid’s album the most anticipated.

AllHipHop.com: Right, what did you think of 50’s reply diss?

Jimmy Henchmen: That sure enough wasn’t the half of the [potency of] “300 Bars,” so I mean what we’re finding out now, even myself, even Interscope, even 50 is that Game is a better lyricist than we kind of thought he was before.

AllHipHop.com: Tell us how you lined up with Brandy…

Jimmy Henchmen: You know what, it’s funny you would say that because that’s the first thing people kind of think when they see us together or even see us, you know they hear about you know that we hooked up. You know the thing is, is that, you know artists sometimes need new ideas, and innovative ideas, and ideas that isn’t of the ordinary idea, you know. And they need people round ‘em to take chances and stuff like that. So, in my opinion, I think Brandy, the best move of getting somebody like me because I’m not the traditional thinker in the music business. Brandy is a real down to earth person who went through ordinary things, except that she’s on TV everyday, while we don’t really see her as that. Maybe some people look at her as a spoiled brat but, you know even me when I got to meet her and get to really know her, she’s really down to earth and goes through the ordinary stuff that regular girls go through, [like] heartbreak. She done had a baby out of wedlock and how many, that’s what a lot of the hood girls go through but, man, she’s going through that and in Hollywood lifestyle, even with that clean living.

AllHipHop.com: She’s at a pivotal image point in her career.

Jimmy Henchmen: The thing with Brandy is that she’s in that crossroad of people remembering her as the little girl, and now Brandy done grew up and she’s in that kind of space where people don’t know how to take her. So you know, I really see Brandy as the next Whitney Houston. As that, she can put that gown on and put a mic in front of her and blow her heart out and I can also see her as the girl in the jeans, you know what I’m saying? So, you know you take those two elements together you can definitely have a great all around album that can sell a lot of records worldwide.

Jimmy “Henchmen” Rosemond: Out of the Shadows Part Two

AllHipHop.com: A lot of people feel like you and 50 have your own legal situation, a lot of people feel that you know, you kind of put a battle in Game with that to be your vocal piece.

Jimmy Henchmen: No. No, all I did, all I did was assist in the battle in the war. I’m a general at heart. And so I told ‘em how to fight the war. And obviously, we fought a war that was efficient.

AllHipHop.com: A big part of that was the G-Unot campaign…

Jimmy Henchmen: We knew if we could attack his brand, if when people saw a G-Unit they thought of G-Unot that that would affect him more. ‘Cause we knew we couldn’t topple 50. [But], if we tackled the whole G-Unit thing, that we would definitely penetrate something, and it worked. He paid it no mind, he didn’t think G-Unot would grow, but it definitely did and it stopped him from making Game irrelevant.

AllHipHop.com: Now I remember Jayo Felony who, an artist you were associated with at Motown, attacked Jay-Z on “True’d Up.” Did you ever catch any flack for that?

Jimmy Henchmen: Oh, absolutely. It killed a lot of relationships. Jayo [and I are still] pretty cool now. We’ve done business together. We talk occasionally, but yeah, I mean at that time, sometimes we have to go through those things and you know you don’t win every battle but you know, as long as you fight sometimes. And there was reasons why things like that happened and you know, it’s I’m glad that those things are behind us at this point.

AllHipHop.com: That album, Bulletproof Love Volume 1 was how a lot of people learned about you…

Jimmy Henchmen: Yeah, you gotta remember my main niche in the game has, was always really consultant. And there’s [been] a lot of behind the scene things that people didn’t really know that I was behind. A lot of things musically you know, that I was involved with guys that didn’t really know like where, what’s has this to do, what makes money. One of the things that was real lucrative to me was the “How Can I Be Down” which was like really what made me friends with everybody, because every year people had to deal with me. I had to go to every company, and really solicit their acts and showcases. They knew from that and then you know, I had to [managed producer] Mark Spark, who did various hits for Grand Puba, for Salt-N-Pepa, and Mary J, Blige and stuff like that. And at the same time, I had [R&B group] Groove Theory.

AllHipHop.com: Now let me ask you, are you still managing Trillville?

Jimmy Henchmen: Yes.

AllHipHop.com: Have you talked to Don P about his condition?

Jimmy Henchmen: Yeah, it’s an unfortunate situation of some people just being targeted. We have to reserve judgment on things like that, and wait for the facts to come out. Because if people was at my trial, I’m sure people have an idea in they heads that I had this kid under the console stomping him out because he said something about my earpiece. But at trial, you know, the fact-finding situation you know, you see that it was a mutual fight and you know he taunted me into that.

AllHipHop.com: With Hip-Hop though, it seems like artists do things that you know, get shot or shooting or a legal case, it’s like publicity now, you know what I’m saying. So I think it goes both ways where the artists also use the, you know the media.

Jimmy Henchmen: Well we seen that, we seen that with ‘Pac. ‘Pac was the ultimate person who without that rape case, then the beef with Biggie. You know, seeing him being wheel-chaired into a court room after allegedly being shot five times is more better than saying, “‘Pac shot himself and he used this as a stunt to get sympathy from a jury.”

AllHipHop.com: We’ve all heard that ‘Pac could’ve shot himself. Why, in your opinion, has nobody ever reported on that possibility?

Jimmy Henchmen: It’s a small voice. You want to hear the facts? Let me say it to you, Andre Harrell was there. You want to hear the facts – let him say it to you. But because our voice is so small, and ‘Pac was so big, it didn’t make no sense. You want to put in your records you been shot five times and all of that? Then that’s you dude. Like, what the f**k? I didn’t know that that s**t was coming back and f**ker would say I had something to do with it.

AllHipHop.com: Do you think your name will ever be unaffiliated with Tupac? I mean “Against Our Lives” is one of my favorite songs, you know what I’m saying.

Jimmy Henchmen: Hot ass record, I just, I just wish he was alive to explain it to people, you know what I mean? We never got that explanation. We never got a chance to say. “Hey, records are against all odds. What did you mean by that? You mentioned a lot of names in that record.” We never got a chance, how we do with Game or 50 when they dropping out. That’s where the mystery comes in. That’s where the villain comes in at. That’s where the, you know, like is my last words, my last dying words are this.

AllHipHop.com: Yeah, right, right.

Jimmy Henchmen: I’m learning to live with it, man, and I’m trying to make my work ethic and my business etiquette man. supersede [this stigma]. There’s no way that I ran a guy like Game and break a guy like Game, if I’m just a street thug. There’s no way that I ran artists like Brandy, if I’m just a street thug and don’t have no kind of business and have any kind of business etiquette to deal with people, and land the deals that I do. It seems like no matter how loud did I tell people, “Okay forget the name, Jimmy Henchmen,” [I’m made] into a villain thing. I’m really Jimmy Rosemond. I wouldn’t even be alive today if I was the snake and the villain and the dark side of the music business that our guys really try to make me be.

AllHipHop.com: It’s just, the way I guess the industry runs.

Jimmy Henchmen: But like I said earlier, can one person stand up and say, “Hey, this n***a gave me a bad contract. Hey, this n***ga f**king thugged me outta my publishing”? I’m the go-to guy with s**t, that’s f**ked up. When n***as got problems with they record companies, when n***as got problems with contracts guess who they come to?

AllHipHop.com: On another note, you’ve had a near death situation, right?

Jimmy Henchmen: I just walked into a situation, and no my friend got away, and I was shot three times.

AllHipHop.com: When you go through something like that does that change your life?

Jimmy Henchmen: It made me a lot more aware of a lot of things. I handled kids at that time, you know what I’m saying. You know and they do more things, a little more responsible and you know it made me do things a whole lot more responsible, made me think twice about a whole lot of things. And it showed how easy that was among friends for things like that to happen.

AllHipHop.com: From your point of view the whole thing with Game and his brother, Big Fase 100…do you have any thoughts on that or insight on that situation?

Jimmy Henchmen: My prayers are with both of them on that one, because I don’t know how to deal with stuff like that. You know I attribute it to the Cain and Abel man, – one brother against the other. I think a lot of it has to do with jealousy. I just pray that it works itself out and I don’t know why every time, you know there’s a problem people feel that they need to air it out through me. Like to me that’s, I don’t know how much points you really get off of that.

AllHipHop.com: So what’s for Jimmy Henchmen and what’s the future looking like?

Jimmy Henchmen: You know right now, you know especially with the turmoil man, I’m starting to feel like Mike Tyson right now. It’s a situation that comes up or even a rapper but where there’s always just some kind of turmoil, you know. I’m gonna just stay positive man, and if I can, be an example. I’m big on going into the penitentiary, talking to the youth because I just remember when I was adolescent, it was really nobody who use to come in there and try to give us advice on how to change our life and that’s one of the things that I’ve been trying to do. And being very instrumental in going back to Riker’s Island and going back talking to these kids man and the people and saying, “Hey. I sat right here where y’all was at, and this is what I do now.” And this one of the reasons why I’m so upset with Ethan Browne about the article because I told him, I said, “Man, if you’re gonna tell my story, I need you to tell like the good s**t that I’m doing because there’s a lot of people who look at me at and remember I was in lockup with dudes, man. Dudes was facing two life sentences and he got out of that and changed his life around, I rather that story told than f**king Tupac who’s dead, and it’s twelve years old.” : I’d rather the story be told that how I climbed out of you know, the tribulation and the trouble in youth and really making my mind set and to where I’m at now, having rational and conscious conversations with people that all their lives always had rational and conscious conversations.

AllHipHop.com: Where will you be in ten years?

Jimmy Henchmen: In ten years, I hope I’m the success story. I hope I’m the guy who is the poster-child for these kids who’re coming up. “Look what he’s accomplished even after coming through that hole, you know that he was in.” I did a whole lot of ignorant s**t in my days, brother. And I’m not proud of that. But this, what I’m doing right now, I’m definitely proud of that.

Techniec & Dynamic Certified: Streets of LBC

F ans of West Coast music and Hip-Hop aficionados can remember Techniec introducing himself to the rap world by ripping a guest spot on “Keep It Real” from Snoop Dogg’s Tha Doggfather LP back in 1997. Brief stints on Doggystyle and Hoo Bangin’ Records that were ended due to creative differences and industry politics left many fans wondering what happened to Long Beach’s heir apparent who proclaimed that the game was his but no one knew it yet. In this past year, Tech’s name has been hot again, through a short-lived affiliation with Black Wall Street. However, Techneic spoke to AllHipHop.com about his new group, and other plans.

Dynamic Certified, a next-up crew of battle tested partners in rhyme consisting of himself, Jerzey-J, J-Rydah, Rue-Rue, Krunch and Pac-Ten. This is a group who’s underground-friendly, and mainstream hungry. Never ones to mince words, the crew spoke to AllHipHop.com about the movement that is Dynamic Certified, the current state of Hip-Hop and putting the West Coast back on the map.

AllHipHop.com: Techniec, you’ve had stints on Doggystyle and Hoo-Bangin, both of which ended due to creative differences, can you speak on that?

Techniec: Ultimately, at the end of the day, I don’t think those dudes really knew how to market me as an artist. Aside from that, the Hoo Bangin’ situation got dismantled due to the fact that Priority Records got bought out by Capitol Records. Rather than me get caught up in the pipeline while they ironed out all of the legal stuff and risking my project fail on behalf of that, I just opted not to even finish the album. It was all a mutual business decision, and we just went on and did our own thing from there. It wasn’t no love lost or any of that-I actually hollered at Mack 10 not too long ago, and we’re still good. Right now, I’m just trying to spread my wings and get this Dynamic Certified movement going and work on this Black Wall Street project.

AllHipHop.com: Having been through that, what is the proper way to market Dynamic Certified and yourself as a soloist?

Techniec: It’s the streets, man. We target the streets, and everybody else can grasp on to that afterward. A lot of times, once you get in the game, they try to market it from an industry perspective. At the end of the day, the streets have the final say, so we’re going straight to the streets. I don’t want to have to go into a meeting and have someone tell me what I need to be doing from a marketing or executive standpoint, all they’re looking at is numbers and I refused to be pigeonholed.

AllHipHop.com: What is going to be different about this project than with the proposed M.O.B. on Black Wall Street?

Techniec: Me and [The] Game are around the same age group. We’ve all sat back and seen the way the West Coast has risen and fell, and we’ve seen our setbacks. Coming from a fan’s perspective we can see what needs to be changed. I respect him for being a rebel and riding for the West Coast and putting the whole coast on his back. I feel like I’m the same way, just on a more underground level.

AllHipHop.com: With Snoop doing the whole “Protect The West” conference do you see some additional doors being opened up for yourselves?

Krunch: Techniec got involved some, we couldn’t make it down there, but as far as the movement we’re with that.

Techniec: I don’t really have no comment on that man. I was there and it seemed more like a West Coast reunion to me. I’m not sure what it really helped at the end of the day. It displayed a form of unity on the West and it appeared that we were really pushing our line for both the old generation and the new generation. I’m just trying to play my part as far as being in this new West Coast movement. Going on the How The West Was Won tour was a good look that stemmed from the conference.

AllHipHop.com: What led to the roster/name changes within Dynamic Certified?

Pac-Ten: We just weren’t meshing as a group, people had different agendas. Some people saw a little success and took it the wrong way, so we basically just destroy and rebuild. For the most part, the nucleus of the group is still together.

AllHipHop.com: The West Coast often gets a bad reputation as far as the whole “gansta rap” thing, but a lot of you got your start freestyling and battling-any memorable battle stories?

Pac-Ten: Me and Techniec been doing this for a minute, listening to old Ice-T tapes and Tone-Loc. We used to do our thing off of those instrumentals.

Krunch: We’ve done a gang of [California radio] stuff, Power 106, KDAY, 100.3 The Beat, 99.1, we’re just basically trying to do it big. I’ve done the underground scene before, LeMert Park. I been down there with Aceyalone and a bunch of other cats, we definitely do our thing. Freestyling out here is different than in the East though, out here we’re coming straight off the top. Over there they’ll kick a verse, but it’ll be over a different beat. I love this Hip-Hop s**t man, some cats don’t even know the five elements of Hip-Hop!

AllHipHop.com: In an earlier interview, Pac-Ten spoke about not wanting to be categorized as “gangsta” rap. You’ve also worked with Rhettmatic and Babu of the Beat Junkies, are you afraid of getting labeled as a “backpacker” or underground group?

Jersey-J: I don’t really pay that any attention, I just feel like we represent the streets. We’re not backpack at all, I’ll deny that to the fullest-we represent this beautiful struggle.

Techniec: I’m from the West Coast, born and raised, Long Beach, California. I’ve been around the gangsters, thugs and hustlers as well as the scholars and athletes. I do the music that I feel and live, I’m not a gangster and I’ve never portrayed myself that way. If anything I consider myself to be a rider, because I go against the grain.

AllHipHop.com: Krunch, you’re involved in a privately owned internationally distributed clothing and graphic design company, right?

Krunch: I started The Chronic Avengers back in 1992, it was just a little weed crew at first and then we built it into a t-shirt company. Now we do comic books and the mixtapes too, I’m a writer for one of the comic books. We’re trying to do things big over in Japan too.

AllHipHop.com: Were any of you offered any solo deals from other labels, major or otherwise?

Krunch: I’m doing some solo stuff. I got good looks from TVT and Virgin [records]. My manager got Lil’ Jon the deal with those [Oakley Thump] glasses. We’re trying to do it big, I’ve also got a movie out, it’s called The Hot Spot. It was a cool little flick it had the Tate Brothers, you know Larenz Tate from Menace II Society.

Pac-Ten: Right now, I haven’t even been entertaining that option. I’ve just been going hard with this Dynamic Certified project. I’m not even thinking about venturing out on any projects until we make that happen. The streets are asking for it so I give them a mixtape every now and then. I might put one out independently but that’s only after Dynamic Certified.

AllHipHop.com: You guys have been releasing mixtapes like crazy, how far along is the actual album?

Techniec: Look to see independent projects being released alongside of the mixtapes. We’re just going to keep flooding the streets and push that until it’s time to drop a major release from Dynamic Certified.

Jersey-J: The album is in the works, we’ll prove all the people who thought we were just on some mixtape s**t wrong. We’re almost done, we’ll probably work on about 10 or 15 more songs. Recording songs isn’t really a hard thing for us, so we’ll just keep recording and knocking them songs out.

AllHipHop.com: How did you guys get hooked up with Terry Kennedy and the Ice Cream Skate Team?

Techniec: T.K. is representing Long Beach the same as me. He’s like the Black Tony Hawk and he’s straight from the streets. We all from Long Beach and we’re going to push this line like no one else. People can be on the lookout for that mixtape coming soon.

AllHipHop.com: Any last words?

Krunch: Let’s make this movement man, it’s a lot of cats hating on the West Coast. The game is open for West Coast MC’s. It’s a lot of cats that don’t want to deal with us cats from Cali because we’re out here rowdy; snatching chains and all that, but at the same time, everybody ain’t doing that. Some n****s are really about this music, they wake up in the morning and this is what they do. You got people slangin CD’s trying to get on. On that note, f**k with n****s from Long Beach, it’s a new movement-Dynamic Certified.

Jersey-J: We definitely plan on being the face of this new West Coast, we feel like we’re the cream of the crop. It’s a lot of hating going on, but start looking for us because we’re coming.

Techniec: Hear only what you see. It’s a lot of bulls**t and rumors going on, n****s talking crazy, and talking real greasy. Look forward to Techniec, Dynamic Certified, Terry Kennedy, The Baka Boys and anything else that we’re affiliated with. This is a whole new movement and we demand respect.

For more information, visit – www.dynamiccertified.com.

Judge Upholds Temporary Restraining Order In Source Magazine Lawsuit

A New York Supreme

Court judge ruled to uphold a temporary injunction against Black Enterprise

and Textron Financial Corp. in the on going battle

for The Source magazine on Friday (Mar. 3).

Judge Richard B.

Lowe III upheld a temporary injunction granted last month, preventing Mays and

Scott’s shares of the company from being sold.

Textron Financial,

The Source’s bank, was attempting to auction the 82% majority share that

the magazine’s co-founders and chief executives, David Mays and Ray Benzino,

still control.

"We are pleased

with what happened," The Source co-founder Dave Mays told AllHipHop.com.

"It’s significant step in the lawsuit that we brought and we are looking

forward to taking the next couple of steps to getting things resolved and to

get The Source out of the nonsense that’s been distracting the company."

Mays and Scott

filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the Black Enterprise Greenwich

Street private equity fund in Feb., claiming board members colluded to steal

the magazine and illegally outsted the pair from their executive positions.

In April of 2002

The Black Enterprise Greenwich Street Fund acquired 18% of The Source

for $12 million dollars.

Mays and Scott

said Textron Financial loaned the magazine another $18 million dollars three

months after closing the Black Enterprise deal, at the behest of principals

from Black Enterprise.

In January, Mays

was terminated as CEO of the company, while Scott was fired from his position

as president. The two were replaced by Jeremy Miller, current CEO/president,

former COO and a longtime employee of the magazine.

Shortly after the

lawsuit, Textron Financial attempted to auction Mays and Scott’s shares in the

company but on Feb. 23, Judge Lowe granted a temporary injunction preventing

the sale of the stock, while he reviewed the facts in the case.

In early February,

Mays retained the law firm of Cole, Schotz, Meisel, Forman & Leonard P.A.,

to help regain control of the magazine he founded in 1988 out of his Harvard

University dorm room.

The injunction

will remain in place while the judge prepares his first written decision in

the multi-million dollar lawsuit, which also seeks to have Mays and Scott reinstated

to their positions in the company.

"We’ve never

given up our positions in the company, we have maintained that fact that we

are 82% owners. It’s suffice to say that the ruling was another successful step

[in] exposing some of the stuff that’s been going on behind the scenes,"

Mays continued. "When I got in the business with Black Enterprise, I trusted

them and thought they were in it for the betterment of both parties. It’s unfortunate

to see it has come to this point."

Miller, the current

CEO said that the chances were slim that Mays and Scott would ever return to

the magazine on a day-to-day basis.

"I believe

in the legal team Black Enterprise group has assembled," Miller said. "We

have complete confidence that any legal maneuvers that Dave and Benzino will

attempt in the future will be shut down."

Representatives

for Black Enterprise were not available at press time.

Mitchy Slick Teams With Muggs’ Angeles Records To Release New Album

DJ Muggs’ Angeles Records has announced a deal with San Diego rapper Mitchy Slick to release the rapper’s sophomore album, Urban Survival Syndrome.

The album is the follow up to Mitchy Slick’s 2001 debut Triggeration Station and will feature production by Fredwreck, DJ Muggs and DJ Khalil.

According to Mitchy Slick, his association with DJ Muggs came about as a member of Strong Arm Steady, a group that features Xzibit, Krondon and Phil the Agony.

After working with DJ Khalil and building a strong business relationship with DJ Muggs, Mitchy Slick decided to release his album via Angeles.

“My thing was that Muggs and them got a steady track record of keeping they businesses

running,” Mitchy Slick said. “I peeped they style and how they get down it wasn’t like most of these labels that’s really a gang or ‘hood or family-oriented

Queen Latifah, John Travolta Cast In ‘Hairspray’ Update

Queen Latifah and John Travolta have been cast to star in New Line Cinema’s upcoming remake of the 1988 film, Hairspray

The musical, which takes place in 1962, is set to begin production in Baltimore and Toronto, Canada in Sept. and will be directed by Adam Shankman.

In the original version, which was a non-musical movie released in 1988, character Tracy Turnblad realizes her dream of becoming a regular on the Corny Collins Dance Show.

She uses her new found fame to speak out against segregation and comes head to head with her racist rival in a competition for Miss Auto Show 1963.

Travolta will play a woman in the role of Edna Turnblad, first played by actor Harvey Fierstein, who won a Tony Award for his performance.

Latifah will star as “Motormouth Maybelle,” a civil rights activist and dance show host.

The rapper reprises the role originally played by legendary R&B singer Ruth Brown.

Latifah will be reunited with Shankman, who directed Bringing Down The House, as well as Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who executive produced Chicago.

“She’s [Queen Latifah] one of the few actresses who can play a dynamic character like this and sing a big show-stopping ballad,” Zadan told Variety. “And Neil and I have been talking to John [Travolta] for more than a year, before he came to the conclusion that Hairspray. met his criteria for his return in an unexpected event vehicle.”

Producers are currently searching the nation for an actress to play the character Tracy Turnblad, which was played by actress/talk show host Ricki Lake.

The Broadway musical play Hairspray has grossed over $150 million dollars since opening in 2002.

Hairspraywill debut in Summer of 2007.

Cassidy Home From Jail

Rapper Cassidy was released from a Philadelphia prison yesterday (Mar. 2) after serving eight months.

The rapper, born Barry Reese, had been incarcerated since June 2005, when he was preparing to release his sophomore album, I’m A Hustla.

He was eventually put on trial for his role in the murder of Desmond Hawkins, 22, and was subsequently convicted of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of aggravated assault, as well as possession of an instrument of crime.

Cassidy was found guilty of negligence, for providing the guns and ammunition that eventually killed Hawkins.

The rapper was released yesterday from the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility.

He released a statement shortly after being cleared of the more serious, attempted murder charge in January 2006. 

“While I am pleased that I was cleared of the murder charges, my satisfaction is not long-lasting, because of the death of someone who I considered to be my friend, Des Hawkins,” he stated. “And while I am eager to resume my career as a recording artist, writer and performer, I am also eager to be reunited with my family, friends, and fans.”

Representatives for Cassidy said the rapper will start recording his untitled third album shortly.

Lupe Fiasco Speaks on New Projects

Lupe Fiasco is

bringing more to the rap game than show-stealing cameos and great lyrics. The

23-year-old product of Chicago’s west side, whose debut album Food and Liquor

drops this spring on Atlantic Records, is also pushing street clothes, a radio

show and a record label.

Fiasco co-founded

the label, 1st and 15th, with a manager of his former group Da Pak after their

deal with Epic Records fell through.

Fiasco currently

serves as the label’s vice president. The rapper is also promoting his own apparel

through ventures with various companies, many of them based overseas.

"I’m real

heavy into street wear, got a lot of collaborations and stuff in Asia,"

said the former underground rapper, who admitted to working with companies in

Hong Kong, Singapore and London.

Stateside, Fiasco

recently completed a deal with Reebok for his own shoe. The devout Muslim and

jazz fan is collaborating with Mila Wang and Mike Jones for a campaign as well

as St. Alfred, a Chicago-based shop, and BGK.

Fiasco admits that

his side hustle has "took me to more places then Hip-Hop has." "I

got stuff in different exhibits around the world, so I just did five shows in

Southeast Asia with some of my shoes and some toys and some tape decks and stuff

like that."

When he’s not touring

overseas with his street wear, Fiasco can be found on the airwaves hosting FNF

Radio, a college radio show on 88.9 FM in Chicago, with his friend Bishop G.

The one-hour to hour-and-a-half show is broadcast live on Monday nights and

streamed online at Radio.IT.edu.

"It’s real

unprofessional, and we stick to that," Fiasco revealed, adding that the

show averages "five, six thousand listeners."

With the show’s

liberal atmosphere, Fiasco says anything can happen, from playing music to giving

away clothes to talking to fans and keeping them "abreast on what’s going

on."

Funkmaster Flex Announces Car & Bike Show Dates

Funkmaster Flex and

Team Baurtwell recently announced the lineup and tour dates for the 5th Annual

Funkmaster Flex Custom Car and Bike Show Tour.

The veteran DJ

and car enthusiast will make eight stops along the eastern seaboard of the United

States, backed by performances from LL Cool J, Juelz Santana, Rev. Run, Pitbull,

Jim Jones, Xzibit, Jadakiss, Styles P. and others.

Fat Joe will participate

in the Edison, N.J., tour stop, where he will host The International Sneaker

Battle. There, sneaker aficionados will compete and be judged on a variety of

categories for creative designs.

"This year’s

Car Show Tour is shaping up to be the biggest, baddest show we have ever done,"

Funkmaster Flex said. "We have the biggest names in the music and automotive

worlds, along with the hottest custom car’s and bikes on the planet, coming

together for the hottest car show out there."

Tour dates are

below:

Toronto (March

10-12)

Daytona Beach, Fla. (March 18)

Edison, N.J. (June 24)

Hartford, Conn. (July 22)

Ocean City, Md. (Aug. 5-6)

Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Aug. 19-20)

Atlantic City, N.J. (Sep. 9)

Atlanta (Sep. 16 & 17)