T.I. Denies Being Boyz-N-Da Hood Member

October 17th, 2005 | By Administrator

Atlanta, Georgia rapper T.I. has issued a statement to AllHipHop.com, denying that he is a new member of Boyz N Da Hood (BNDH).

Last week, BNDH founder Blok confirmed that Young Jeezy had left the group and that New Orleans rapper Lil? Wayne was the newest member.

Representatives for Atlantic immediately dismissed T.I.?s inclusion in the group and now T.I. himself has denied being a member of the group.

Blok had also stated that the T.I. was an original member of the group, along with Trick Daddy and Sean Paul of the YoungBloodz, until the newer members replaced them.

?Contrary to rumors circulating around the Internet, I have not and will not be joining Boyz N Da Hood,??? T.I. stated. ?Although I am and have always been part of the movement, I am not a member of the group. This is just another case of ‘Urban Legend’.???

T.I., Young Jeezy and Lil? Wayne will embark on a tour of the United States in November.

Young Jeezy Exits Boyz N Da Hood, Lil? Wayne Joins, T.I. Denies

October 14th, 2005 | By Administrator

Lil? Wayne has signed on to become an official member of Boyz N Da Hood (BNHD) and Young Jeezy has exited the ranks, according to sources.

Lil Wayne, President of Cash Money Records will join the Atlanta-based super-group along with existing members Big Duke, Big Gee, Jody Breeze, a representative for Universal Record confirmed. Initially, T.I. was included in the group as well, but his representatives at Atlantic Records denied. ?That?s false. He?s not going to be in Boyz N Da Hood,??? a rep in the Atlantic publicity department said.

Blok, founder of Boyz N Da Hood and Blok Entertainment, also confirmed the news of Lil? Wayne?s inclusion, but countered stating that T.I. was in the group. Despite persistent rumors, Blok said there is no bad blood between Young Jeezy and the rest of the group.

?Jeezy only signed on for one album and that?s my whole campaign ? it?s not a replacement it?s a continuance. We?re not beefing. All of us are brothers. That?s very important, it?s a continuance. This is the way it was set out to be when it first started,??? Blok told AllHipHop.com. Blok also stated that the original roster of Boyz N Da Hood included T.I., Trick Daddy and Sean Paul of the YoungBloodz and the newer members replaced them. Young Jeezy has experienced solo success with his platinum-selling Def Jam release Let?s Get It: Thug Motivation.

Representatives at Def Jam for Jeezy were unaware of the Boyz N Da Hood personnel change, but Jeezy commented on his status with the group in a previous interview.

?I was a solo artist first. I’m definitely a boss. I always had a label. I always had a movement. The whole thing with Puff [Bad Boy Records], we sat down and worked it out. I already had my solo situation at Def Jam,??? he told AllHipHop.com. ?My album was set up to come out first, before I did the little situation [with Bad Boy]. But just me being a gangster and real about what I’m doing agreed to push my album back so I could get the Boyz N Da Hood project rolling. I just want the fans to know it ain?t me acting funny or nothing like that. It’s just that I got a solo album out, so just like how I went on a Boyz N Da Hood promo run, I gotta do mine. Everything I do with them, I gotta do for myself.???

While Jeezy was a member of BNHD, he was also signed to Def Jam as a solo artist and had to promote both the group album and the Def Jam opus at the same time. Jeezy frequently missed promotion and marketing tours with Boyz N Da Hood, but continued to push both projects. The BNDH self-titled album hit stores on June 21, while Thug Motivation 101 was released on July 26.

Ironically, T.I., Young Jeezy and Lil? Wayne will embark on a tour of the United States with in mid-November.

Lil Wayne Talks New Single, Preps ‘Tha Carter II’

October 10th, 2005 | By Administrator

New Orleans, Louisiana rapper Lil Wayne recently finished up shooting his video ?Fireman??? on location in both New Orleans and Houston, Texas.

The single has already shot up to the top of the Urban radio charts, with over 100 radio stations adding the single to their playlists.

“It’s been a very tough month,” Lil Wayne said. “I put everything I had into this song, and now the video, hopefully as an inspiration to everyone who wants to see New Orleans come back bigger and badder than ever.”

Lil Wayne, President of Cash Money Records, also recently launched his own label Young Money Entertainment through Cash Money Records.

?Fireman??? is taken from Wayne?s upcoming fifth album title Tha Carter II.

Lil Wayne will embark on a tour of the United States in November with Young Jeezy and T.I.

No release date was available for Tha Carter II as of press time.

Miami Judges Issues In Favor Of Slip-N-Slide In Pitbull Album Court Battle

October 5th, 2005 | By Administrator

The judge ruled that Slip-N-Slide has the right to issue the album Welcome to the 305, as long as it has a label affixed to the cover, stating that the release contains previously recorded material.

Pitbull recorded the contested songs in 2001 for Slip-N-Slide prior to signing with TVT Records. The final decision now rests in the hands of a U.S. District Court Judge, who will review and approve or deny the opinion.

TVT claims Slip-N-Slide is attempting to cash in on the rapper?s superstar status.

”TVT has invested substantial time, effort and resources to develop [Pitbull] as an artist and to develop, market and release the M.I.A.M.I. album on a worldwide basis. ” Gottlieb said in court papers.

Slip-N-Slide has countered, claiming TVT hindered the project by sending out letters to distributors, claiming the recording was illegal.

Slip-N-Slide owner Ted Lucas stated that Pitbull had verbally approved of the release and had no objections.

?The court finds extremely significant the fact that the artist himself is not a party to this lawsuit and the lack of any evidence that he has expressed any negative feeling toward the release of 305,?? the opinion stated.

Slip-N-Slide has stated that if the album is not in stores for the holidays, they would sue TVT for $4 million in damages.

Gucci Mane Gets Six Months In Jail

October 5th, 2005 | By Administrator

Rapper Gucci Mane pleaded no contest Wednesday to striking a concert promoter in the head with a pool cue. The 25-year-old was accused of assaulting Troy Bufford in June at his label Big Cat Records in Atlanta.

Judge John J. Goger of the Fulton County Superior Court sentenced the Georgia rapper to six months in jail, but will be released in three months for time served. With the plea, Mane (real name Radric Davis) didn?t admit to guilt or innocence, but accepts the punishment of the court as well as any civil suits levied against him.

After he fulfills his jail obligation, Mane must serve 6-1/2 years of probation and pay $3,000 in medical restitution to Bufford for his hospital bills.

According to published reports, Bufford came to the Big Cat offices to get a CD, when he and Gucci Mane began to argue. Both were ordered to leave by the label owner. Bufford said that he was struck in the back of the head with a pool stick and then beaten by others in the room.

Gucci Mane still stands accused in the May 10 murder of Henry Clark in DeKalb County, a suburb of Atlanta. The rapper has previously stated that the shooting death was in self-defense after Clark and others attempted to do him bodily harm.

Field Mob: ‘We Aint Comedians’

October 1st, 2005 | By Administrator

Field Mob?s Smoke says people have mistaken their country mannerisms for comedy ? an erroneous assumption.

?We ain?t no f***in? comedians. They like to put us in that comedian [category], because we country [and] it?s taken a major toll on our career,? the Albany, Georgia native told AllHipHop.com. ?Like we were proud to be country [and] people know this in the back of their heads like they know Chris [Ludacris is] that n***a in the back of their heads.?

Nevertheless, Smoke said the group’s style, which debuted commercially in 2000, has been hijacked by some of their peers, who were not specifically named.

?I know I got kids [imitators] out there,? he said laughing. ?We started that country s**t in ?99 before n***s came out with their country grammar albums. We were screaming country before it was cool. They see us and it?s so massive, but they don?t want to see it.?

Although the group released a pair of acclaimed albums, 613: From Ashy to Classy (2000) and From Tha Roota To Tha Toota (2002), the crossover success somehow eluded them.

Smoke said the group intends to change that with their upcoming set, Light Poles and Pine Trees.

Smoke said location has also hindered their success as the Atlanta musical explosion somehow escaped him and partner Shawn Jay.

?If you look at Ray Charles, Ray Charles is from Albany, Georgia ? they ain?t even put it on TV. Why? Because Albany ain?t as metropolitan as Atlanta, New York or L.A.

“He?s not from a very popular place,? he continued. ?So they do it the same way in this rap s**t. ‘Oh, they ain?t from?[Atlanta].’?

Both of their previous albums came out under MCA Records, but Smoke would only state that the situation was a ?terrible deal.?

Under Disturbing Tha Peace/Geffen Records, Smoke said they would even market themselves slightly differently to accentuate their personas.

?Yeah, dark-skinned n***as are in. Them light-skinned n***as tried to come back, but I?m going to promote my black ass,? he said. ?Other than rapping, we got banging personalities.?

More seriously, Smoke explained that the group has high stakes with the expected November 29 release of Light Poles and Pine Trees.

?We trying to reestablish ourselves with our fans. We not trying to disappoint them,? he expounded. ?We gotta come with a great album and the album is great. For the new people, we trying to make a great first impression.?

The group has already released their single, “Friday Night,” and their third album features a high-powered supporting cast that includes Ciara, Bun B, Bobby Valentino, Jazze Pha, Bone Crusher and others.

Bun B. Teams With Dame Dash/Pro-Keds For Sneaker

October 1st, 2005 | By Administrator

Texas rap legend Bun B. has signed a sneaker deal with businessman Dame Dash to create a signature line of Pro-Keds sneakers.

The UGK star?s limited edition Pro-Ked sneaker is scheduled to drop in the near future.

“Dame Dash is giving me a limited edition Pro Ked and that’s just love from Dame,??? Bun B. told AllHipHop.com. ?Anytime Jay-Z or Dame or Biggs needed anything, I was there for them. I feel honored and respected.”

The shoe will compliment the Pro-Keds? State Property shoe line, which is promoted by Beanie Sigel. Pro-Keds was founded in 1949. The brand became popular in the Hip-Hop community in the 1970?s and 80?s.

In related news, Reebok has also agreed to highlight the Port Arthur, Texas MC to represent their throwback tennis shoe that will be featured in the NBA 2006 All-Star game.

?Reebok was like ?we’re doing a tie-in for the city of Houston and the All-Star game, we want to tie-in what we are doing with the city; we think that you would be the artist to use.? I was really flattered. They want to do a Houston shoe, something like with the old [NBA team] Rockets theme.???

With the announcement of his shoe deals, Bun B. continues his enjoy a successful and fruitful breakout year.

He has been featured on several smash singles including Webbie?s ?Give Me That,??? as well as Slim Thug?s ?I Ain?t Heard of That.???

This fall, Bun B will release his first solo album Trill which features an array of big name guests and producers including Mannie Fresh, Jazze Pha, and Lil’ Jon.

Trill is scheduled to drop October 18 on Rap-A-Lot/Asylum records.