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February 28, 2001 Women Rappers' Rivalry Apparently Sparks NY Shooting
Rivalry between women rappers Lil' Kim and Foxy Brown apparently sparked a shootout on Sunday outside a New York hip-hop radio station in which 21 bullets were fired and one man was wounded, police said on Tuesday.
Investigators said the shooting erupted when Kim, a 4-foot-11-inch tall rapper known for her blond wig and raunchy lyrics, was leaving the Hot 97 studio just as rapper Capone, one half of the duo Capone-N-Noreaga arrived.
A friend of Capone's named Efrain Ocasio, who was wounded in Sunday afternoon's shootout in Greenwich Village, told police they were going into the studio when a group of men arrived and opened fire. Ocasio was released from the hospital on Monday.
Last year Brown, 21, another woman rapper known for sexually explicit lyrics, recorded a song called "Big Bang" verbally attacking Kim on Capone-N-Noreaga's album "The Reunion." The track was an apparent response to Kim, 26, insulting Brown two years ago in a number called "Notorious K.I.M."
Police said five different guns were used in the shooting, which they suspect may have something to do with the rivalry between two of the biggest female stars in the hip-hop music industry. No arrests have been made.
Kim, who drove off in a limousine after the shooting started, referred detectives to her attorney when they visited her at her suburban New Jersey home, police said.
Her manager said in a statement on Monday that she and her bodyguards had nothing to do with the shooting.
"Lil' Kim and her security had nothing to do whatsoever with the incident at Hot 97," her manager said in the statement. "Lil' Kim had no knowledge of any argument or what instigated the gunfire."
Kim has recorded with hip-hop mogul Sean "Puffy" Combs, on trial on charges of illegal gun possession and bribery stemming from a 1999 shooting inside a New York night club. Her real name is Kimberly Jones and she was a protege of rapper Christopher "The Notorious B.I.G." Wallace, who was killed in Los Angeles in 1997.
Brown, whose real name is Inga Marchand, was not at the radio station Sunday, police said.
Michael Jackson Plans A Comeback
Dressed in an understated black suit, Michael Jackson stepped out of
his Neverland seclusion and onto the stage of a half filled Carnegie Hall
on Valentine's Day to introduce a celebrity panel featuring Johnnie
Cochran and Mother Love. The unlikely topic? "Love, Work, and
Parenting."
''With two children of my own, I know the difficulty of balancing
children and career -- and let's not even talk about the difficulty of
finding a date,'' said the reclusive star, whose son, Prince, 4, and
daughter, Paris, 2, did not attend the event. His admission of
availability prompted shrieks from approximately 100 poster toting,
bouquet tossing fans, who stormed the dais after the 10 minute speech.
The bizarre event, part of Jackson's Heal the Kids initiative with
Orthodox rabbi and ''Kosher Sex'' author Shmuley Boteach, marked the
latest step in the erstwhile King of Pop's bid to reclaim his throne. With
a VH1 special in heavy rotation, a March 6 speech on child welfare (also
with Rabbi Boteach) planned at England's Oxford Union, a March 19
induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and a just announced
Jackson 5 studio reunion, Jacko is gearing up for an all media assault
that will culminate, supposedly, in his long delayed, still untitled
comeback album.
Lotta promo for one disc? It might be needed. The stakes are high for
both Jackson and his label, Sony, which is still smarting from recent
disappointments like Ricky Martin's ''Sound Loaded'' and a lack of new
product from mainstays like Celine Dion and Lauryn Hill. That might
explain why, since early 1999, Sony has sunk millions of dollars into at
least 30 Jackson tracks. It's hired hot shot producers like R. Kelly,
Teddy Riley, and Rodney Jerkins, reportedly paying them up to $1 million
per song -- a figure Sony's publicist flatly denies.
Even so, there's no launch date in sight. ''At this point, the only
thing we can say for sure is that the album will be released in 2001,''
says Michele Schweitzer, spokeswoman for Sony division Epic. The delays
have frustrated many Jackson associates, who wanna be startin' somethin'
soon. Jerkins, who produced at least eight new tracks, blames the
moonwalking perfectionist himself. ''For two years, I've been waiting for
this album to come out and for Michael to do his thing,'' says Jerkins,
the musical Midas behind Destiny's Child. ''Sony's very angry and they
have every right to be. They feel like they had him cut an album, and they
want him to put it out now.''
The label wouldn't comment on Jerkins' position, but it seems confident
about the album's prospects. Sony chief Tommy Mottola won raves from
several of his execs after playing pieces of three new Jackson tracks in
late January. Needless to say, Sony wants to avoid any more ''Blood on the
Dance Floor,'' the 1997 dud that followed 1995's underwhelming ''HIStory''
lesson. (The latter sold just 1.4 million copies in the U.S., while
''Blood'' cleared an anemic 230,000.) The game plan is to infuse Jackson's
sound with more commercial hip hop elements. Though Dr. Dre declined to
produce and Jackson doesn't rap, some recorded tracks feature guest rapper
''Fats,'' an unsung Jerkins discovery.
Even if Jackson's sound is in sync with modern tastes, will Sony be
able to sell the 42 year old singer to the ''TRL'' crowd, many of whom
were born after his 1982 landmark, ''Thriller''? ''If Justin Timberlake
put out a solo CD, that would sell more than Michael Jackson right now,''
says Paul ''Cubby'' Bryant, music director for trendsetting New York City
radio station Z100. ''If he doesn't nail it this time, he's screwed.''
Just how tough a time he'll have can be gauged from the response of ''TRL''
crowd members like Nicole Cernek, 13. Asked about Jackson outside a recent
taping at MTV's Times Square studio, she responded, ''It's amazing for him
to come out with something after such a long while, since he's been in
jail and everything.''
Ahem. Just to clarify Jackson's legal history: In 1993, he was
investigated by Santa Barbara, Calif., police on charges that he had
molested a then 13 year old boy. No charges were filed, but Jackson
settled a civil claim out of court for an undisclosed, reportedly
substantial sum. (Santa Barbara officials confirm recent tabloid reports
that the case is still open, though the investigation has been suspended.)
Any comeback efforts will be dogged by this lingering cloud. ''For
Sony, there's no way to address the charges and come out a winner,'' says
Dane Venable, senior marketing director at Sony rival Elektra. ''The
challenge is how to turn curiosity about the man into curiosity about the
music.''
But it was curiosity about the man that brought the crowds to Carnegie
Hall. Even though Jackson had shed his white glove and sequined socks --
and chimp companion Bubbles was a no-show -- devotees were still thrilled.
''It was surreal and awe inspiring,'' says Joseph Yemish, 27, of Edison,
N.J., U.S. correspondent for U.K. based fanzine King! For less committed
followers, the question remains: Can all Sony's horses and all Sony's men
make Wacko Jacko the King of Pop again? Or just the Duke of Has Been?
February 27, 2001Tupac to Unveil "Until the End of Time"
Tupac Shakur will release another posthumous album entitled Until The End Of
Time on March 27th. The double disc will include more than 20 selections and
features music recorded following his release from prison in late 1995 until his
death on September 13, 1996. The album will be released on Amaru/Death Row/Interscope
Records and is executive produced by Suge Knight and Afeni Shakur. In addition,
it will also feature guest appearances as well as collaborations with The
Outlawz. Until The End Of Time is also the first of two double CDs of
songs from the same Makaveli period. The second double CD will be released at
the end of the year. Here is a partial listing of Until The End of Time:
Letter To My Unborn
Until The End Of Time
Last One Left
All Out
Mama's Just A Little Girl
Happy Home
Let Em Have It
Thug N U Thug N Me
Reginald Hudlin to Direct Jackie Chan Film
According to The Hollywood Reporter, African-American director Reginald
Hudlin is attached to direct Jackie Chan's next film, the English-language Highbinders
for Hong Kong production entity Emperor Multimedia Group. The film is budgeted
at $35 million and is the largest yet to be produced in Hong Kong. Chan's last
Hong Kong film, "Accidental Spy," previously held that distinction.
The action adventure will blend Chan's martial arts expertise with special
effects and is described as a cross between Lethal Weapon and Ghost.
Chan is also scheduled to wrap up filming on the movie Rush Hour 2 next
month. Rush Hour 2 also stars comedian Chris Tucker. Hudlin previously
directed such films as House Party and its sequel. The films starred
rappers Kid N' Play and launched the careers of Martin Lawrence and Tisha
Campbell. He also directed The Great White Hype which stared Samuel L.
Jackson, Jamie Foxx, and Damon Wayans as well as last year's blockbuster comedy The
Ladies Man which starred comedian Tim Meadows from the television show
"Saturday Night Live."
February 26, 2001Dr. Dre: "We Were Robbed"
Surely many people were shocked and amazed by the fact that Steely Dan's Two
Against Nature beat out the likes of Radiohead, Beck, and most of all-Eminem.
But the man most shocked and amazed, and even kinda pissed, is Em
collaborator/producer/mentor, Dr. Dre (who himself elicited a standing ovation
for his producing work at Wednesday night's ceremony). Eminem did win three of
the four awards he was nominated for, but his Dre-produced The Marshall
Mathers LP was shut out from the night's most coveted award, Album of the
Year. According to reports on Reuters, Dre spoke his mind in an interview
with Access Hollywood this week, alleging that he believed that the
academy did not present Eminem with the prestigious award because his lyrical
content is too controversial "To be perfectly honest, I think we were
robbed,'' Dre reportedly told the program. "It was probably something the
Grammys had to do because of the backlash that they were going to get from
giving him the award." When it was announced a couple of months ago that
Eminem would be receiving four Grammy nominations, several gay and women's
rights organizations were indeed outraged by the academy's decision to honor
the rapper, whose lyrics many feel to be violent and derogatory to women and
gays. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation even organized a
"Rally Against Hate" to take place outside the Los Angeles' Staples Center
during the Grammys. Then, when Em announced would be performing with openly gay
artist Elton John, well, things got worse. So was the academy acting out of fear
by passing over Eminem for Steely Dan? Well, NARAS President/CEO Michael Greene
told Reuters this week that Eminem's lyrical content in no way impacted
the decision making of the 13,000 voting members of the Academy. "I don't
think the content of Eminem's album had anything to do with it," Greene said.
"Otherwise he wouldn't have been nominated or won the other Grammys. The
voters truly don't care what the critics think or how they're perceived. They're
very independent. Eminem's nomination was a very positive opening up of the
minds of the membership. Now our job is to take that open-minded condition and
really continue to drive home the point that we do need to make sure we don't
discriminate by trying to get too hip or too conservative." Well, whatever the
case, this wouldn't be the first time that the voting academy has snubbed some
of the most influential and revolutionary artists of the time (and of all time).
Artists like Bob Dylan, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones received awards only
reluctantly, or later on in their careers. And can I please tell you that Neil
Young has never won a Grammy? Oh, well, what's done is done.
Elton/Eminem Duet To Be Released As Single, Recording Academy Says
Music's most
controversial couple aren't calling it quits just yet.
Eminem's hotly debated duet with Elton John at this week's Grammys is turning
up on radio stations across the country, and the Recording Academy and
Interscope Records are making plans to release the live "Stan" as a
benefit single, an academy spokesperson said Friday (February 23). A portion of
the proceeds will benefit MusiCares, established by the academy in 1989 to offer
emergency financial assistance and addiction recovery programs to musicians.
However, Eminem's Interscope spokesperson said there were "no plans [for
a commercial release] on this end."
The academy serviced the rendition to radio stations via satellite, and the
tune has found its way onto Napster. Among the stations that are playing the
song are hip-hop's Power 106 (KPWR-FM) in Los Angeles and KMEL-FM in San
Francisco.
Under a hail of controversy for perceived homophobia and misogyny in his
lyrics, Eminem turned in the Grammys' most talked-about performance when he
joined forces with the gay John on "Stan." Em ended the performance by
embracing John, and then raised his middle fingers to the crowd.
"If I didn't make a statement with Elton John tonight, I don't know what
else to do," Eminem told MTV News' Kurt Loder following the ceremony.
Eminem swept all of the hip-hop Grammy categories, including Best Rap Album
for The Marshall Mathers LP, but lost the Album of the Year award to
Steely Dan's Two Against Nature.
The academy spokesperson said she did not know whether sales from the live
"Stan" will benefit any charities or organizations other than
MusiCares.
"We were just sitting around the office talking about how it would be a
good idea if they decided to [release the new 'Stan'] — I think it would do
really well," said Tower Records music buyer Howard Krumholtz, adding that
he expected John's fans would embrace the single. "I don't think you'd have
a lot of Elton fans running out and buying Marshall Mathers, but they'd
probably buy [the single]."
February 23, 2001Vice President's Wife Lynne Cheney Bashes Eminem
Lynne Cheney, the wife of vice-president Dick Cheney, recently had harsh words
for rapper Eminem as she spoke out against rock music lyrics that she says are
offensive and advocate violence. In a CNN interview, the second lady singled out
Eminem's music as "the most extreme example of rock lyrics used to demean
women, rock lyrics used to advocate violence against women, and violence against
gay people." She also stated that she found it dismaying that Eminem might
be among the winners at Wednesday night's Grammy Awards presentations in Los
Angeles. "It's my opinion more than some young people turn to him just
because he's offensive," Cheney said on Tuesday on CNN's Wolf Blitzer
Reports. She added that embracing the controversial rap star and his music is
something young people may do just to shock adults, stating, "But that
doesn't mean that adults like me shouldn't speak out about it."
During her interview with CNN, Cheney also said that the music industry needs to
put more information on parental warning labels so parents can see what their
children are listening to. "The lyrics ought to be included inside so that
you can just pull the lyrics out and see what exactly it is, what kind of
culture we're encouraging with this music."
Cheney, a former chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, said one
of the advantages of being the vice president's wife is that she is able to use
the position to talk about things that are important to her. During the
presidential campaign, Cheney joined her husband's Democratic opponent, vice
presidential candidate Joe Lieberman, in condemning the U.S. entertainment
industry for marketing violence to children. At a Senate Commerce Committee
hearing convened to examine a Federal Trade Commission report that excoriated
the industry's marketing practices, Cheney said the industry was failing to act
responsibly by producing violent, sexually-explicit material and peddling it to
children.
Jon B.'s Got the "Pleasures U Like"
R&B crooner Jon B is scheduled to releases his third album Pleasure U
Like on March 20th. The album's first single, a mid temp dance track
entitled "Don't Talk," has been tearing up airwaves since January. Jon
B wrote and co-wrote every track on the album as well as produced most of the
songs at his own VibeZelect Studios in Pasadena, California. The album will
feature collaborations with Faith Evans, Nas, AZ, and Cuban Link. Jon B records
for Edmonds Record Group, which is headed by fellow R&B crooner Babyface's
wife, Tracy Edmonds. Jon B and Babyface are also collaborating with each other
on material for the latter's forthcoming album. In addition, Jon B is scheduled
to embark on a national concert tour this spring with K-Ci and Jo Jo Hailey.
Here is the track listing for Pleasures U Like:
1. Interlude
2. Finer Things - Featuring Nas
3. Vibezelect Cafe - Interlude
4. Don't Talk
5. Sof'n Sweet
6. Overjoyed - Featuring Faith Evans
7. Boy Is Not A Man
8. Lonely Girl
9. Cocoa Brown
10. What Up Boogotti? - Interlude
11. All I Want Is You - Featuring Cuban Link
12. Been Played Interlude
13. Layaway - Featuring AZ
14. Pleasures U Like
15. Now That I'm With You
16. My Seed With You Interlude
17. Tell Me
18. Calling On You
19. Inside
20. Do It All Again
February 22, 2001Eminem, Dre And, Uh, Steely Dan Dominate Grammys
Echoing the rumblings
that led up to the ceremony, Eminem and Dr. Dre made the most noise on Grammy
night, but ultimately Steely Dan may have been the ceremony's big winners.
Em and Dre dominated the stage patter, the performances and the awards
themselves, combining for five honors, but it was avant-jazz vets Steely Dan
whose trio of trophies included a surprise win in the high-profile Album of the
Year category for Two Against Nature.
Eminem also took home three awards, including Best Rap Album for his The
Marshall Mathers LP and Best Rap Solo Performance for "The Real Slim
Shady." He also picked up the Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group Grammy
for his work on Dr. Dre's "Forgot About Dre."
"I want to thank everyone who looked past the controversy and saw the
album for what it was and what it wasn't," Eminem said, picking up the
Grammy for Best Rap Album.
Even promised protests against Eminem and his perceived homophobic and
misogynistic lyrics fizzled, with only three dozen protesters showing up to
rally outside Los Angeles' Staples Center.
"We can't edit out the art that makes us uncomfortable," National
Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences President Michael Greene said in
introducing the rapper's performance. "Remember that's what our parents
tried to do to Elvis, the [Rolling] Stones, the Beatles."
Eminem then turned in the evening's most talked about performance, joining
forces with the openly gay Elton John on Eminem's single "Stan." Em
ended the performance by embracing John, and then raised his middle fingers to
the crowd.
Eminem's cohort Dr. Dre finished the night with two awards, both of which
came in the pre-telecast portion of the ceremony. In addition to sharing the
Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group award with Eminem, Dre also grabbed
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical (see "Eminem, Dr. Dre, Faith Get Early
Grammy Start").
The triple-win showings of Eminem and Steely Dan were matched by Faith Hill
and U2.
Mainstream country darling Hill picked up Best Female Country Vocal
Performance for "Breathe," Best Country Collaboration With Vocals for
"Let's Make Love" (which she recorded with husband Tim McGraw) and
Best Country Album for Breathe.
In addition to the Album of the Year Grammy, Steely Dan picked up awards for
Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal and Best Pop Vocal Album
(besting Britney Spears, 'NSYNC, Madonna and Don Henley).
"I thought that was weird," Steely Dan's Walter Becker said of the
group's pop win. "Maybe we're in the wrong category or something. Think
they'll take these things away from us, or make us give them back? I'm getting
attached to mine."
"I think we're in real risk of losing our outsider status," his
partner, Donald Fagen, joked.
Steely Dan, who made a name for themselves three decades ago, were not
without their own lyrical controversy — their Two Against Nature offers
a tale of one man's incestuous lust for his cousin.
U2 scored the night's best batting average, turning its three nominations
into three wins. Inspiring thoughts of "don't call it a comeback," the
Irish rock veterans walked off with Record of the Year, Song of the Year and
Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal for "Beautiful
Day."
"I don't remember wanting to win a Grammy like we wanted to win a Grammy
tonight," U2 frontman Bono said. "It's a very particularly sweet kind
of sensation."
Destiny's Child pulled a lower scoring percentage, but still managed to turn
their five nominations into a pair of awards. The group's "Say My
Name" was tapped as Best R&B Song and won Best R&B Performance by a
Duo or Group With Vocal.
The Foo Fighters and D'Angelo also went home with two awards apiece. D'Angelo
won Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Album, while the Foo
Fighters grabbed Best Rock Album and Best Short Form Music Video.
"The Best Rock Album is kind of a cool title," Foo frontman Dave
Grohl said. "It's Best Rock Record, which sounds like it should say AC/DC
next to it, but it's us, which is pretty much the coolest thing that's ever
happened."
Country veteran Shelby Lynne took home Best New Artist honors, quipping that
it took "13 years and six albums to get here."
Macy Gray picked up a Grammy early in the telecast, taking home Best Female
R&B Vocal Performance for "I Try."
Elton John, the Deftones, Radiohead, Creed, Rage Against the Machine,
Metallica, Lenny Kravitz, Sheryl Crow, Emmylou Harris, Hex Hector, Sting, Toni
Braxton, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton and the Baha Men all picked up Grammys in the
pre-telecast portion of the ceremony.
Despite heading into the ceremony with three nominations and a show-opening
live performance, Madonna went home without a Grammy. Her Music album,
however, grabbed Best Recording Package honors for Kevin Reagan. 'NSYNC, Jill
Scott, Aimee Mann, Joe, Sisqó and Brian McKnight all went home empty handed,
despite multiple nominations.
Grammys host Jon Stewart, who was tapped for the job just last week, brought
a healthy dose of sarcasm to the ceremony, deflating the controversy that had
surrounded Eminem's appearance.
"I don't understand the controversy. I met Eminem backstage, and I've
got to tell you, he's really, really gay," Stewart joked.
And addressing lyrical responsibility, Stewart warned kids that
"Saturday night's not all right for fighting."
Judging from the lack of an Eminem backlash, apparently Wednesday night's not
a good night either.
Here is a partial list of winners for the 43rd Annual GRAMMY Awards (For a
complete list, check out www.grammy.com):
Record of the Year: "Beautiful Day," U2
Album of the Year: Two Against Nature, Steely Dan
Song of the Year: "Beautiful Day," U2
Best New Artist: Shelby Lynne
Best Pop Vocal Album: Two Against Nature, Steely Dan
Best Rock Song: "With Arms Wide Open," Creed
Best Rock Album There Is Nothing Left To Lose, Foo Fighters
Best Alternative Rock Album: Kid A, Radiohead
Best R&B Song: "Say My Name," Destiny's Child (LaShawn
Daniels, Fred Jerkins III, Rodney Jerkins, Beyonce Knowles, LeToya Luckett,
LaTavia Roberson, and Kelendria Rowland)
Best R&B Album: Voodoo, D'Angelo
Best Rap Album: The Marshall Mathers LP, Eminem
Best Country Song: "I Hope You Dance," Lee Ann Womack
Best Country Album: Breathe, Faith Hill
Best Contemporary Jazz Album: Outbound, Bela Fleck & The
Flecktones
Best Latin Pop Album: MTV Unplugged, Shakira
Producer Of The Year (Non-Classical): Dr. Dre
Best Classical Album: The String Quartets, Shostakovich
Best Short Form Music Video: Learn To Fly, Foo Fighters
Cedric the Entertainer to Coach in the NBA
Comedian Cedric the Entertainer recently landed his own television pilot on the
WB Network entitled "Cedric the Coach." The series is slated to air
next fall and will evolve around a basketball coach (Cedric) who manages the
worst team in the NBA. Cedric the Entertainer currently co-stars on "The
Steve Harvey Show," which is expected to finish its five-year successful
run this year. He will also be starring in the forthcoming film Kingdom Come.
The comedy centers around a family who comes together for three days after the
death of the family patriarch. The film also features Whoopi Goldberg, LL Cool
J, Jada Pinkett, and Vivica A. Fox. Cedric the Entertainer will play a preacher
in the film. Kingdom Come is scheduled to hit theatres on April 11th.
February 21, 2001Eve Preparing For Stinging Return
Expect a star-studded, eclectic sting from Eve's upcoming album,
"Scorpion." The album, due March 6, includes guest spots by DMX, No Doubt
frontwoman Gwen Stefani and R&B singer Teena Marie, among others.
"Scorpion" is the follow-up to 1999's "Let There Be Eve ... Ruff
Ryders' First Lady." That album gave Eve the distinction of becoming the
first female to have her debut album enter the Billboard 200 albums chart at
number one. Since then, she has appeared on both Ruff Ryders compilations, as
well as on albums from Snoop Dogg and Rah Digga.
Although Nokio didn't make it onto the album, there's no lack of
star-power on the collection. Those trading raps with Eve include DMX "Scream
Double R", Da Brat "Gangsta Bitches" and the LOX "Thug in the Street".
Stefani guests on "Let Me Blow Ya Mind," Marie on "Life Is So Hard"
and Stephen Marley on "No, No, No." The 16-cut collection features
production from Dr. Dre, Swizz Beatz, Dame Grease, Stevie J. and others.
The album was pushed back from its initial, Dec. 5 release date to allow Eve
to add a song, an Interscope spokesperson said. The video for "Who's That
Girl?," the first single, features Eve splitting screen time with a cartoon
version of herself.
The rapper was originally signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment, but
she relocated to the Ruff Ryders label after Dre delayed the release of her work
and she impressed members of the Ruff Ryders collective with her freestyle
prowess.
Prepare for 112: Part III
112 is riding high again off the success of their hit single "It's Over
Now" from their forthcoming third album entitled One Twelve: Part III.
Slim, Daron, Q, and Mike produced most of their new album which will also
contain tracks provided by Tim and Bob, Dent, and R. Kelly. The new album will
feature a combination of fast and slow songs as well as appearances by rappers
UK on "All I Want Is You" and Twista on "Don't Hate Me." 112
described the album stating, "It's a combination of both. You got the
up-tempo and the ballads too. It's a mix, it's a balance, a definite blend. It's
a Ying and a Yang going on right now." They also stated that Twista was
signed to Bad Boy.
112 will also be featured on Puffy's forthcoming gospel album entitled Thank
You, which is scheduled to hit stores in March as well. The album will
include performances by Brandy, Kelly Price, and the Rev. Hezekiah Walker. 112
stated about the project, "We got a song collaboration with Brian McKnight,
our own song, and the Bad Boy first single, which is entitled "You,"
with us, Faith Evans, Carl Thomas, and others." They also stated that they
keep in touch with former label mate Mase and went to his church about a month
ago. In addition, they disapproved of Napster stating, "We can appreciate
the intelligence behind it, however, you are messing with our money, so shut it
down." One Twelve: Part III is scheduled to hit stores on March 20th.
February 20, 2001Outkast and Destiny's Child to Pay Tribute to Janet Jackson
Outkast, Destiny's Child, Macy Gray and N'Sync will pay tribute to Janet Jackson
on the inaugural "mtvICON." The new program on MTV will honor artists
who've influenced music videos and who've had a significant impact on fans and
other musicians. "mtvICON: Janet Jackson" will air on March 13th and
will feature an overview of her 16-year recording and video career. It will also
feature interviews of artists whose careers have been influenced by Jackson. The
artists will also pay tribute to Jackson by performing renditions of her songs.
Jackson will also perform during the finale of the show. She is currently
putting the finishing touches on her upcoming album with producers Jimmy Jam and
Terry Lewis, which is scheduled to be released later this year.
Phylicia and Ahmad Rashad Set to Divorce Delays
Actress Phylicia Rashad recently filed for divorce from her husband sportscaster
Ahmad Rashad. Phylicia filed for divorce on the grounds of
"abandonment" although the split is believed to be amicable and that
there are no third parties involved. According to reports, the couple has been
living separate lives for some time now, but held off on filing for the sake of
their 14-year-old daughter Phylea. A representative for Ahmad said he was
"saddened by the divorce" and asked that "their privacy be
respected."
Phylicia gained fame by starring as the matriarch on "The Cosby Show"
for twelve years. Her television husband Bill Cosby introduced the couple to
each other in 1985. She most recently starred in the independent film The
Visit. Ahmad was a former wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings.
February 19, 2001DMX to Turn Himself in to Police
Ruff Ryder DMX will miss this year's Grammy Awards as he is scheduled to turn
himself in to authorities on Monday in Cheektowaga, New York and begin a 15-day
jail sentence. DMX lost an appeal on
Thursday to have his 15-day jail sentence overturned. The charges stem from a
traffic stop last year in Buffalo, New York for failure to signal and speeding.
Upon the stop, police discovered that DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, was
driving without a license. Police also found a small amount of marijuana on him.
DMX plead guilty to charges of drug possession, driving without a license, and
having outstanding parking tickets. He was sentenced to serve 15 days in jail
and to pay a $350 fine. He was later rearrested and fined another $250 when
authorities found marijuana in a cigarette pack while he was being processed.
Cheektowaga Town Justice Ronald E. Kmiotek was not moved by a letter written by
DMX's lawyer Mark Mahoney asking for a later date for the rapper to turn himself
in.
He was initially ordered to return to jail on Friday but will miss his
appointment because he is currently in California shooting promotions for his
forthcoming film Exit Wounds, which isn't scheduled to wrap up until
Monday. Exit Wounds opens on March 14th and also stars Steven Seagal and
Isiah Washington. DMX will play Seagal's sidekick as the two take on corrupt
cops in this action drama. His third album, And Then There Was X, has
been nominated for "Best Rap Album" at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards
which will be held on February 21st. His hit single "Party Up" was
also nominated for "Best Rap Solo Performance." DMX's publicist
released the following statement regarding the incident: "This is the first
year he is nominated in two categories, but ... he understands he's a person
that is admired by millions and he wants to set the proper example."
Puffy Sues Writer for Reneging on Autobiography Delays
Sean "Puffy" Combs filed a $325,000 lawsuit on Tuesday against Mikal
Gilmore in U.S. District Court in Manhattan. The lawsuit claims that Gilmore
allegedly reneged on co-authoring Puffy's autobiography after accepting a
monetary advance. Combs and Gilmore struck a deal for the autobiography after
Gilmore's Rolling Stone cover story on the hip hop mogul in 1997. The proposal
was sold to Ballatine Publishing Group, a division of Random House, on Dec. 7,
1998. The suit also claims that in April of 2000, one month after work on the
book was to begin, Combs was notified by Gilmore's lawyers that he would only be
available to offer consulting on the book, not co-write it. The lawsuit seeks
the return of the $325,000 and applicable lawyer's fees.
Natalie Moar, a spokesperson for Puffy, released the following statement
regarding the law suit, "A lawsuit has indeed been filed by Mr. Combs
against Mikal Gilmore for breaching the collaboration agreement to co-write his
autobiography. Despite repeated attempts to obtain his cooperation, Mr. Gilmore
failed to honor his contractual commitments. Mr. Combs is simply seeking the
return of all monies that have been paid."
February 16, 2001Eminem and Elton John to Perform Together at the Grammys
Hip hop star Eminem has confirmed that he will perform at the 43rd Annual Grammy
Awards on February 21st at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Eminem
will perform his hit "Stan" alongside openly gay musician Elton John
who will sing the hook. Eminem was being
targeted for his homophobic lyrics by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against
Defamation (GLAAD). The gay rights organization will also hold a protest against
the rapper's performance and nominations outside of the Staples Center on the
night of the Grammys. GLAAD issued the following press release in response to
John performing with Eminem:
"We are disappointed that Sir Elton John will be performing with Eminem at
the Grammy Awards. John has played an enormous role in educating the world about
AIDS and gay issues through his music and charitable work. GLAAD is appalled
that John would share a stage with Eminem, whose words and actions promote hate
and violence against gays and lesbians.
John's decision to perform with Eminem sends a message of endorsement for the
hip-hopper's defamatory lyrics, which advocate attacks on the gay and lesbian
community. Last year GLAAD bestowed upon John one of our most prestigious
honors, named in honor of GLAAD founder Vito Russo, for outstanding
contributions to combating homophobia. We believe John's actions today violate
the spirit of this award."
Eminem's sophomore album, The Marshall Mathers LP, is nominated for four
Grammy awards this year including the coveted "Album of the Year."
Last year, he won "Best Rap Solo Performance " for his hit single
"My Name Is" and "Best Rap Album" for his album The Slim
Shady LP. Michael Greene, President/CEO of the Recording Academy said in a
statement regarding Elton John and Eminem teaming up, "There is no question
that the prospect of Eminem performing on the GRAMMY telecast has been greeted
with a great deal of interest, heat, and controversy. The addition of Elton John
-- always the musical adventurer himself joining Eminem onstage will no doubt
generate further debate and comment. But we view this moment not only as
musically significant, but also as an opportunity to help tear down some of the
unfortunate walls of division that Eminem's lyrics have built."
Run-D.M.C. Unfazed by Crown Royal Delays
After seven years without an album of new material, expectations are high for veteran rap trio
Run-D.M.C.'s
upcoming Crown Royal, a Supernatural-like collection that features
collaborations with Kid
Rock, Limp
Bizkit's Fred Durst and DJ Lethal, Jermaine Dupri, Everlast,
Method Man, Third Eye Blind's Stephan Jenkins, Sugar Ray, Nas, Method Man,
Jagged Edge, and Mobb Deep's Prodigy. The problem is, the album keeps getting
delayed; originally slated to come out last fall, its Feb. 27 date has now been
bumped back to April 3.
But the trio's Run (born Joseph Simmons) says the group is anything but
frustrated.
"It's not delayed; we're just making sure we have all our ducks in
place," he explains. "It doesn't bother me as long as people know it's
coming."
Run says he's been particularly impressed by the enthusiasm shown by Run-D.M.C.'s
new label home, Arista. "This is all new for me, not being on an
independent label," he says. "We did this show recently, at an Arista
convention, and when we went out onstage they were all dressed like Run-D.M.C
— even [company president] L.A. Reid. They all had on the hats and the Adidas
and the glasses. I'm just watching Arista invest their time and money like this,
and it's amazing. There's a lot of excitement, and we feel it."
Run says the group is preparing to film a video with Hype Williams for the
Dupri track "It's Over," which will be the third clip that's been made
for Crown Royal's songs. The group plans a multiformat attack targeting
urban, rock, and pop radio — and it has particularly high expectations for
"Take the Money and Run," a rewrite of the 1976 Steve Miller Band hit
that is performed with Everlast.
Run-D.M.C. DJ Jam Master Jay (Jason Mizell) says he's most anxious for Crown
Royal to come out to temper the perception that the group hasn't been active
during its hiatus from recording. The trio's most recent album was 1993's Down
With the King.
"We never laid down," says Jay. "A lot of people say 'Welcome
back' to Run-D.M.C. We've been doing 200 shows, 225 shows. … On our worst year
we were still working every weekend. There's no doubt there were people thinking
we were gone, but, man, I worked more in '98 than I did in '88. We just haven't
put out anything new. But now that's going to change." -- Gary Graff
February 15, 2001Beyoncé, Mos Def Wrap Carmen Shoot
Destiny's Child leader Beyoncé Knowles and rapper Mos Def wrapped the shooting of an MTV
special movie, Carmen: A Hip-Hopera, yesterday in Los Angeles.
Knowles stars in the title role, opposite actor Mekhi Phifer (Clockers,
Shaft), while Mos Def appears as "the bad guy," according to
director Robert Townsend.
The movie adapts a 19th century opera by George Bizet, about a romance
between a gypsy woman who works in a cigarette factory and a soldier in the
Spanish army. The opera was previously adapted for the 1943 stage musical Carmen
Jones, with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Harry Belafonte and Dorothy
Dandridge subsequently starred in a 1954 film version.
"I know it's hard to redo movies, but this definitely is hot,"
Knowles says. "The music is wonderful, the actors are wonderful, and I was
excited and honored to be a part of this project."
Townsend, who has directed Hollywood Shuffle and B*A*P*S, says
the movie's music is one of its most exciting achievements.
"It's all new music, but the gentleman who did all the music [Kip
Collins ], he sprinkled in some of the music from Carmen — but it's all
original songs," he says. "Just wait till you hear the soundtrack,
it's incredible what they've done. And I've really got to give it up because
Beyoncé is a singer, she's rapping, Mekhi is rapping, so they're wearing double
hats."
Da Brat narrates the story, and 13-year-old rapper Lil' Bow Wow and his
producer, Jermaine Dupri, also have small roles.
"Lil' Bow Wow and Jermaine Dupri are the catalysts that start our whole
story," Townsend says. "One of Lil' Bow Wow's friends has stolen a car
— and he's like, 'Man, we shouldn't do this,' and he gets set up by the dirty
cop. That leads to a song with him talking about how he wasn't dirty, and it
deals with a rap with Mekhi, and they're in jail together."
Though Knowles didn't write any of the new music, she says "it has a lot
of Destiny's Child flavor." Townsend adds that the singer took an active
part, with producer Mike Elliot, in the creation of the overall sound.
The movie is set to air on MTV in May, with a soundtrack released around the
same time.
Jurassic 5 Receives Three Nominations for CMAs
Hip hop purists Jurassic 5 received three nominations for the 24th Annual
California Music Awards. The group's album Quality Control was nominated
for "Outstanding Album" and "Outstanding Hip Hop/Rap Album"
while they were nominated for "Outstanding Group." Lucy Pearl's
self-titled debut was nominated for "Outstanding Debut Album" while
Limp Bizkit's Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water earned a
nod in the "Outstanding Modern Rock Album" category. Black Eyed Peas'
"Weekends" was nominated as "Outstanding Single" while Tracy
Chapman is in contention for the "Outstanding Female Vocalist" award.
The 24th Annual California Music awards will be held on April 28th at the Calvin
Simmons Theater in Oakland, California. Rock band Green Day led the list of
nominees with seven. Here is the complete list of nominees:
Outstanding Album:
Green Day, Warning
Queens of the Stone Age, R
Aimee Mann, Bachelor No. 2
Jurassic 5, Quality Control
Deftones, White Pony
Outstanding Debut Album:
Lucy Pearl, Lucy Pearl
100 Watt Smith, And Reason Flew
A Perfect Circle, Mer de Noms
Aisler's Set, Last Match
Linkin Park, Hybrid Theory
OPM, Menace to Sobriety
Outstanding Rock/Pop Album:
Grandaddy, The Sophtware Slump
Stone Temple Pilots, No. 4
Beck, Stereopathic Soulmanure
Neil Young, Silver & Gold
Jackpot, Weightless
No Doubt, Return of Saturn
Outstanding Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album:
A Perfect Circle, Mer de Noms
Marilyn Manson, Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)
Deftones, White Pony
Papa Roach, Infest
Queens of the Stone Age, R
Outstanding Hip-Hop/Rap Album:
Deltron 3030, Deltron 3030
Jurassic 5, Quality Control
Black Eyed Peas, Bridging the Gap
Cypress Hill, Skull & Bones
Blackalicious, Nia
Outstanding Punk Rock/Ska Album:
Blink 182, The Mark, Tom & Travis Show
Green Day, Warning
Rancid, Rancid 2000
American Steel, Rogue's March
Bad Religion, New America
No Doubt, Return of Saturn
Outstanding Modern Rock Album:
Creeper Lagoon, Watering Ghost Garden
Incubus, Make Yourself
Mr. T Experience, Miracle of Shame
Wallflowers, Breach
Offspring, Conspiracy of One
Limp Bizkit, Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water
Outstanding Jazz Album:
Dave Brubeck, One Alone
Dave Koz, The Dance
Lavay Smith, Everybody's Talking Bout Miss Thing
Boney James/Rick Braun, Shake It Up
Roy Ayers, Stone Soul Picnic
tin hat trio, Helium
Outstanding Male Vocalist:
Chuck Prophet
Billie Joe Armstrong, Green Day
Dr. Frank, Mr. T Experience
Adam Duritz, Counting Crows
Chali 2na, Ozomatli
Stephan Jenkins, Third Eye Blind
Outstanding Female Vocalist:
Aimee Mann
Victoria Williams
Tracy Chapman
Noe Venable
Noelle Hampton
Outstanding Single:
Counting Crows, "Hangin' Around"
Papa Roach, "Last Resort"
A Perfect Circle, "Judith"
Aimee Mann, "Save Me"
Black Eyed Peas, "Weekends"
Crazy Town, "Butterfly"
Outstanding Group:
Green Day
Counting Crows
Jurassic 5
No Doubt
Smash Mouth
Cypress Hill
Outstanding Guitarist:
Chuck Prophet
Josh Homme, Queens of the Stone Age
Jason Lytle, Grandaddy
Kirk Hammett, Metallica
Wes Borland, Limp Bizkit
Tom Morello, Rage Against the Machine
Outstanding Bassist:
Counte Dante
Mike Dirnt, Green Day
Nick Oliveri, Queens of the Stone Age
Jason Newsted, Metallica
Brad Davis, Fu Manchu
Mona, Sammy Hagar
Outstanding Drummer:
John Santos
Poncho Sanchez
Aaron Burtch, Grandaddy
Lars Urich, Metallica
Tre Cool, Green Day
Lynn Perko, Imperial Teen
Outstanding Songwriter:
Neil Young
Aimee Mann
Billy Joe Armstrong
Jason Lytle
Dave Alvin
February 14, 2001Eminem's Mom Apologetic About Lawsuit
Debbie Mathers-Briggs, the mother of rap star
Eminem, recently stated that she never intended to file the $10 million lawsuit
against her son and is in the process of dropping the case. Mathers-Briggs filed the lawsuit against her famous son in
September 1999 claiming that Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers,
slandered her in several interviews with The Source and Rolling Stone
magazines. In those interviews and in his music, Eminem often claimed that she
was dependent upon drugs.
During an interview last week on the British television show, "Tonight with
Trevor McDonald," Briggs said, "When I saw my attorney, he was to send
Marshall a letter warning him to stop being so demeaning and that if he didn't
stop, the lawyer would hit him with a lawsuit. The next thing I knew my son was
hit with a $10 million lawsuit. I walked up to my attorney and he said, 'Well,
this was a wake-up call.' I was in shock."
When asked if she planned to drop the lawsuit, Mathers-Briggs stated,
"That's something we are seriously thinking about. We're working on
it." She also said that the she regretted taking legal action and
"wishes things could be different." Eminem is currently touring the
United Kingdom. For his concert itinerary, log on to www.eminem.com.
Napster TKO'd
A U.S appeals court on Monday said that users of Napster were infringing on
copyrights and that an injunction against the song-swapping service was
"not only warranted but required." However, the three-judge panel of
the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco didn't shut down the service
immediately, as millions of online music fans rushed to downloaded songs this
weekend in fear of Monday's decision. The appeals court directed U.S. District
Court Judge Marilyn Patel to modify her original sweeping order issued in July,
which would have effectively put the service out of business. The three-judge
panel also stated that Napster may be held liable for contributory copyright
infringement to the extent that it knew of specific material on its system and
failed to act to prevent its distribution. Napster will also be held liable if
it failed to patrol its system for infringing material and block access to those
songs in its search index.
Hilary Rosen, president and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America
(RIAA), issued the following statement in response to the Ninth Circuit Court of
Appeals ruling in the Napster case: "This is a clear victory. The court of
appeals found that the injunction is not only warranted, but required. And it
ruled in our favor on every legal issue presented." Napster had no
immediate comment.
February 13, 2001Convicted Murderer Admits Guilt in Slaying of Cosby's Son
According to The Associated Press, the man convicted of killing Bill
Cosby's son has confessed to the murder and withdrawn the rest of his appeals.
In a handwritten letter to California Deputy Attorney General Kyle Brodie,
Mikhail Markhasev apologized to the Cosby family for the Jan. 16, 1997 slaying
of Ennis Cosby. Ennis was shot to death in an robbery attempt on a Bel-Air
roadside while he was attempting to change a spare tire.
In his letter, Markhasev said he wished to abandon his appeal because it was a
lie. He killed Ennis Cosby and wanted to do the right thing for his family and
seek the forgiveness of the Cosby family. The letter read, "Although my
appeal is in its beginning stages, I don't want to continue with it because it's
based on falsehood and deceit. I am guilty, and I want to do the right thing …
More than anything, I want to apologize to the victim's family. It is my duty as
a Christian, and it's the least I can do, after the great wickedness for which I
am responsible."
Markhasev also stated that he wanted to make sure his family is spared
"public ridicule and abashment" for his crimes. He also wrote,
"This is not about me, but about those whose lives I've marred. My motive
is to at least try to mend the things which I've destroyed." Markhasev, a
Ukrainian-born immigrant, was convicted of first-degree murder and attempted
robbery in Ennis Cosby's death on July 7, 1998. At the request of the Cosby
family, prosecutors did not seek the death penalty. Markhasev has been serving a
mandatory sentence of life without parole. At his trial, prosecutors relied on
jailhouse letters where Markhasev allegedly confesses to the slaying and writes,
"I shot the nigger … I went to rob a [drug] connection and obviously
found something else." In their appeals, Markhasev's lawyers tried to get
his conviction overturned, arguing that the letters had been forged by another
convict, but their arguments failed.
Xzibit to Embark on "Restless" Tour
After already receiving critical acclaim for his first two albums At the
Speed of Life and 40 Dayz and 40 Nightz, Xzibit can now add platinum
selling artist to his credentials as his third album Restless was
recently certified by the RIAA after selling more than a million copies. Steve
Rifkind, CEO of Xzibit's label Loud Records, said, "We are thrilled with
the success of this album to date. We are just getting started and so is Xzibit
as he goes back on the road to do what he does best."
Xzibit is currently touring over seas with Eminem and will also perform several
spot dates with Outkast and Ludacris on their stateside tour. He will also
headline his own tour that will feature Tha Liks and Eminem's group, D-12,
although it is still unconfirmed if Slim Shady himself will be part of the
shows. The tour will include stops in Atlanta, Denver, Boston, New York, and Los
Angeles. Tha Liks are scheduled to release their latest album X.O this
spring. The album will feature collaborations with Xzibit and Busta Rhymes as
well as production by Dr. Dre. D-12 is scheduled to release their as yet
untitled album on March 20th. The album will feature their hit single "Shit
On You." Here are the tour dates that Xzibit will be appearing with Outkast
and Ludacris:
3-2 Hampton, VA Hampton Coliseum
3-7 Washington, DC Patriot Center
3-24 Los Angeles, CA Universal Amphitheater
3-25 Los Angeles, CA Universal Amphitheater
Here are the tour dates that Xzibit will be appearing with Tha Liks and D-12:
2-27 Chicago, IL House of Blues
2-28 Chicago, IL House of Blues
3-1 Detroit, MI Majestic Theater
3-4 New York, NY S.O.B.'s
3-6 New York, NY S.O.B.'s
3-8 Boston, MA Avalon
3-10 Detroit, MI St. Andrews Hall
3-13 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle
3-14 New Orleans, LA House of blues
3-16 Dallas, TX Russian Tea Room
3-18 Denver, CO Gothic Theater
3-19 Boulder, CO Fox Theater
3-21 Las Vegas, NV House of Blues
3-22 Anaheim, CA House of Blues
3-23 San Diego, CA Open Air Theater
3-26 San Jose, CA SJSU Events Center
3-28 Seattle, WA Showbox
3-29 Portland, OR Pine Street Theater
3-31 Fresno, CA Fresno State University
4-1 San Francisco, CA Maritime Hall
4-9 Los Angeles, CA House of Blues
4-10 Los Angeles, CA House of Blues
4-11 Los Angeles, CA House of Blues
February 12, 2001Lauryn Hill Settles Lawsuit
More than two years after filing a fifty-page lawsuit in a
U.S. District Court in Newark, New Jersey, plaintiffs Vada Nobles, Rasheem Pugh,
Tejumold and Johari Newton have received an undisclosed settlement from
defendants Grammy winner Lauryn Hill and members of her management team and record label.
The four musicians claimed in the suit that they worked on arranging and
producing all the cuts on Hill's Grammy-winning solo debut, The Miseducation
of Lauryn Hill, and requested partial writing credit on thirteen of the
fourteen original tracks on the album, with percentages specified in the suit.
While Hill's spokesman at Columbia Records confirmed that a settlement had
been reached, he said the terms are undisclosed, which is typical in such cases.
This does not mean the end of Hill's courtroom days, however. Bassist Vere
Isaac, who worked on the "A Rose Is a Rose" sessions with Hill and
Aretha Franklin, filed suit against Hill last year in the Seventh District Court in New York.
Isaac states in his complaint that he wrote the melody for the hit single. Isaac
has retained Peter Harvey -- who represented Nobles, Pugh and the Newtons -- as
counsel.
Napster Fans In Download Frenzy
It was a song downloading frenzy Sunday for millions of music-lovers logging
on to Napster, fearing a federal court may soon shut down the popular online
song-swapping service that has record companies up in arms.
Four months after an Oct. 2 hearing in the landmark copyright infringement
case, a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco
will issue its ruling Monday on the recording industry's request that Napster be
ordered to stop enabling users to swap songs for free.
Fans began flocking to Napster's Web site Friday immediately after the
appeals court said it would announce its opinion, deciding the near-term fate of
the service.
``Almost 10,000 users were logging on to each of Napster's 100 servers on
Sunday at any one time,'' said Bruce Forest, an intellectual property protection
specialist for Sapient Corp. consulting company, adding that nearly 2 million
songs were being swapped on each server.
Napster's servers normally accommodate about 6,000 users at a time. ``I tried
to log on to Napster last night, but I wasn't able to get in. It was too busy,''
said one junior high school student and Napster fan in New York.
There's more at stake here than fans getting their favorite Limp Bizkit song
for free. The appeals court decision, a key turning point in the case viewed as
the first big battle regarding copyrights in Cyberspace, is expected to define
how books, movies and music are distributed on the Web.
Big music companies, like Vivendi Universal's Universal Music, Sony Music,
Warner Music and EMI Group Plc, claim Napster is a haven for piracy. They want
an injunction to stop it from operating pending a final decision in their
landmark copyright lawsuit.
``The ultimate Napster decision will set a precedent. Its outcome is
important for all intellectual property,'' Hilary Rosen, president and chief
executive officer for the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)
told Reuters Sunday.
In October, the RIAA requested the appeals court lift its stay on an
injunction ordered against Napster last July by U.S. District Court Judge
Marilyn Hall Patel.
Rosen said the RIAA was confident the 9th Circuit on Monday will uphold
Patel's ruling, in which she said Napster was guilty of ``wholesale'' copyright
infringement and ordered it shut down pending a full trial. The 9th Circuit
granted a stay, however, saying it needed more time to consider.
Rosen said while the 9th Circuit's decision was key, the case will be far
from over on Monday, even if an injunction is reissued against Napster. ``The
question is: Is this just a pit stop or is this the finish line? If I had to
guess today, I'd guess its going to be a pit stop,'' she said.
A Napster spokeswoman on Sunday said the company's legal team, led by top gun
lawyer David Boies, were preparing contingency plans in the event of an
injunction.
Boies is well-known as the lead Justice Department attorney in the Microsoft
anti-trust case who also represented the campaign of Vice President Al Gore
before the Supreme Court in the U.S. presidential election dispute.
Legal experts said if an injunction is ordered, it could take days or weeks
to take effect and that Napster would likely request a hearing before the entire
9th Circuit Court of Appeals or possibly petition the Supreme Court.
An injunction would also jump-start settlement talks between Napster and the
music labels, industry sources said.
``If Napster had to shut down to meet an injunction, they'd be back at the
negotiating table, but more under the record industry's terms,'' said one
recording industry executive.
Conversely, if the appeals court overturns the injunction, the recording
companies could also take it to the Supreme Court, but many believe they'd just
see how the case plays out in the U.S. District Court. A trial is expected
around April.
Forest and other Net-savvy folks believe that even if Napster were to be shut
down, music fans will just go to alternative means to download songs for free
online.
``Thousands of users are also logging on to independent servers like
MusicCity, OpenNap and PowerNap, which use the same server software as Napster
but will be unaffected by Monday's court decision,'' Forest said.
Since the lawsuit was first filed in December 1999, Napster's popularity has
surged. To date, it has amassed nearly 60 million users who use it to swap songs
for free by trading MP3 files, a compression format that turns music on compact
discs into small computer files.
On Oct. 31, BMG parent company Bertelsmann AG broke ranks with the other
labels and joined forces with Napster. It is providing an estimated $50 million
to help transform Napster into a secure subscription service. -- Sue Zeidler
February 9, 2001Federal Judge's Ruling Locks Up DMX
Despite last-minute efforts by his lawyer to keep
him out of jail, rapper DMX will be forced to surrender Friday to the Erie
County Correctional Facility in Alden, New York, to serve a 15-day-sentence for
driving without a license — almost a year after he pleaded guilty.
U.S. District Court Judge Richard Arcara on Thursday (February 8) denied DMX's
appeal for a stay of sentence, which would have allowed the rapper to stay out
of jail while the judge reviews a petition filed by his lawyer on Tuesday in
Buffalo, New York. Defense attorney Mark Mahoney had asked for a writ of habeas
corpus, a request for the federal court to justify its detention of DMX and
review alleged constitutional violations in state court proceedings.
Mahoney's request to appeal to the New York Court of Appeals was denied last
week. Last month, State Supreme Court Justice Joseph P. McCarthy upheld a prior
ruling based on the rule that when a defendant pleads guilty, he or she waives
the right to appeal the legality of the conviction or challenge the harshness of
his or her sentence.
"Honestly, in my 30 years in law, I have never seen a traffic matter go to
federal court," Erie County District Attorney Frank Clark said. "I am
amazed by all of the legal churning I have seen over such a minor offense."
DMX was arrested March 3 on the Kensington Expressway for traffic violations,
driving with a suspended permit and possessing marijuana. He later pleaded
guilty to a reduced charge of driving without a license, and Cheektowaga, New
York, Town Justice Ronald E. Kmiotek ordered the maximum 15-day jail term and
$400 in fines.
Clark said that under state routine, DMX (born Earl Simmons) will only have to
serve nine to 10 days if he is well behaved.
Arcara did not rule on the petition for a writ of habeas corpus and will
continue to review it, though it is unlikely a decision will be made before DMX
has finished his sentence. Therefore, according to Clark, Thursday's denial of a
stay signaled the end of the proceedings.
Mahoney did not have a statement from DMX, but said, "I am disappointed
because I feel that if we could get a judge to actually hear us on the main
issue, that of the harshness of the sentence, we should win. We are caught by
the application of a rule established by the New York Court of Appeals that
presumes that one who gives up the right to appeal their conviction means also
to give up the right to appeal the sentence that has not yet been imposed."
DMX, a brash rapper from Yonkers, New York, has a long history in the courtroom.
A Westchester County, New York, grand jury indicted him on two counts of
criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree and unlawful possession of
marijuana last summer. He was cleared of a stabbing charge by Denver authorities
in 1999, and was exonerated of a rape charge by the Bronx district attorney in
1998.
The rapper, whose 1998 debut album, It's Dark and Hell Is Hot, entered
the charts at #1 and featured the singles "Ruff Ryders Anthem" and
"Get at Me Dog," was recently nominated for two Grammys, including
Best Hip-Hop Album for 2000's ... And Then There Was X. Unless he is
released from jail early, the rapper will miss the Grammy ceremony February 21
in Los Angeles.
Shaggy Conquers Soundscan
Shaggy took top honors on Soundscan this week as his album Hotshot added
another 245,678 copies to its double platinum sales. The album features the hit
single "It Wasn't Me." Jennifer Lopez came in second with J. Lo
followed by the soundtrack to the film Save the Last Dance. The Beatles' 1placed
fourth this week as Ja Rule's Rule 3:36 closed out the top five, selling
another 99,935 units.
Dido's No Angel came in sixth followed by the compilation Now That's
What I Call Music Vol. 5. Ludacris placed eighth this week with his album Back
for the First Time as Dream trailed behind with their debut album It Was
All a Dream. Le Ann Rimes' I Need You rounded out the top ten on
Soundscan this week selling 82,732 units.
February 8, 2001Outkast's Big Boi Adds a New Member to the Dungeon Family Tree
Outkast's Big Boi missed the birth of his new born son by several minutes after
going through the trouble of canceling the group's European tour dates. Big
Boi's girlfriend game birth to the baby boy named Cross on Tuesday. The baby
weighed in at 6 pounds, 5 ounces. Big Boi also has daughter named Jordan and
another son named Bamboo. Outkast cut short its European tour with Eminem so that Big Boi could return home to Georgia and
be with his girlfriend when she delivered their baby. The shows that were
cancelled were February 5 in Brussels, Belgium; February 6th in Paris; February
8 in Manchester, England; and February 9-11 in London, England.
In related news, Outkast and Ludacris will kick off their 30-city U.S. tour on
February 28th at the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The tour
will also include stops in Chicago, Boston, New York, and California and will
wrap up on April 15th in Charlotte, North Carolina. Outkast's latest album Stankonia
has already sold more than 4 million copes and is currently ranked at number 16
on Soundscan. Ludacris' platinum selling album Back for the First Time is
ranked at 14. Here is the itinerary for Outkast and Ludacris' U.S. tour:
2/28 - Myrtle Beach, S.C. -House Of Blues
3/2 - Hampton, Va. - Hampton Coliseum
3/3 - Philadelphia, PA -Tower Theater
3/4 - Philadelphia, PA - Tower Theater
3/5 - Boston, MA -Factory
3/7 - Washington, D.C. - D.A.R. Constitution Hall
3/8 - Washington, D.C. - D.A.R. Constitution Hall
3/9 - New York, NY -Theater At Madison Square Garden
3/10 - New York, NY -Theater At Madison Square Garden
3/11 - Boston, MA -Orpheum Theater
3/13 - Cleveland, OH - CSU Convocation Center
3/14 - Detroit, MI -Fox Theater
3/15 - Cincinnati, OH - Firststar Center
3/16 - Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom
3/18 - Milwaukee, WI - Hagles Ballroom
3/19 - St. Louis, MO - Pageant
3/21 - Albuquerque, N.M. -Convention Center
3/22 - Phoenix, AZ -Celebrity Theater
3/23 - San Diego, CA -Open Air Theater
3/24 - Los Angeles, CA -Universal Amphitheater
3/25 - Los Angeles, CA -Universal Amphitheater
3/26 - San Jose, CA - SJSU Events Center
3/28 - Las Vegas, NV - House Of Blues
3/29 - Salt Lake City, UT -E Center
3/30 - Denver, CO -Filmore
4/1 - Austin, TX -Music Hall
4/2 - Dallas, TX - Bronco Bowl
4/3 - Dallas, TX - Bronco Bowl
4/4 - Houston, TX - Ariel Theater
4/5 - Houston, TX - Ariel Theater
4/7 - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theater
4/8 - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theater
4/9 - New Orleans, LA -Saenger Theater
4/14 - Greensboro, N.C. - Special Events Center
4/15 - Charlotte, N.C. (TBA)
Mary J. Blige and Carlos Santana to Receive Lippert Awards
Mary J. Blige and Carlos Santana have been named as the recipients of Rock the
Vote's annual Patrick Lippert Awards. The award is named after the
organization's late president Patrick Lippert and recognizes artists who are
also activists. Lippert led a youth voter registration drive in 1992 and died of
AIDS related pneumonia in 1993. Blige will be honored for her community activism
with such organizations as the Partnership for a Drug Free America, the Million
Family March, the Christopher Wallace Foundation, the United Nations, Special
Olympics, and the M.A.C. AIDS Foundation, among others. Santana will be honored
for his work with indigenous people and his own Milagro Foundation. The Milagro
Foundation provides support for grassroots organizations working to enable
vulnerable communities to succeed and supports educational efforts aimed at
creating healthy, literate, and culturally enriched lives for at-risk children.
It was started in 1998 by Santana and his wife Deborah. Previous recipients of
the award have included Wyclef Jean, Queen Latifah, Neil Young, and Bono.
The awards will be presented on February 20th at the House of Blues in Los
Angeles, California. The ceremony will be hosted by singer/actor Tyrese and will
feature performances by Jill Scott, Black Eyed Peas, and the Foo Fighters.
Tickets are available to the public by calling (310) 559-9334.
February 7, 2001Mystikal and Brian McKnight to Headline Jazz Fest
The annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival will be held at the New
Orleans Fair Grounds over the course of the weekends of April 27-29 and May 3-6.
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is a 10-day cultural feast in which
thousands of musicians, cooks, and craftspeople welcome 500,000 visitors each
year. There are two main components, the Louisiana Heritage Fair and the Evening
Concert Series. The Louisiana Heritage Fair is the signature feature of the
Festival, showcasing unforgettable music on 12 stages, delicious Louisiana
cuisine in two large food areas, and crafts artisans from the region and around
the world demonstrating and selling their work.
Among the many acts scheduled to perform this year are Mystikal, Brian McKnight,
B.B. King, Chante Moore, Wilson Pickett, Paul Simon, and Ziggy Marley and the
Melody Makers. Tickets for the festival are $15 in advance and $20 on the day of
the show. They will go on sale on February 12th through Ticketmaster. For more
information on the festival and the complete list of performers and the dates in
which they will be appearing, log on to www.insideneworleans.com.
Bill Bellamy to Shoot WB Pilot
According to The Holly Wood Reporter, comedic actor Bill Bellamy has
teamed with "Cheers" writers Dan Staley and Rob Long to shoot a
television pilot entitled "Men, Women and Dogs" for the WB Network.
Bellamy, who has a "put pilot commitment" with the WB, picked up the
script about four young men who meet regularly at dog parks, from Staley and
Long. The three will executive produce the pilot.
In related news, Bellamy will also be starring in the film The Brothers
which is scheduled to hit theaters on March 23rd. The film centers around four
African-American "yuppies" (a banker, a doctor, a lawyer, and a
"playboy"), who call themselves "The Brothers." When the
playboy gets engaged, the other three friends find themselves having to come to
terms with their own issues of commitment and honesty. The film also stars
Morris Chestnut, D.L. Hughley, Shemar Moore, Tatyana Ali, and Tamala Jones. The
Brothers is written and directed by Gary Hardwick. Hardwick also wrote the
1998 film Trippin', which starred Guy Torry, Deon Richmond, and Donald
Faison. The Brothers will be his directorial debut.
February 6, 2001The 14th Annual Bob Marley Day Birthday Celebration
One Big Night 2 Big Shows "The Legacy & Music Continues" Today,
February 6, 2001.
Today, February 6, 2001, Western Union , Guinness and S.O.B.s Concerts is
proud present The 14th Annual Bob Marley Day Celebration, the cultural
celebration of Marley's life and musical legacy. The annual celebration
continues to reach new audiences across racial and religious boundaries.
At S.O.B.s 200 Varick Street in NYC, The "King of the Dancehall"
Yellowman will join in the festivities of the Bob Marley Day Celebration will
grace the stage with pomp and style. Yellowman performances are filled with
energy and positive vibes, and as we enter the second month of the new
millennium the King continues to reign supreme. He began his recording career in
1981 and has released more than 25 albums. The music of Yellowman can be heard
beyond the dancehalls of the world, as various artists sample his original
sounds. This spring VP records will release the Yellowman Anthology CD.
The Junior Skatalites, the hot Ska and Reggae band will fuse the high energy
of Jazz, Reggae, and Ska. The Conquering Crown Sound on the turntables.
At Irving Plaza, 17 Irving Place, 15 St. NYC.
Reggae historian Roger Steffens' is the world's foremost video archivist-
will present video footage of the great Bob Marley like no other! . Roger
Steffens' has documented Marley's beginnings, the tours, the immediate and
extended families, and often comes with new revelations of the great one. The
man puts his entire soul in his work. He has traveled the world, bringing the
life and the message of Marley's works to the Four Corners of the earth. We are
proud to include his presentation at this event. Live music by international
recording artists Foreign Exchange & Johns Browns Body and a super surprise
guest.
Twinsounds on the 1& 2s , will take us down memory lane, spinning vintage
Marley tunes and various artists who are influenced by Bob's music. -- Mike
Diamonds
DMX Appeals Upstate New York Jail Sentence
Ruff Ryders MC takes 15-day jail sentence to state's highest court. Ruff Ryders MC DMX was sentenced to 15 days in an
upstate New York prison after a judge rejected his appeal to overturn the
sentence on a traffic and marijuana charge.
The Yonkers, NY-born rapper was expected to turn himself in within the next
two weeks to serve time in the Erie County Correctional Facility in Alden, New
York. However, now comes word that DMX (born Earl Simmons) and his lawyer are
preparing applications for the New York Court of Appeals, requesting that a
judge review the case. The rapper's lawyer will also reportedly ask for a stay
of sentence so that his client won't have to serve jail time while his
application is reviewed.
DMX was pulled over by police in upstate New York following a stop on the
Ruff Ryders/Cash Money tour in Buffalo. He was subsequently charged with
speeding, failing to signal a lane change and driving with a suspended permit.
Police also charged DMX with marijuana possession after a small amount of the
herb was found in the rapper's vehicle. DMX later pleaded guilty to a reduced
charge of driving without a license. He was ordered to serve a maximum of 15
days in jail and fined $400.-- Mark Allwood
February 5, 2001New Wrinkle In Whitney Houston Pot Bust Case
Prosecutors in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, want a judge to set aside a
court-approved agreement that allows for the dismissal of a marijuana-possession
case against pop star Whitney Houston if she meets certain conditions. The
Hawaii County prosecutor's office says Houston did not submit a substance-abuse
assessment in time for a hearing yesterday (Feb. 1) to determine whether she has
complied with the agreement.
Houston, who did not attend the hearing, pleaded no contest through her
attorneys Nov. 2 to promoting a detrimental drug in the third degree. The
offense is punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
The petty misdemeanor charge stemmed from a Jan. 11, 2000, incident at the Big
Island's Keahole-Kona International Airport. A security guard took Houston's
handbag, and police reported it contained half an ounce of marijuana. Although
security personnel attempted to detain her, Houston simply walked away and
boarded a United Airlines flight to San Francisco.
At the November hearing, Houston was granted a deferred acceptance of no-contest
plea, meaning the charge against her would be dismissed in three months if she
paid $1,000 to the state and a $25 ''criminal injury'' fee; made a $3,000
donation to the group Big Island Wave Riders Against Drugs; and submitted a
substance-abuse assessment.
Houston and her husband, R&B artist Bobby Brown, have been embroiled in
previous controversies in Hawaii. In 1997 at a Maui bar, Brown took a swing at a
fan who had attempted to grab Houston, but wound up punching a county liquor
control inspector instead. Earlier that year, police were called after Brown
allegedly slapped Houston in the face.
Big Pun's South Bronx Mural To Be Redone
In remembrance of rapper Big Pun's passing a year ago, grafitti crew TATS Cru will
redo a mural that they painted shortly after his death.
On February 6, the new mural will replace the old one, which will be
whitewashed. The previous 35-foot-long mural, which is located at 163rd &
Intervale Blvd in the Bronx, NY, resulted in the three TATS members being
arrested for vandalism while they were finishing the artwork. The group spent a
night in jail and were then released because of pressure from the community.
South Bronx native/rap star Big Pun died on Feb. 7 of an obesity-induced
heart attack. He was over 700 pounds at the time of his death.
February 4, 2001Outkast Bolts Eminem European Tour
Chart-topping Arista rap group Outkast has vacated its opening slot on
Eminem's European tour and will return to the U.S., as group member Big Boi
prepares for the birth of his child. The Atlanta-based duo was to support Eminem
in Brussels; Paris; Manchester, U.K.; and London starting Monday (Feb. 5), then
cap the run with a solo performance Feb. 11 at the London Astoria.
"We are incredibly pleased for Big Boi and wish him and his girlfriend all
the best with the birth of their child," says an Arista spokesperson, who
adds the label is "working to get Outkast back to the U.K. as soon as
possible."
Outkast's fourth album, "Stankonia," is No. 17 on Music & Media's
European Top 100 Albums list, while the single "Ms. Jackson" has risen
to No. 3 on the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles tally. The track, which is No. 2 on
The Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Rap Singles chart, is due out
Feb. 19 in the U.K.
'Loud' Documentary Will Celebrate Black Music
"Say It Loud: Black Music In America" is a co-production of VH1,
Quincy Jones Media Group, and Rhino Entertainment in association with Highway
Films. Slated to air this fall on VH1, it will chronicle the evolution and
cultural impact of jazz, blues, gospel, R&B, soul, and hip-hop, supplemented
by a companion CD box set from Rhino.
Underlining his devotion to the form, Jones says, "I have studied and
researched the evolution and history of black music for 25 years, and I've had
the opportunity to play a role in much of it." He adds, "The influence
of African-American music can be found in virtually every genre of modern music,
and to date, there has yet to be a real examination of the African-American
musical experience. 'Say It Loud' will be the first series to tell at least a
part of that story in the words of the artists who created the music.
"Viewers will have an opportunity to see where the roots of
African-American music originated, how it constantly changed shapes, what caused
it to change, and how its influence left an indelible mark on our culture and
the world's," he says.
VH1 has had the series in the works for two years, according to senior VP of
programming and production Lauren Zalaznick, who will double as a series
executive producer along with Jones and Rhino founder/president Richard Foos.
Shooting for "Say It Loud" is set for late February through March,
with unconfirmed plans to interview artists ranging from Aretha Franklin to Dr.
Dre. In addition to artist interviews, the documentary will feature a mix of
rare archival live performances and studio sessions, along with
behind-the-scenes material and visits to such landmark sites as the original
Motown Records location in Detroit.
Keyboardist/composer Herbie Hancock has not been approached to take part in the
special, but the wide-ranging jazz artist loves the idea. "I love that
Quincy is doing this," he says. "But since it's on VH1 instead of PBS,
I just hope [VH1 resists] the tendency to lean too much on the music that will
keep their viewership -- since VH1 is a commercial station. I just want it to
tell the truth."
Each episode of "Say It Loud" will be fashioned around a different
theme, the framework for which is based on a set of working titles.
"Spiritual Roots" explores black music's spiritual reach from gospel
to "the devil's music." "In Pursuit Of Dreams" tracks black
artists' progression in the music business from exploitation to ownership.
"Song Of Freedom" traces black music's relationship to politics and
protest, including its major role in the civil rights movement. "Let's Get
It On" examines sexuality in black music and the controversies it has
spawned. And "Images" focuses on the style and imagery of past black
artists and how black music has evolved to shape popular culture from fashion to
language.
Zalaznick says the goal is for "Say It Loud" to be "an
artist-based vs. a critic-based oral history, looking to the antecedents of
today's music and getting comments from today's artists about those roots."
In keeping with that desire, Zalaznick says that the series won't use a
narrator. Instead, the production team is exploring the idea of using a host to
introduce each one-hour episode. Also in development, the accompanying boxed set
will likely comprise six CDs with music by artists featured in the various
episodes, as well as that of other genre pioneers.
February 3, 2001Queen of Comedy Sommore Cleared of Drug Conspiracy Charges
Female comedian Sommore was found not guilty on all seven counts of drug
conspiracy charges yesterday by a Federal Court judge. Sommore, whose real name
is Lori Ann Rambough, was indicted in February 2000 and shortly thereafter began
a year-long trial in Washington, D.C. The Washington Post reported that
she was accused of mailing packages of cocaine from Los Angeles to Washington as
part of a drug ring back in 1988 in which she plead innocent. While leaving the
court yesterday, the comedian stated, "I am blessed and happy to have been
found innocent of all the charges brought against me. I kept my faith and didn't
falter. I am so grateful for the support of my friends and fans, because they
never gave up on me."
Sommore has a reoccurring role on the UPN sitcom The Hughley's, which
stars fellow BET Comic View host alumni D.L. Hughley. The comedian is also the
sister of actress Nia Long and is currently headlining the Queens of Comedy Tour
which also stars Mo'Nique, Adele Givens, and is hosted by Miss Laura Hayes. For
more information on the Queens of Comedy and a listing of their upcoming tour
dates, log on to www.kingsofcomedy.com.
Jazz Pianist Lou Levy Dies
Jazz pianist Lou Levy recently died of a heart attack on January 23rd. The
72-year-old musician played with such jazz greats as Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah
Vaughan. He also appeared on over 100 albums, which were recorded by such
musical legends as Benny Goodman, Stan Getz, and Tommy Dorsey. In 1970, Levy
helped form the band Supersax and also played in reunion performances with the
band in the 1990s. For the past 18 years, he regularly performed with singer
Peggy Winters. Levy was born in Chicago and started playing the piano at the age
of 12.
February 2, 2001Carl Thomas and Jill Scott Lead Soul Train Award Nominee List
R. Kelly, D'Angelo, Jill Scott, and Carl Thomas have been nominated for three
awards a piece at the 15th annual Soul Train Music Awards. D'Angelo, Carl
Thomas, and R. Kelly are all competing for the "Best R&B/Soul Album
Male" award while Jill Scott's nominations include "Best R&B/Soul
Single Female." Lucy Pearl, Eminem, Mary Mary, and Jagged Edge are also up
for two nominations each. The Soul Train Music Awards will be held on February
28th at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles California. They will be hosted by
Queen Latifah, Mya, and Shemar Moore. Destiny's Child and Jay-Z will also be
honored with the "Sammy Davis, Jr. Entertainer of the Year Award"
while the "Quincy Jones Award for Career Achievement" will be bestowed
upon Ronald Isley. The awards will air in syndication throughout March so be
sure to check you local listings for times or log on to Soul Train's official
website at www.soultraintv.com. Here is the complete list of nominees
R&B/Soul or Rap Album of the Year:
Dr. Dre, Dr. Dre-2001
Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP
Jay-Z, The Dynasty Roc La Familia
R. Kelly, TP-2.Com
Best R&B/Soul Single, Female:
Yolanda Adams, "Open My Heart"
Erykah Badu, "Bag Lady"
Mary J. Blige, "Your Child"
Jill Scott, "Gettin' in the Way"
Best R&B/Soul Single, Male:
Avant, "Separated"
D'Angelo, "Untitled (How Does It Feel)"
R. Kelly, "I Wish"
Carl Thomas, "I Wish"
Best R&B/Soul Single, Group, Band or Duo:
Destiny's Child, "Independent Woman, Part 1"
Whitney Houston & Deborah Cox, "Same Script, Different Cast"
Jagged Edge, "Let's Get Married"
Lucy Pearl, "Dance Tonight"
Best R&B Soul Album, Female:
Toni Braxton, The Heat
Mya, Fear of Flying
Kelly Price, Mirror Mirror
Jill Scott, Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds, Vol. 1
Best R&B/Soul Album, Male:
D'Angelo, Voodoo
R. Kelly, TP-2.Com
Sisqo, Unleash the Dragon
Carl Thomas, Emotional
Best R&B/Soul Album, Group, Band or Duo:
Jagged Edge, J.E. Heartbreak
Mary Mary, Thankful
Next, Welcome II Nextasy
Lucy Pearl, Lucy Pearl
Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist:
Lil' Bow Wow featuring Xscape, "Bounce with Me"
Nelly, "Country Grammar"
Jill Scott, "Gettin' in the Way"
Carl Thomas, "I Wish"
Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video:
D'Angelo, "Untitled (How Does It Feel)"
Eminem, "Stan"
Mystikal, "Shake Ya Ass"
Outkast, "Ms. Jackson"
Best Gospel Album:
Chester D.T. Baldwin & Music Ministry Mass, Sing It on Sunday Morning!
Mary Mary, Thankful
Mississippi Mass Choir, Emmanuel (God with Us)
Lee Williams and the Spiritual QC's, Good Time
Justice Department Will Not Try Police Officers in Diallo Murder
The U.S. Justice Department announced on Wednesday that the four police officers
cleared of state criminal charges in the shooting death of Amadou Diallo will
not be tried for federal civil rights violations. Officers Kenneth Boss, Sean
Carroll, Edward McMellon and Richard Murphy were exonerated last February of
killing Diallo, a 22-year-old unarmed African immigrant, in the Bronx, New York.
The officers fired 41 shots at Diallo hitting him 19 times as he reached for his
wallet. They claimed they thought he was reaching for a gun.
In a statement released in Washington, the Justice Department said an
investigation by its Civil Rights Division and by U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White in
Manhattan had determined that federal charges against the officers were not
warranted. Federal officials concluded they "could not prove beyond a
reasonable doubt that the officers willfully deprived Mr. Diallo of his
constitutional right to be free from the use of unreasonable force,"
according to the statement.
The Diallo family, along with many of their supporters, had hoped for a federal
civil rights prosecution of the officers. Attorneys for the officers said the
decision not to prosecute would bring the case to an end for their clients.
Steven Brounstein, the attorney representing Boss, stated, "It's a decision
that's right on the law and right on the facts, It was a tragic accident. I'm
just pleased that the decision has been made." All of the officers
acquitted remain on the force. The Diallo family still has a $61 million civil
suit pending against the city.
February 1, 2001Opinion: The Real Slim Shady Is Robbing Black MCs
For starters, Eminem is not the return of Vanilla Ice.
Whereas the blond fraudulent rapper conquered the pop world with nary a clever
lyric, Eminem is a stunningly talented rapper.
His flow is seamless and his lyrics, though at times objectionable, are
consistently clever. There is no debate about the man's talent — Eminem is one
of the sharpest MCs in hip-hop right now.
The Eminem apologists will tell you that talent is the reason Eminem's second
album (his first album bombed) went platinum four times and his third one went
platinum seven times.
They'll tell you "talent" compelled MTV to devote an entire weekend
("EMTV" they called it) to the rapper. They'll say Eminem's talent is
the reason he recently was nominated for four Grammys. They are lying. Eminem
has become a commercially successful MC for one reason: He is White.
In the music business, music always takes a back seat to business. And
numerous pop acts have proven that when a hit is made, the artists' talent is
almost always incidental. The genius of Eminem is not his artistry — it is how
well his handlers understand the psychology of White America. The irony is that
this time, it's a Black person whose come up with the stroke of genius. Dr. Dre,
the most succesful purveyor of gangsta rap ever, has found a gimmick for the
ages in Eminem.
The genius of Eminem is not his artistry — it is how well his handlers
understand the psychology of White America.
To this day, White people will pay en masse to see themselves besting Black
people at their own game. For sure, Whites love the voyeuristic thrill of
watching Black people in those few spaces which we have been able to claim as
our own. But one better is seeing a White guy master Black spaces.
The result is twofold: 1.) It allows Whites to experience positives of Black
culture without having to be pulled over by the cops 2.) It supports America's
prime racial thesis that Whites can do anything that Blacks can do — and do it
better.
"Rocky" may be a great movie, but one senses the film's real
selling point is the idea that any old White dude can step in a ring and destroy
a Black heavyweight.
Elvis may have been a phenomenal entertainer, but his real advantage was his
ability to bring Blackness to his White fans with as much authenticity as
possible. Often such creative archetypes are constructed in willful disregard of
reality.
When "Rocky" was made, there hadn't been a White heavyweight champ
in some 30 years. Elvis was no more talented than Wilson Pickett or Otis
Redding. Sam Cooke would have blown him off the stage.
Perhaps worst of all, Black people must suffer the indignity of White
critics, who ignore Black culture, declaring the White Hope the best and the
greatest ever.
Which brings us back to Eminem. In a recent article in Spin, "Saturday
Night Live" producer Lorne Michaels was quoted as saying to Eminem,
"One thing I do know is great writing, and you are a great writer."
But one wonders what Michaels knows of hip-hop? And if Eminem is a great
writer, than what is Kool G Rap, without whom Eminem's rhyme style may never
have been possible?
What is Rakim, the amazing purveyor of imagery, who never went beyond "Yo,
MTV Raps"?
What is Notorious BIG, an MC whose precise use of detail, realism and humor
made for a stunning package? This is to say nothing of the plethora of rappers
— the Last Emperor comes to mind — who simply have not been able to garner a
major record deal.
The point here is not that Eminem sucks, it's that the world is filled with
talented MCs who White people only pay attention to when they're pistol-whipping
someone.
The minor tragedy in all this is that Eminem's career will always be marred
by the stain of racism. For all his pop success, Eminem came up as an
underground MC. He is highly respected among his peers as a gifted wordsmith.
But there's something foul-smelling about how quickly he was able to conquer
MTV.
On some level, I think Eminem knows that talent is not the reason he's graced
every magazine cover from Newsweek to Spin to Teen People. Perhaps this is why
he so venomously attacks talent lesser hacks such as Britney Spears and N'Sync,
even as he joins them in the land of teen idoldom.
Eminem considers himself an artist, and wants to be respected as such. But he
knows that no one buys the Backstreet Boys records because of their singing
ability. And, likewise, the average fan doesn't buy the Slim Shady record
because Eminem can rhyme. -- Ta-Nehisi Coates
Jazz Organist "Brother" Jack McDuff Dies
"Brother" Jack McDuff, renowned jazz legend who popularized the
Hammond B-3 organ, died on Tuesday after suffering an apparent heart attack at
the age of 74. He was a leader in the soul jazz movement of the 1960s and was
also responsible in launching the careers of such jazz guitarist legends as
Grant Green and George Benson. Benson first appeared on wax on McDuff's 1963
album, Brother Jack McDuff Live!. After hearing of McDuff's passing,
Benson issued a statement, saying, "Jack McDuff gave me the most important
foundation for communicating my music to others. He pointed out the elements
that are universally common to us all. I owe a great deal of my success to the
man we know as Brother Jack McDuff." McDuff recorded his last album in 2000
on Concord Records, although it has yet to be released. He also suffered several
strokes last year, which stopped him from playing. He was born Eugene McDuffy on
September 17, 1926 and is survived by his wife Kathy.
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