Young Jeezy, Paul Wall Headline Boost Mobile’s RockCorps Concert

May 10th, 2006 | By Administrator

Platinum selling rappers Young Jeezy and Paul Wall have been tapped to headline Boost Mobile’s RockCorps Concert at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre.

The two artists will perform for 3,000 local Boost Mobile RockCorp (BMRC) youth volunteers, who volunteer their time to make positive changes in their respective communities.

Young Jeezy and Paul Wall’s show takes place on June 16th.

The concert is part of BMRC’s summer tour, which will work with local non-profit organizations to renovate schools, playgrounds, help with food distribution and more.

The tour will stop in Houston, Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C.

The summer tour will end with a televised concert at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on September 23rd.

T.I. Lays Friend To Rest, Tour Temporarily Halted

May 9th, 2006 | By Administrator

Rapper Clifford “T.I.” Harris mourned the loss of his best friend and personal assistant at a funeral service held yesterday (May in Atlanta.

Philant Johnson, 26, of Union City, Ga., was killed last Wednesday (May 3) and three other members of T.I.’s entourage were injured in a shooting incident following a performance at Bogarts nightclub in Cincinnati. T.I. was not hurt.

The rapper paid his final respects during the funeral service at Jackson Memorial Baptist Church.

“I spent a lot of time holding the microphone and performing, but I ain’t never did nothing quite this hard,” T.I. said. “For my partner, I ain’t even going to focus on no negativity. Family forever, and I love you.”

A heavy police presence greeted those who came to pay respects to Johnson. Police cars and motorcycles lined the street outside the church and officers stood guard in the church sanctuary but didn’t search those entering the church.

The Grand Hustle Entertainment family, Atlanta rappers Killer Mike and Yung Joc, DJ Toomp, ATL director Chris Robinson, Warner Music Group president Kevin Liles and V-103 personality Frank Ski were among the estimated 950 friends, family, fans and entertainers in attendance at the funeral.

Ski referred to Johnson as a “fallen soldier who was a good man, a very good man.”

T.I. was one of the pallbearers who helped lift Johnson’s casket into a black horse-drawn carriage, which escorted him to Lincoln Cemetery in northwest Atlanta, where he was buried.

No arrests have been made in conjunction with the shooting incident, which halted T.I.’s nationwide tour that kicked off last month.

T.I. was set to appear in St. Louis on Wednesday night, and while many reports say that the rapper will resume the tour, T.I. has not yet made any final decisions.

“I don’t know if I’m going to be in New Orleans Tuesday,” the rapper told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “It’s hard to say. Because there are so many things that Philant would be doing that ain’t going to be able to be done now.”

Master P Claims Sony Exec’s Blocking Lil’ Romeo, Filing $500 Million Lawsuit

May 5th, 2006 | By Administrator

Hip-Hop mogul Master P said he is filing a $500 million lawsuit against Sony Music, alleging that its executives are trying to keep Lil’ Romeo’s, “U Can’t Shine Like Me” from getting played on radio.

The song, which responds to Bow Wow’s “Fresh Azimiz,” began playing on Los Angeles radio station KKBT in February.

Apparently the beef between the young stars started when Lil’ Romeo took offense to the track, “Fresh Azimiz,” which the Miller’s considered a shot in their direction.

In “U Can’t Shine Like Me,” Romeo responds by saying he could take Bow Wow’s “chick,” and the video features a woman resembling Ciara, the pop star Bow Wow dated until recently.

Since debuting several weeks ago, it has been streamed more than 700,000 times on Yahoo! Music.

The record is not enjoying the same success on the radio stations in the United States.

According to monitoring charts, only three stations in the U.S. have added the song to rotation – KKBT, WQUE in New Orleans, and WEMX in Baton Rogue.

According to Master P, unnamed Sony Music executives have been calling radio stations, demanding that Lil Romeo’s record not be played.

“How can Sony Music executives call radio stations and tell them not to play the Romeo record “U Can’t Shine Like Me?” an inquisitive Master P asked AllHipHop.com. “Los Angeles was the first city to play it. Usually, if you get played in Hollywood, the world will follow. Every station that played the Bow Wow song should have at least tested the record once or twice or played it on their ‘Hit or Dis’ show by now.”

“I had a distribution deal on the table with Jive Records that fell through the crack – hint. Sony BMG,” Master P continued. “I wonder why. Jive is a Sony BMG label. Sony BMG is the parent label for Bow Wow’s label, Columbia Records.

“There is no beef with us and Bow,” Master P explained. “We got love for the little dude. He just doesn’t know when to shut his mouth. His arrogance and cockiness are turning fans and their parents off.”

According to Master P, Romeo’s upcoming LP, God’s Son is scheduled for an August 22 release with or without major label distribution.

Lil’ Romeo will also tour to support the album.

Representatives for Sony Music were not available as of press time.

For more information on Romeo’s new album, log on to http://www.guttarmusic.com.

Yung Joc Speaks on Cincinnati Shooting Says T.I. Tried To Make Peace

May 4th, 2006 | By Administrator

Block/Bad Boy Entertainment rapper Yung Joc appeared on an Atlanta radio station Wednesday (May 3) to set the record straight regarding a recent shooting that left one member of Atlanta rapper T.I.’s entourage dead and three others wounded.

Joc, who was on the road with T.I. and with him at the time of the shooting, appeared on Atlanta’s V-103 FM to tell on-air host Ryan Cameron and fans what happened.

According to Joc, T.I. was a peacemaker in the incident and tried to diffuse the situation. Joc also said the group is still coping with the tragedy and has yet to return to Atlanta.

He further stated that in no way did T.I. have anything to do with the violence.

V-103 changed its traditional format Wednesday in order to field calls from listeners.

The discussion comes in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of Philant Johnson.

The 25-year-old died Tuesday (May 2) after an altercation at a T.I./Young Joc concert after-party in Cincinnati.

Gunfire was exchanged as two dark SUV’s chased the rapper’s van on Interstate 75, where the van blew a tire and came to a stop.

Johnson was killed, while two members of the rapper’s entourage suffered minor wounds. One woman remains hospitalized.

T.I. suffered no injuries.

Although Cincinnati police have not taken anyone into custody, they are interviewing several witnesses and are working to get people to cooperate in the investigation.

Atlantic Records expressed its grief over the tragedy today (May 4) via the following statement:

“This is a very sad day for everyone at Atlantic Records and Grand Hustle. Philant Johnson was a part of our family and a true friend. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Johnson family, T.I. and everyone at Grand Hustle.”

T.I.’s Entourage Involved in After-Hours Shooting In Cincinnati

May 3rd, 2006 | By Administrator

A van believed to belong to rapper T.I. was found near the site of a recent shooting at a Cincinnati nightclub.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports the incident culminated in shootings that occurred around 3:20 a.m., after a verbal altercation and possible scuffle took place inside Club Ritz, the site of an after-hours party for T.I. and Young Joc.

One person is dead and three others were injured.

According to witnesses, the scuffle moved outside and shots were fired.

Officers said the shots were fired into two vans containing T.I.’s entourage on southbound I-75, beginning near the Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway and ending near Mitchell Avenue.

The entourage was leaving the club when the shots were fired.

A van believed to be T.I.’s was found on I-75. As a result, three miles of interstate were closed Wednesday (May 3) morning.

The rappers performed Tuesday (May 2) at Bogarts.

Police dispatches noted numerous officers were present around the area of Short Vine when the concert ended.

There appeared to be no problems. The names and conditions of those involved in the shooting were not available, according to the Enquirer .

Four people in T.I.’s entourage, including one woman, were treated at University Hospital.

The woman was traveling in one van, while three men were in the other. T.I., (born Tip Harris) was not injured.

A man believed to be one of the victims and bandages on his arm and was taken out of the hospital before 7 a.m. by a police officer.

Two other victims were treated and released around the same time.

The incident marks the latest chapter in a string of violent incidents at Club Ritz.

Last year, three people were shot outside the club following a fight.

The nightclub has come under fire from community and police, who asked the Cincinnati City Council to shut the facility down.

The request was rejected by council members, who voted against it.

The club’s owner, Andrew Williams, said the bar was closing until he and other workers could resolve problems with security.

In addition to guaranteeing plenty of paid police and security, Williams said he would stop keeping the bar open after hours and promised to put up barricades around the parking lot to control traffic.

Field Mob Denies Dissing NY Rappers, Says Video Is Fabricated

May 2nd, 2006 | By Administrator

Atlanta rap duo Field Mob has addressed the rumors regarding comments they made about New York rappers on Raw Report DVD Magazine’s “Platinum Plus Series: Ludacris Presents Disturbing the Peace.”

In the footage circulating the Internet, two portions of what is a full-length DVD were integrated to create a fabricated controversy, according Field Mob’s label and management Disturbing the Peace.

“The video that has made its way to the message boards across the net of Field Mob dissing New York rappers is false,” the label stated. “Field Mob in no way has any beef with anyone in New York. In fact, people from Field Mob’s label and management are from New York.”

In one segment on the tape, the two group members (Shawn J and Smoke) are shown poking fun at New York slang while on their tour bus.

According to the group, the dialogue was actually a joke between the duo and their manager, who hails from New York, the label stated.

The second piece of footage shows Field Mob discussing the phrase “we gotta bring New York back,” which was their way of expressing concern that the underlying sentiments of the phrase are demeaning the recent success of Southern rappers.

The original footage from The Raw Report in its entirety is available on Field Mob’s official Web site (www.feildmob.com).

T.I. Tapped To Kick Off Apollo Theater’s Black Music Month

May 1st, 2006 | By Administrator

T.I. has been tapped to kick off the Apollo Theater’s June Black Music Month celebration.

The Atlanta rapper will also be the first Hip-Hop act billed under the Apollo New Legends Series.

The latter event aims to honor and showcase top artists from a variety of musical genres whose music has had a strong impact on society.

In celebration of Black Music Month, T.I., whose fourth album King hit gold in its first week of release, will perform his first solo concert for one night at the Apollo Theater.

The event will take place June 1 at 7:30 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Tickets are available at the Apollo Theater Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations.

T.I. also recently kicked off his nationwide King tour at Tennessee State University, with support from Grand Hustle/Atlantic labelmate Young Dro and Yung Joc of Block Entertainment/Bad Boy South.