Rapper Cassidy
and R&B legend Stevie Wonder are among the guests featured on singer Tyrese
Gibson’s second Hip-Hop mixtape Ghetto Royalty. The 21-track disc, released
under Gibson’s rap moniker Black Ty, is the follow-up to the crooner’s first mixtape
offering, Best of Both Hoods Volume 1, which was hosted by DJ Warrior.
Gibson recruited DJ S&S as the host for Ghetto Royalty, which also
features appearances from Kurupt, Memphis Bleek, Big Tigger, Bishop Lamont, Erick
Sermon, Ali, A-B, Curtains, Mane-O, and My Conscious. Since debuting as Black
Ty last year, Gibson has worked with a variety of producers, including Sermon,
Scott Storch, Mannie Fresh, Jazze Pha, and Jermaine Dupri. Ghetto Royalty
will precede the singer/MC’s forthcoming double album, Alter Ego, scheduled
to hit stores Dec. 5. Fans can download Ghetto Royalty in its entirety
for free for a limited time at headquarterentertainment.com.The
producer of Fresno Uncensored, a video portraying gang life in northern
CA, was ordered to stand trial on two felony weapons charges for allegedly supplying
gang members with guns during the making of the film. According to the Associated
Press,
Lonnell "Nitti" Greene, 29, released the 91-minute DVD in2005, depicting gang members in confrontations with police, showing off gang tattoos,
and growing marijuana. "A great percentage of the video contains criminal
acts," Fresno police detective Ron Flowers testified Thursday (Sept. 21)
in Fresno County Superior Court. Greene and his business associate, Marshall Day,
said they made the film for entertainment purposes only, and that one of its main
focuses was to showcase local Hip-Hop artists. They also claimed there was no
intent to promote gangs or violence. If convicted, Greene faces up to eight years
in prison on weapons charges with gang enhancements. As of Friday, he was being
held in county jail in lieu of $150,000 bail.Minister
Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam, will relinquish the day-to-day
operations of the group due to immediate health concerns. The 73-years-old spiritual
leader, who was treated for prostate cancer in 2000, revealed that last March
doctors in Cuba discovered an "ulcer in the a### area." According to
reports, Farrakhan has lost over 20 pounds in the past six weeks. Doctors at Howard
University discovered that he was dehydrated and anemic and had incurred a serious
infection and inflammation. Farrakhan has canceled all public appearances, and
the operations of the Nation of Islam will be handled by the group’s executive
board. Farrakhan has been instrumental in mediating several high profile disputes
in the Hip-Hop community. In 1994, he facilitated dialog between feuding rappers
Ice Cube and Common and in 2003 he mediated a violent feud between 50 Cent and
Ja Rule. He was also the keynote speaker for the first ever Hip-Hop Summit, which
took place in 2001.The
Soul Assassins–DJ Muggs, DJ Khalil, and Chace Infinite–are resurrecting their
once-happening Unity Festival with a series of monthly concerts beginning Nov.
2 at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood, CA. Muggs says the events have been essential
to Los Angeles as "an integral part of the artistic community, as well as
something that has been missing, and is needed." Rapper Ras Kass and producer
the Alchemist will take the stage for their first joint performance at the festival,
which will also include sets by Self Scientific–who will join Sick Symphonies–and
a special surprise guest who will combine forces with Strong Arm Steady. Originally
started under the name Unity in 1991 by William Lanakila Operin, aka "Bigga
B," the Unity Festival has featured headliners such as Wu-Tang Clan, Nas,
Busta Rhymes, Pharcyde, Freestyle Fellowship, Jay Z, Hieroglyphics, and Boot Camp
Click. The concert quickly developed a reputation that sprang from its community
atmosphere and the quality of the performing artists.